It’s been a crazy season for the NY Giants, and it’s not over yet.
Say what you will about the 3-7 New York Giants. But as the team heads into their bye week, this season has seen it all.
A horrendous start, a struggling quarterback, an injury to your team’s most explosive weapon are just some of the story lines to start 2020. Don’t forget you have a first-time head coach, a general manager on the hot seat, and a fan base exhausted from screaming about the awful product they’ve watched dogmatically for years.
And yet, there’s hope. The Giants, with three wins, have as many wins as the NFC East leaders, the Philadelphia Eagles. The bye week couldn’t have come at a better time for the team to get the rest they certainly need, before trying to close out this regular season with an improbable playoff berth.
That this team can make the playoffs is just one of the most surprising storylines thus far in 2020. After 10 weeks of play, let’s review, in no particular order, the 10 biggest surprises from the Giants.
#1 Daniel Jones is third in rushing among QBs
After nearly two decades of Eli Manning fail to fall forward, Daniel Jones was drafted to become the answer to the evolution of today’s NFL. It’s no coincidence that where Eli struggled Jones excels.
Jones currently leads the Giants in rushing yards, with 384. He even has the longest run on the team, the infamous turf-monster-self-tackle in Week 7 against the Eagles. He’s currently averaging 38 rushing yards per game.
But the most surprising aspect of Jones’ running skill has to be that he’s currently third in rushing yards among all quarterbacks in the NFL. Only Kyler Murray and Lamar Jackson are ahead. And he’s one of only five quarterbacks with at least 300 rushing yards this season.
Jones is not attempting to run nearly as many times as those ahead of him. Murray has 87 attempts and 604 yards, while Jackson has 90 attempts for 524. Jones only has 49. His numbers are more in line with Russell Wilson, currently fifth in yards, who only has 45 attempts. Wilson and Jones are the only two within the top five with fewer than 80 attempts.
Jones can certainly run the ball. And, at times, he’s shown that he can hang in the pocket and throw a beautiful pass. His ability to make those throws and run effectively open up a dimension on the field that was off limits during the Eli years, though Jones’ struggles with ball security limit the amount of designed runs Jason Garrett is willing to use.
But Jones enters the bye week with two consecutive turnover-free games — the first time in his career he’s achieved that feat. He’s showing he can fix his biggest weakness, which may improve his biggest strength.
#2 Jason Garrett’s Offense
The Giants are currently tied with the Los Angeles Rams in total plays ran this season. And while the distribution favors the pass, 59 percent passing vs 41 percent rushing, Garrett is doing a much better job this year to even that split.
In 2019, the Giants had just 362 rushes all year, ahead of only the Washington Football Team and the Miami Dolphins, compared to 607 passes. When a team knows you’re going to throw, they’re ready for it.
Garrett’s even-keeled offense has improved the Giants run game, even without Saquon Barkley. It’s also increased the Giants’ passing completion percentage from 61.9 percent at the end of 2019 to 63.6. Every percentage point helps.
Easy to forget how Garrett was chased out of Dallas, who under Mike McCarthy were projected this season to be Super Bowl contenders. But Garrett won three NFC East titles (2014, 2016, and 2018) and was the NFL Coach of the Year in 2016 — not too far into the past.
Yes, Dallas’ starting quarterback and their backup went down this season. But without Garrett, the Cowboys have crumbled, and even superstars like Ezekiel Elliott look pedestrian. Garrett’s presence and experience have helped the Giants’ young quarterback, as well as the Giants’ young coaching staff. He looks sorely missed in Dallas.
He’s also used creative ways to get the ball to explosive playmakers. With all of New York screaming to trade Evan Engram, Garrett reinforced his belief in his tight end. And while he might not throw the ball Engram’s way any more than normal, he’s finding other ways to get the ball in his hands (without the risk of Engram dropping it).
These creative plays help force opposing defense’s to respect the Giants playmakers. Garrett’s knowledge has also helped hidden gems on the Giants shine.
#3 Wayne Gallman has more yards than Saquon Barkley
I know, “duh,” since Barkley is hurt. But if someone told you before the season that this statement would be true you’d probably laugh.
After attempting to plug up the leading back role with Devonta Freeman for five games, Gallman has emerged as the team’s true leading back.
Unfortunately for Gallman, he was drafted one year before Barkley. And after being under utilized since then, Barkley’s second significant injury has provided the opportunity for Gallman to show his ability, and his coaches have certainly taken notice.
Gallman leads the team with 69 rushing attempts. He’s second, behind Jones, with 275 yards, and averages 30.6 yards per game. But what’s great about his rushing ability is where he does it — up the gut. Gallman has the patience and the explosiveness to wait for a hole to open up and then exploit it, beating up the opponent’s defensive line in the process.
And since he averages 4 yards a carry, just a few of those carries helps create third and short situations, which are far more favorable to an offensive mind like Garrett’s.
Prior to Barkley, the Giants run game was at it’s best with the two-headed monster of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw. And in Barkley’s absence, they found a new one with the addition of NFC East journeyman Alfred Morris.
Both Gallman and Morris are the only two running backs for the Giants to have a 20+ yard rush this season. And Morris’ outside rushing ability is a fantastic complement to Gallman’s inside ability. Opponents now have to respect the entire field.
Gallman has scored a touchdown in every game since taking over as the lead back when Freeman went down in Week 7. It doesn’t look like he has any intention to stop that streak.
#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.
#5 The Giants enter the bye in the hunt for the division crown
No one gave the Giants a shot to be the NFC East champs this year. At the start of the season, Vegas Insider had them pinned at 6.5 wins, which now seems about right, but also had the Cowboys at 10 wins and the Eagles at 9.5.
It didn’t look any better when the Giants began the season 0-5, and all the problems and worries from the previous year appeared to return.
Regardless of how it started, this is where the Giants now stand. They are 3-7, 2nd in the NFC East, and for the first time since 2016 they have a chance to make the playoffs.
A division title has been even longer in the making. The Giants last won the NFC East title in 2011, the year they won their second Super Bowl under Tom Caughlin and Eli Manning.
No one expects the Giants to pull off another run like that this year. No one expected them to be fighting for a division title and a playoff berth this early under the Joe Judge regime, either. But this Giants team has showed it’s ready to start competing — now.
#6 The defense is causing turnovers
Quite possibly one of the biggest surprises to come out of this season is just how well the Giants defense has played. They play hard, fast, and swarm to the ball. Assistant head coach and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham has his defense tricking opponents into how he wants them to play.
This is on the heels of a 2019 team which gave up the third most points in the NFL, with 451, and the third most points per game, with 28.2. They allowed 264.1 yards through the air per game and 113.3 yards on the ground each game.
Oh, they were also tied for last with a -17 turnover differential.
The defense of 2020 is a far different team. They are 12th in the league for points per game, with 23.6, 7th in rushing yards per game, with 100.9, and tied with the Baltimore Ravens for 7th in sacks, with 25.
But the biggest improvement is turnovers. The Giants are currently tied with the Dolphins and the Patriots for third place with 15 total takeaways. It gives them a dead even turnover differential, as Daniel Jones still works on that aspect of the game.
A team that loses the turnover battle typically loses the game. And the Giants are finally beginning to pull ahead.
#7 Leonard Williams and D-line
The Giants have been working on building a better defensive line since 2017. The D-line was the muscle that has won them Super Bowls in years past, and after years of tinkering, it’s beginning to take form.
Dalvin Tomlinson, drafted in the second round in 2017, leads the line with 35 tackles. Leonard Williams, traded for last year and franchised this year, is one tackle behind him. Dexter Lawrence, drafted in the first round in 2019, is one behind Williams, with 33. And 2018 3rd-round pick B.J. Hill has 18.
Together these big bodies clog up the box, forcing teams to abandon the run, which in turn allows them to get more opportunities to pressure opposing quarterbacks.
As mentioned on the last slide, the Giants are tied with the Ravens in total sacks, with 25. And Leonard Williams is proving to be the pass rusher the Jets wished he could be.
He leads the team with 5 sacks. And through Week 9 Williams was also tied with T.J. Watt for second-most QB Knockdowns in the league, with 11. What doesn’t show up on the stat sheet, though, is all the bad throws, pass deflections, or interceptions Williams causes by his constant pressure.
Throw in the eight tackles for loss from Williams, the six TFL and 1.5 sacks from Tomlinson, the 4.5 TFL and 3 sacks from Lawrence, and Hill’s one sack and one TFL, the defensive front of the Giants is once again becoming feared throughout the league.
#8 James Bradberry & Logan Ryan
The Giants secondary is still its weakest link, but even this area is seeing improvement. The two biggest reasons for this improvement are the additions of Logan Ryan and James Bradberry.
Wherever Ryan goes, strong defenses seem to follow. He was in New England from 2013-2016 and played for the Tennessee Titans from 2017-2019. He has 15 playoff games to his career, and two playoff interceptions, one from each team, to his credit.
He’s helped bring that leadership and talent to a defensive backfield that desperately needed it.
Ryan is second on the team in tackles, with 59. He has a sack, a tackle for loss, seven pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and a game-sealing interception. He’s been as productive for the Giants as he has for any defense he’s played, and that’s even while he and his wife had off-field health issues.
Bradberry is well on his way to the best season of his career. He’s heads into the bye week tied with Carlton Davis of Tampa Bay as the league leader in pass deflections, with 14, one off his career high.
But Bradberry always seems to come up with a big pass deflect when the team needs it the most. He also leads the team with three interceptions, and has 32 tackles, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
These two have held down the secondary, with great help from Jabrill Peppers and some help from Julian Love. And now that 2020 second-round draft pick Xavier McKinney nearing his debut, the secondary could become a completed picture.
#9 A Giants LB is the league leader in tackles
The Giants haven’t had an effective linebacker in over a decade. All that has changed with the signing of Blake Martinez.
Martinez picked up where the Green Bay Packers left him, as one of the most efficient linebackers in the league. In 2019, Martinez was second in the NFL with 155 tackles. In 2018, he was second with 144 tackles. In 2017, he was tied for first with 144 tackles.
This year, he heads into a much deserved bye week tied as the league leader with 96 tackles. Logan Ryan is closest on the Giants to him, with 59 tackles.
Martinez also has 2 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, 3 pass deflections, an interception, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Watching the Giants play defense is watching Martinez fly to the ball all over the field.
Having someone dependable like that in the middle of the field allows Patrick Graham to try some stunts and blitz; he knows if the guy he sends misses, Martinez will be there to clean up the mess.
Why Green Bay let him walk is a mystery. The Giants were smart to snatch him up, locking him in with a three year deal for $30.75 million. He’s been worth every penny thus far.
The Giants have a long history of legendary linebackers, from Harry Carson, to Carl Banks, to Lawrence Taylor. They’ve also had strong linebackers like Jessie Armstead and Antonio Pierce. Martinez is in position to join this elite company.
#10 Judge looks legit
The past two head coaches of the New York Giants were total disasters.
Ben McAdoo sounds like the name of a bumbling coach in a football comedy movie, and in reality he was not much different. He wore an oversized suit to his first press conference. He used a diner menu as a play sheet. But he’ll forever be remembered for killing Eli Manning’s ironman record of starting 210 consecutive starts, before benching him in favor of Geno Smith.
Pat Shurmur came in and underperformed. He never seemed to take command the way a head coach inherently has to. He went 9-23 before fans, management, and even the players saw enough to know that he wasn’t the guy.
Joe Judge was an unknown candidate to replace Shurmur. Before his name popped up, the leading candidates seemed to be Matt Rhule, now the Carolina Panthers’ head coach, or Mike McCarthy, now the Cowboys’ head coach.
No one was sure that a special teams coordinator would be the best choice for a young quarterback, or a team that struggled with an immense amount of losses since their last good coach. Fans called in to radio stations to complain that he was no more than the latest Bill Belichick wannabe.
But from his first press conference, Joe Judge proved he’s the real deal. To listen to Judge break down football is to listen to a master of his craft explain it with ease; never condescending, always insightful.
Judge inherited a mess. And from the start he’s had to deal with the arrests of his starting kicker and a first round draft pick from 2019, a player getting into a fight on the field, the same player causing distractions off the field, plus a multitude of injuries to his best and his most promising new talent in this strange season of the NFL and COVID.
But he’s handled each and every issue like a consummate veteran. His players have been leaving all effort on the field, despite loss after loss. And outside a blowout in Week 3 against the 49ers, the Giants have been in every game.
That game could have broken a bad team. Player’s effort is a direct response to how they feel about a coach. And from every metric, it seems like Judge has all the players believing in his vision.
It helps that Judge is surrounded by Garrett and Graham, two great coaches in their own rights. And he can only improve his command of the team with some experience under his belt. But the Giants should feel confident that they found their next long-term coach.
Judge getting this team to hang in an NFC East race after starting the season 0-5 shows he has the ability to turn this organization around. It’s a surprise that it took less than a full season to prove he’s already an improvement from the past two regimes.