The NY Giants will need standout performances from at least four key contributors if they are going to clinch the NFC East and make some noise in the NFL Playoffs
This is it, the NFL stretch run has arrived with the sprint to the NFL Playoffs in full swing, and the NY Giants have somewhat surprisingly crashed the party.
Now that the NY Giants have arrived, following an 0-5 and then 1-7 start, first year head coach Joe Judge’s team seems to have found a winning formula; impose your will on offense with the running game, and play strong defense at all three levels.
It is that formula that powered a 17-12 upset victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, and what will be necessary to wrap up the NFC East crown and possibly give this group a chance to surprise some people in January.
Here’s a look at the Giants’ four most important players over the final four games as the intensity rises and playoff implications increase:
1. RB Wayne Gallman
Wayne Gallman has been the focal point of the Giants’ offense over the past six weeks, and arguably the roster’s most important player.
Gallman rushed for a career-high 135 yards on Sunday against the Seahawks, setting the tone in the second half by gashing Seattle for a 60-yard run that set up Alfred Morris’ first of two touchdowns.
While Gallman had a five-game touchdown scoring streak snapped by the Seahawks, he still was the spark that ignited the Giants’ offense and this offense is at its best when it is committed to the running game. It’s no secret that the offensive line has dramatically improved over the past month when the offense leaned heavier on Gallman and the run. That’s the formula that must continue if the Giants are going to get across the finish line into the postseason and make some noise in the tournament.
2. CB James Bradberry
For spells this season, James Bradberry has been the Giants’ most dominant defensive player, but he also makes a strong argument for being the roster’s most gifted.
Bradberry is currently Pro Football Focus’ 13th ranked cornerback in the NFL, and is holding opposing quarterbacks to a 69.6 passer rating when targeting him and receivers are averaging just 10.9 yards per reception.
Beyond his game-changing ability in coverage, Bradberry is even more vital to the Giants’ success on defense because he travels with the opponent’s top receiver each week.
Check out the top wide receivers the Giants will face down the stretch:
Week 14: DeAndre Hopkins (Arizona Cardinals)
Week 15: Jarvis Landry (Cleveland Browns)
Week 16: Hollywood Brown (Baltimore Ravens)
Week 17: Amari Cooper (Dallas Cowboys)
Bradberry’s performances against those receivers will go a long way towards determining just how high the ceiling is for this defense and this team.
3. QB Daniel Jones
Daniel Jones was playing his best, most efficient football of the season, and maybe even his young career leading up to his injury in Cincinnati two weeks ago.
Presuming that Jones returns Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, or whenever he gets back on the field in a game, it is fair to wonder which Jones is going to show up.
Will it be the relentless, at times fearless runner who managed the Giants’ scheme that became increasingly reliant on Run Pass Options while doing a much better job protecting the football? Or will Jones revert back to slipshod decision-making that led to him tossing nine interceptions in 11 games?
The Giants have found a winning formula in taking the air out of the football and letting the offensive line impose its will at scrimmage against opponents and pounding the running game with Wayne Gallman and Alfred Morris. Colt McCoy’s relative efficiency while passing for 105 yards with one touchdown and one interception illustrate a reduced impact the quarterback has in this current scheme.
But, if Jones returns as efficient and dominant as he departed, the offense is going to be even more difficult to defend because of all the intangibles his athleticism brings to it.
4. S Jabrill Peppers
Much of the Giants’ success up front on defense, has resulted in steadily improving play in the secondary, led by Jabrill Peppers getting better in coverage each week.
Peppers remains one of the NFL’s most effective blitzing safeties, and is frequently deployed by Graham up near the line of scrimmage as a heat-seeking missile into the backfield, but two of Peppers’ strongest coverage games have come the past two weeks.
Two weeks ago against the Cincinnati Bengals, Peppers produced a season-high 88 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus, and Sunday was his fourth most efficient day in coverage with a 61.9 mark.
If Peppers can continue to anchor coverage deep downfield and be as much of a weapon at scrimmage, Graham is going to have the chance to be mighty creative with his calls and this defense is going to continue to be a difficult one for quarterbacks and offensive coordinators to effectively attack.
Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL.
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