NY Giants: 10 biggest surprises through first 10 games

#4 Graham Gano is money

The Giants began this year in a desperate search for a kicker after they released Aldrick Rosas. They brought in veteran Graham Gano, who did not play at all in 2019, and he’s been nearly automatic since.

It’s a good thing he has been, too. The Giants are one of the worst in league when it comes to scoring touchdowns. In fact, the only team to score fewer touchdowns than the Giants is the New York Jets.

Gano’s importance for the offense could not be over stated. He’s second in the league with 21 field goals made, and he’s only missed one attempt. His longest make is from 55 yards, which means anything up to about that length gives him a 95.5 percent shot to make it. He’s also made all 16 extra points.

His three field goals in Week 9 against Washington helped the team pick up their second win of the season, and made Gano the NFL’s Special Teams Player of the Week. And after hitting two more field goals in the win against Philadelphia, the Giants signed Gano to a three-year deal.

This amount of production could not have been expected when the Giants signed Gano. After making just 87.5 percent of his attempts in 2018, no team seemed particularly interested in him.

But Gano did make a Pro Bowl in 2017. He hit 29 of 30 attempts that year. And even in a down year in 2018, he still made one from 63 yards out.

Gano has certainly exceeded expectations during one of the best campaigns of his 11 seasons. Hopefully the bye week helps get him right after testing positive for COVID-19.