NY Giants: These 4 players must step up if they’re going to make NFL Playoffs
At least four NY Giants players will be critical to finding a way to beat the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, and Dallas Cowboys to secure a berth in the 2020 NFL Playoffs
The NY Giants’ tenuous playoff hopes hang in the balance ahead of Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns, after a disastrous and listless loss to the Arizona Cardinals last week.
Following a win over the San Francisco 49ers, the Washington Football Team vaulted to the top of the NFC East standings, overtaking the NY Giants for first place. But, the Giants own the head-to-head tiebreaker against Washington, so winning at least two of the next three games seems critical to ending a three-year postseason drought.
One week after producing just 159 yards of total offense and getting gashed defensively against the Cardinals’ dual-threat quarterback Kyler Murray, the Giants are going to need at least these four players to step up Sunday night and the rest of the way to salvage the season:
TE – Evan Engram
There’s no getting around it, this has been the most disappointing season of Evan Engram’s career.
Engram was supposed to be the focal point of an offense that funneled the passing game over the middle of the field and allowed him to use his speed and explosiveness to make plays and help move the chains. But, unlike offensive coordinator Jason Garrett’s track record of shepherding Jason Witten’s potential Hall of Fame career, Engram has been seemingly miscast in this scheme, despite his obvious athleticism.
Entering Sunday night’s game against the Browns, Engram has caught just 50 of his 88 targets for 526 yards and a touchdown, while averaging a career-low 10.5 yards per reception. Pro Football Focus lists Engram as the No. 53 ranked tight end in the NFL with a 60.3 overall grade and 61 receiving mark.
Much of Engram’s production over the final three games might be dependent on whether Daniel Jones or Colt McCoy are behind center, but if there were ever a time for the Giants’ first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft to start playing like a first-round talent, it would be now during the biggest three-game stretch of his career.