Logan Ryan and Daniel Jones offered up two of the most impactful performances of NY Giants’ 23-20 win over the Washington Football Team.
It was only fitting that NY Giants defensive back Logan Ryan sealed Sunday’s 23-20 victory over the Washington Football Team with an interception off quarterback Alex Smith, after the harrowing week Ryan and his family wet through.
Ryan revealed last week that the Giants’ medical staff might have saved his wife’s life, when trainer Justin Maher convinced her to seek treatment when she was complaining of abdominal pain and it was discovered she had an ectopic pregnancy.
Sunday afternoon, Ryan dedicated his performance to her, and carried his team across the finish line.
“It was an extremely emotional week,” Ryan said. “I was extremely grateful to the organization, and to my wife, she’s a fighter, to not lose her in that situation was very fortunate.
“My wife and I mourn silent four our child, although it was a great story, it was en emotional game for us. That game was definitely for my wife. I had her name written on my cleats. That ball is for her. She told me to bring one home for her, and I did that.”
Ryan didn’t just bring back the game ball for his wife, Ashley, much more insignificantly he brought back a Giants division victory when he intercepted Smith that allowed the Giants’ offense to kneel down the game.
The interception came off a play that was a last-minute addition to the Giants’ defensive game plan.
“That play that I ran, is something I Talked ot Patrick Graham about, to put me in a position to make that play,” Ryan said. “It was a two-minute play we put in Saturday night, a few hours before the game.”
Ryan finished with six tackles, two pass breakups, and one forced fumble on what was certainly a monumental weekend for the veteran defensive back and his family.
Scroll through for a look at the Giants’ studs, in addition to Ryan, and duds from a 23-20 win at FedExField
QB – Daniel Jones: STUD
He did it.
Jones, in his ninth outing of the season managed to escape without turning the football over, even holding onto it on a sack late that forced a Giants punt but could have been much more disastrous had Jones fumbled the ball near midfield.
“That’s been a focus of mine, and I know the importance of holding onto the ball,” Jones said. “The defense did a great job today coming up with five turnovers, and on offense we were able to protect it today. That was big for us. That was a big play in the game, and I’ve got to do a good job holding onto the ball.”
In addition to protecting the football, Jones had a pair of throws in the running for his best passes of the year — an 18-yard strike to tight end Evan Engram for a touchdown and hitting Austin Mack in stride for a 50-yard gain down the sideline.
Jones finished 23-of-34 passing for 212 yards and a touchdown, on his way to a 91.2 passer rating.
He was far from perfect, but Jones’ strong showing flashed all of the promise and potential that have the Giants so optimistic about his future.
CB – Isaac Yiadom: DUD
After breaking in untouched on a first half sack, Isaac Yiadom became a favorite target of Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith the rest of the game.
Yiadom was toasted on a deep pass downfield to Chris Sims for a 45-yard gain. Later, when Smith hit wide receiver Terry McLaurin in traffic, Yiadom gave poor effort on a missed tackle that McLaurin broke en route to a 68-yard touchdown that pulled the Football Team to within 23-20 with 10:24 remaining.
The starting cornerback job opposite James Bradberry has been a revolving door for the Giants this season, as it was opposite ex-Giant Janoris Jenkins last season. Yiadom entered Sunday with a 37.3 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus, and it was easy to see why, and why his playing time should be limited whenever possible the rest of the season.
S – Jabrill Peppers: STUD
On Washington’s first play from scrimmage, Peppers caught up with running back Antonio Gibson deep downfield and knocked the ball out with his helmet, after about 27 players tried to recover the fumble before Peppers finally fell on it. On the Giants’ ensuing possession, New York took a 3-0 lead with 9:35 remaining in the first quarter.
While Peppers’ first quarter fumble recovery led to points, it wasn’t even his most impactful interception of the game.
With 2:18 remaining, Alex Smith was facing an onslaught of pressure on a Giants blitz and put the ball up for grabs for no one in particular, but Peppers pulled down the interception to halt Washington’s drive and give the Giants’ offense a chance to salt out the game.
Even though Jones and the offense went three-and-out, Peppers’ timely turnover scuttled Washington’s best chance at a comeback.
Peppers finished with six tackles, one interception, three pass breakups, and a fumble recovery.
RB Dion Lewis: DUD
At this stage, it’s difficult to see what exactly Lewis brings to this offense.
Largely unable to crack the running back rotation, when Lewis did get a carry on Sunday, he failed to convert a 4th down and 1 on the Giants’ opening possession of the game. It’s easy, and accurate to blame the playcall in the situation, but it just underscores what little Lewis has brought to the ground game this season.
As Wayne Gallman and Alfred Morris added a bit of thunder and lightning duo to the backfield, Lewis was even limited in the passing game, being held to just two catches for 16 yards.
WR – Austin Mack: STUD
With Golden Tate benched for disciplinary reasons, Mack stepped up and made the most of his opportunity.
The former undrafted free agent made a couple of huge plays in the first half, hauling in a pair of receptions in the first half, one a 50-yard strike down the sideline and another eight-yard catch that set up a Wayne Gallman touchdown plunge.
If the Giants decide that Tate’s conduct is too detrimental to keep around, and wind up cutting or benching him the rest of the season, Mack did enough Sunday to cement himself as the Giants’ No. 3 wide receiver. He might have even surpassed Tate on the depth chart, even if Tate remains a contributing member of the roster, as this team continues to evaluate the roster with an eye toward 2021 while trying to win games in 2020 simultaneously.
OG – Shane Lemieux: DUD
After a stellar first career start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Monday night, rookie guard Shane Lemieux seemed to struggle throughout against Washington’s dominant front.
Lemieux allowed a few pressures and at times was even rotated out of the game.
Giants head coach Joe Judge has made a habit of rotating offensive linemen in and out, but Lemieux’s play didn’t inspire much confidence this week. The Giants hope to get Will Hernandez back off the COVID-19/reserve list in time for next Sunday’s clash with the Philadelphia Eagles.
K – Graham Gano: STUD
Another week, another game Graham Gano proves worthy of every penny of his one-year deal worth just over $1 million.
Sunday, Gano hit a 38-yard field goal, 48-yard field goal, and was perfect on extra points.
Consistency matters above almost all else when it comes to kickers, and since signing with the Giants, Gano is 16-of-17 on the season. Gano has twice made a 50-yard field goal this season. He hasn’t missed since a windy Week 2 Sunday in Chicago against the Bears.
At this pace, Gano has a chance to be the Giants’ representative in the Pro Bowl this winter.
LB – Blake Martinez: STUD
Blake Martinez entered Sunday as the Giants’ leading tackler, and already had an interception returned for a touchdown on his 2020 resume, and added another pick in the first half against Washington Football Team.
It’s difficult to overstate just how valuable Martinez has been as an addition to this defense. He constantly seems to be around the football, and has been a significant upgrade from Alec Ogletree, who departed via free agency last offseason.
Martinez finished Sunday’s contest with 10 total tackles, one interception, and two key pass breakups. Sunday was Martinez’ third double-digit tackle performance and the seventh time this season he’s produced more than nine tackles.
Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL.