The NY Giants’ defense reached a crescendo Sunday in a 23-20 victory over the Washington Football Team.
As the NY Giants’ offense sleepwalked through much of the second half, Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham dialed up the heat on Washington quarterback Alex Smith, who forced the ball into trouble that Jabrill Peppers intercepted to seal a hard fought division win, 23-20 at FedExField.
The first half of Sunday’s game was the most dominant half of football from a Giants team since at least the 2018 meeting against these teams.
Jones and the offense ran out to a 20-3 lead, powered by 10 points off turnovers amid a 244 yard flurry as the defense only allowed Washington into Giants territory twice while surrendering just three points.
That trend didn’t continue into the second half.
Smith, on in relief of Kyle Allen, who suffered a gruesome ankle injury in the first half Sunday, carved up the Giants for 325 yards and a touchdown, while also leading three consecutive scoring drives in the third and fourth quarters. But, it was Smith’s three interceptions that proved too much for the Football Team to overcome.
For the third game in as many weeks, the Giants coughed up a double-digit second half lead, this time a 17-point advantage to Washington. This time, though, Peppers’ timely interception gave the Giants’ offense an opportunity to salt out a win.
But, the Giants’ offense went three-and-out, forcing the defense back onto the field just after the 2:00 warning. Perhaps more consequentially, the Giants’ offense only managed to drain :14 off the clock, giving Smith and Washington the ball back with 1:48 remaining in regulation.
Once again, though, it was the Giants’ defense that sealed the deal when Logan Ryan intercepted Smith with 1:15 remaining for Washington’s fifth and most costly turnover of the day.
Scroll through for a look at four thoughts on Sunday’s win that kept the Giants’ faint division hopes alive.
Evan Engram finally finds paydirt
On one of the Giants’ finest offensive plays of the season, Daniel Jones rifled in a perfectly thrown pass to Evan Engram, who went full-extension to pull down a 16-yard touchdown to lift the Giants to a 20-3 lead.
It was Engram’s first touchdown reception of the season, and the type of pass from Jones that illustrates the promise the Giants saw in him when they made him the No. 6 overall pick last season and inspires confidence he can develop into a top passer in the NFL.
Both Engram and Jones had been maligned in recent weeks. Engram, for a costly drop against the Philadelphia Eagles two weeks ago that allowed Carson Wentz and the Eagles offense to march downfield for the game-winning score, and a sluggish start for the season. Jones was also criticized for his inability to protect the football after he entered Week with 13 turnovers.
Engram’s five-catch for 48 yards and a touchdown performance Sunday came hours after reports surfaced that the Giants turned down trade offers at the deadline for the veteran tight end. He rewarded the organization’s faith in him with Sunday’s strong showing,
Backfield committee taking shape for stretch-run
With Devonta Freeman out, the Giants turned to Alfred Morris and Wayne Gallman to power the running game, and that’s exactly what they did, particularly in the second half.
At one point in the third quarter, Morris and Gallman combined to average 5.5 yards per carry in the game and each had their share of explosive runs.
While Morris turned the clock back, averaging 7.4 per carry on his way to a 67 yard performance, Gallman consistently not only churned out tough yards but on several occasions looked on the cusp of breaking off a long run or more.
Gallman finished with a team-high 68 yards and a touchdown.
If the Giants are able to replicate their first half success in coming weeks and the ground attack with Gallman and Morris prove capable of salting out games, the offense might be able to pull off some upsets over the second half of the season.
Making turnovers count
The Giants jumped out to a 10-0 first quarter lead, with both scores coming off Washington turnovers.
With 12:07 remaining, Giants safety Jabrill Peppers forced and recovered an Antonio Gibson fumble that the Giants converted into a 38-yard Graham Gano Field goal to jump out to an early 3-0 lead.
Later, Washington Isaiah Wright muffed a punt that the Giants cashed in for a Wayne Gallman touchdown four plays later.
The Giants forced five Washington turnovers, including the game-clinching interception by Ryan.
It’s one thing to put together points on scheduled drives, but it’s significantly easier to win in the NFL when you make your opponent pay for turning the football over, as the Giants did on Sunday afternoon.
Leonard Williams playing his way into part of Giants’ core
Once again Sunday, Lawrence proved to have taken a significant step forward in his biggest struggle; turning pressures into sacks.
Late in the third quarter, despite appearing to be held on a bull-rush up the middle, Williams persisted, wrapped up Smith for a 3rd down sack that forced Washington to settle for a field goal to pull within 23-13.
Williams’ Sunday sack was his fifth of the season, and alongside Dalvin Tomlinson seems to be forming the cornerstones of a dominant defensive line that has become the hallmark of the Giants’ developing defense.
If Williams finishes the final seven games of this season as strong as he’s started the first nine, the Giants are going to need to make locking both he and Tomlinson up long term a top organizational priority.
Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL.