The NY Giants improve to 2-7 by stunting a comeback from Alex Smith and the Washington Football Team.
The New York Giants pick up their second win of the season against the Washington Football Team. It’s a great exclamation point to a hectic week, which started with a heartbreaking loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football. Then the Giants had to answer questions about off-field issues with one of their veteran wide receivers. Not to mention the injuries the team fought all week.
But the team was able to put all that aside for 60 minutes to sweep this season’s series against Washington. And they did what they haven’t been able to do all season— finish the game. Despite a mounting comeback from Washington’s backup quarterback Alex Smith, the Giants managed to close the game out with a big turnover.
There were a lot of great plays that helped seal this win for Big Blue. Let’s see which players helped contribute in this week’s game grades.
Wayne Gallman and Alfred Morris
Grades: A
It felt unfair to give either Wayne Gallman or Alfred Morris an A without giving the same to the other.
Jason Garrett called a great game, and it was all based off the run. Gallman carried the ball 14 times for 68 yards and a touchdown, while Morris had nine carries for 67 yards. Each back showed effort and skill against the strong defensive front of Washington.
It didn’t seem to bother either. Gallman isn’t a huge back, but he hits the holes as hard and as fast as if he were Derrick Henry. Most of Gallman’s carries came in between the tackles. But as his 4.9 rush average shows, he manages to make sizable games each time he touches the ball. Effective running inside opens up play action for Daniel Jones, as well as outside rushes for Morris.
Morris averaged 7.4 yards per carry, and showed his former team that he still has plenty left in the tank. Most of Morris’ rushes were outside the ends, and he’s fast enough, quick enough, and strong enough to get around the edge rusher and plow forward to pick up additional yards.
The combination has been a welcomed surprise, especially after the injuries to starter Saquon Barkley, and then the next starter the Giants installed, Davonte Freeman. The Giants have always been at their best when they effectively run the ball. It seems like Gallman and Morris are keeping this facet of the team alive.
WR Austin Mack
Grade: B+
Call him the Washington specialist. The only other game Mack had a reception this year was against Washington in Week 6. He caught one pass for one yard on one target.
Fast forward to Week 9. Mack led the Giants in reception yards with 72. He had four receptions on five targets, none bigger than the beautiful 50-yard bomb in the first quarter from Daniel Jones. He was third on the team in both targets and receptions, and I doubt he’ll become Jones’ new favorite. But in a week where the Giants were down one offensive weapon, Mack stepped up big.
What really earned his grade was his effort. At the end of the first quarter, Jones hit Mack for a 10-yard pass, which was at first ruled a touchdown but later overturned. The impressive thing on this play was Mack’s second effort. He could have been stopped before the first down, but he lowered his shoulder and kept trucking, like, well, a mack truck.
Effort is infectious. Gallman scored a touchdown on the next play. But Mack’s effort helped give the offense an edge.
DE Leonard Williams
Grade: B
The Giants held Washington to just 37 rushing yards. So effective was the Giants defensive line in stopping the run that Washington only attempted nine carries all game. A big reason for that was Leonard Williams.
He had just three tackles. But what the stat sheet doesn’t show, and what Jets fans were not complacent with, was Williams’ ability to blow up running plays before they have a chance to develop. He showed that ability in the opening drive of the second half with a big tackle for loss. Unfortunately, that made Smith just throw the ball more, and he picked the secondary apart.
Still, it’s easier to win a fight if you take away one of your opponent’s arms. And Williams did that this week. He also sacked Smith this game, bringing his total for the season to five, which leads the Giants.
He continues to be a solid staple of the defensive line.
CB Logan Ryan
Grade: A
With all the negative noise surrounding the team, it was easy to miss this bit of good news this week: Logan Ryan’s wife had life-saving surgery.
It came after Ryan told one of the Giants trainers about his wife’s health issue, and the trainer said she should see a doctor immediately. Ryan’s wife had emergency surgery soon thereafter, and is now recovering well.
Ryan, who has previously played for head coach Joe Judge in New England, signed with the Giants during training camp. He’s proven to be a valuable asset. He came into this week’s game with the second-most tackles for the Giants, as well as a sack, a forced fumble, and five pass deflections.
This game, he was second in tackles, with six, and added another two pass deflections. But he capped off this game, and what must have been an emotionally draining personal week, with an interception to end the game.
Ryan’s presence in the secondary has helped this team stay in every game.
MVP: K Graham Gano
Can we show a kicker a little love?
The Giants kicking game has been inconsistent for years. And they had to find a kicker on short notice after Aldrick Rosas was cut.
In comes Graham Gano. Gino didn’t play in 2019, but was a pro bowl kicker in 2017. And he’s been just about perfect despite that lull in play.
Gano came into the game 16/17 for field goals, and 11/11 for extra points — no longer the automatic points they are. But for Gano they have been.
He was perfect in the game against Washington, which really mattered since the Giants were only able to reach the end zone twice. He was 3/3, with a long from 48, and added two clean extra points. Without the consistency and dependability of Gano, the Giants might not have come out on top.
His ability was the reason the Giants won the game, and why he’s earned this week’s MVP.