Giants: Five Takeaways from Sunday’s Game
In a roller coaster game Sunday, the New York Giants found a way to edge out the Baltimore Ravens 27-23 and improve to 3-3 on the season. With a trip to London on the horizon, the Giants seem to be trending in the right direction. Here are five takeaways from the game and things to keep in mind moving forward.
Beckham: The Best of Times, the Worst of Times
Odell Beckham, Jr. appears to be having fun again. The Giants’ star wide-out caught eight passes for a career-high 222 receiving yards to go along with two touchdowns, including the 66-yard go-ahead score in the weighing moments of the contest. Despite Beckham’s career day, his on-field antics continued. After he scored to put the Giants up 27-23 with just under two minutes to go, Beckham boasted by unstrapping his helmet in the end-zone, drawing a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty at a crucial point of the game. Luckily, the defense held and the Giants went on to win. Will the Giants continue to take the good with the bad when it comes to Beckham? Well, according to an interview with WFAN Sports Radio on October 17, 2016, Eli Manning thinks its easier to deal with Beckham’s antics when the team is winning.
The Defense Continues to Step Up
With the Giants’ offense stagnant in the first half, the defense found a way to keep the game close. After allowing a field goal and a touchdown on Baltimore’s first two drives, the Giants forced four straight punts, shutting the Ravens out in the second quarter. Then, the defense made a clutch goal-line stand in the fourth, which proved to be a turning point in the game. Although they failed to force any turnovers, the Giants consistently put Baltimore in third-and-long situations, holding them to a 27 percent third-down conversion rate. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco was consistently pressured, as the defense sacked him twice and affected many of his drop-backs. The Giants came into the weekend tied for a league worst four sacks, so the team will need to build on its encouraging performance it experienced in week six.
Running Game Still an Issue
Even with the return of starting running back Rashad Jennings, the Giants’ rushing attack looked flat. The offense came into Sunday averaging just 83.6 yards on the ground through the first five weeks and saw similar results against Baltimore. The Ravens held the Giants to just 38 yards on 17 attempts, a 2.2 yard-per-carry average. The offense must find a solution to get their running game moving forward to keep opposing defenses honest, which will help take pressure off Eli Manning and his receivers.
Turnovers Holding Back the Offense
The Giants turned the ball over three times Sunday, raising their season giveaway total to 13, tied for second worst in the league. If the team wants to reach its full potential, the offense needs to find a way to take care of the football. Turnovers have put the defense in tough situations, which have forced them to try and hold opposing offenses at key moments in the game. Smarter play will be essential to continuing the offense’s momentum.
Time of Possession?
Baltimore won the time of possession battle, keeping the ball for over 35 minutes as compared to the Giants’ 25 minutes. In six games this season, the Giants have lost the time of possession statistic five times, an alarming number. The Giants’ no-huddle offense is tricky. A quick three-and-out means the defense has to return to the field with little rest. If this pattern continues, the defense will wear down, especially in late game situations as the season grows older. The Giants should look to balance out the time of possession to keep opposing defenses on the field and give their own more opportunities to rest.