Giants Get First Win, Need to Improve
By Jesse Connor
The Giants defeated the Washington Redskins 32-21 for their first win of the season. They improve to 1-2.
They Giants got on the board just 2 minutes and 13 seconds into the game when running back Rashad Jennings blocked a punt that ricocheted out of the back of the endzone. They maintained that lead for the rest of the game.
Ironically I think the Giants looked much better in their two losses then they did in their win tonight. The defense held the Redskins to just 6 points all game until the last 3 minutes and 40 seconds. In that time the Giants gave up 15 points on a 100-yard kickoff return and a 4 yard pass from Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins to running back Chris Thompson.
The defense played very well against the run, as they have so far this season. The secondary played great again. Prince Amukamara made 8 tackles, broke up 3 passes and intercepted 1 pass. Several Giants played very well on defense but there is still no pass rush being generated yet.
Defensive lineman Kerry Wynn played especially well against the run and had 8 tackles, which is a lot for a defensive lineman. Linebackers Uani Unga and Jonathan Casillas made plays as well. Unga totaled 9 tackles, deflected 2 passes and had 1 interception. Casillas had the Giants only sack to go along with 7 tackles.
The safeties are yet to be a problem. Landon Collins is making tackles and he made a few good plays in coverage. Brandon Merriweather is much better then I ever thought he would be.
The offense looked good but again failed to finish numerous drives as Josh Brown was forced to kick 3 field goals, he has already kicked 9 field goals here in 2015. Eli Manning was very effective and the Giants’ run game wasn’t as strong as it could have been been but it was enough to keep the offense balanced.
Sep 24, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Rueben Randle (82) reacts after scoring a touchdown during second half against the Washington Redskins at MetLife Stadium. The New York Giants defeated the Washington Redskins 32-21.
Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Wide Receivers Odell Beckham and Rueben Randle combined for 14 catches, 195 yards, and 2 touchdowns. It was nice for Randle to show up after just 4 receptions for 28 yards combined in the first two games of the season. When Victor Cruz returns I expect Randle’s production to steadily increase due to extra attention given to Beckham and Cruz. Randle does have a bad habit of dissapearing for numerous games a clip though.
Tight end Larry Donnell is not a good tight end. He can not block. He drops passes, he fell down on a route in the red zone and he did this weird somersault in what may have been an attempt to break a tackle. Daniel Fells is a much better blocker and I trust him more as a receiver, he also lines up in the backfield to block.
I don’t like this dink and dunk offense the Giants have been running. Eli Manning was very effective in it tonight but they throw underneath a little too much. There were two third and short situations where Eli threw the ball to a receiver short of the marker. One play looked like Donnell ran a bad route and flattened out coming underneath the outside receiver and the other was simply short of the sticks.
The Giants still need to improve. Despite getting their first win they have a lot of work to do. If Dallas loses to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday the NFC East will be up for grabs. I really like what I have seen for the most part from these Giants. They’re running the ball effectively, they’re stopping the run, they’re not turning the ball over, they’re improved on special teams, and those are all traits of successfull teams but they have to finish games if they want a shot at their fifth Lombardi Trophy.
This team will be regaining Victor Cruz, Will Beatty, Ereck Flowers, Robert Ayers, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, within the next few weeks. In a very short period of time the Giants may go from a joke to serious contenders.