The NY Giants suffered another embarrassing loss, but they lose no ground in the playoff hunt.
With playoff implications on the line, the NY Giants continue their late-season losing streak, now at three straight games. And though they scored as much as the prior two weeks combine, the team looked anything but effective.
The defense was unable to contain all aspect of the Baltimore Ravens high-powered offense. Their inability to stop neither the run nor the pass put the Giants behind big — early.
The Giants gave up 432 total yards, the second most they’ve allowed all season. Most of that came in the first half, as the defense looked worse than at any point all season, allowing 155 rushing yards and 127 passing yards.
And the 17 point deficit going into halftime proved too much to mount a second half comeback. Despite starting quarterback Daniel Jones giving up zero turnovers in his return to action, the Giants were only able to muster 269 yards, and only 54 of those were on the ground.
That marks the fourth straight game the offense failed to reach 300 total yards. And it makes their third straight game of fewer than 100 yards rushing. The Giants are winless this season in games they rush for under 100 yards.
Shockingly, it’s still possible for the Giants to take the NFC East division crown. But this team looks more like the one that started off 0-5 and caused fans to panic than the team that won four straight and gave fans hope.
If they do beat the Dallas Cowboy’s in Week 17, and the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Washington Football team, then the Giants will go on to represent the division in the playoffs. And perhaps some of the players in this week’s NY Giants Grades will be the reason they do. Or don’t.
QB Daniel Jones
Grade: F
There’s little positive to be said about Daniel Jones’ play in his return.
This marks his fourth game in which he’s avoided a turnover. But he only started and completed two of those games: In Week 12 and in Week 14, Colt McCoy relieved Jones before the games’ end.
Outside of that, what is to be said?
Jones was sacked six times for his second consecutive start. And while the offensive line is equally to blame, Jones continues to show no ability to sense pressure and escape before he falls.
Jones’ passer rating was only 44.2%, less than half of how his counterpart Lamar Jackson’s quiet day ended. That rating is not just a season low for Jones, but it’s also his career low. His previous was 49.4 against Green Bay in 2019.
He completed 24 of 41 attempts, spreading the ball to eight different receivers. He also threw his first touchdown since Week 9 — a statement in and of itself.
We continue to hear about the potential of Daniel Jones. But we’re again left at the end of each game wondering when that potential will materialize. And without use of his legs, which were the best aspect of his game, he shows how inept this offense can be.
It’s not a far stretch to compare Jones to the Raven’s Lamar Jackson; it wasn’t long ago that Daniel Jones was only behind Jackson and Kyler Murray in rushing yards. So let’s compare their trajectories.
Jones was drafted in the first round in 2019 with the fourth overall pick, and was the second QB taken. Since then, his greatest feat has been going a short stretch without turning the ball over. He’s been hurt in both years he’s played, and he’s never had a winning season.
Jackson was drafted in the first round the year before, but with the 32nd overall pick, and was the fifth QB taken that round. He was the NFL MVP in his second season, and even if the Ravens miss out on the playoffs this season, he’s ensured his third straight winning season.
There’s something to be said about good players helping make better players of those around them. Is the Giants offense good? No. From the line to lack of weapons, the offense is filled with holes.
But Jones has not shown that he can be a kind of player like Jackson, one who can find a way to change the course of a game himself to lead his team to victory.
All Jones has shown is potential, if that’s what you want to call his 7-18 overall record since handed the reins. But he didn’t show it in one of the worst performances of his young career.
K Graham Gano
Grade: B+
There weren’t many players to be considered for good grades this game, but Graham Gano is worthy of accolades week in and week out.
He’s been as consistent as the rest of the Giants’ offense has been unproductive.
Gano made 2 of 2 field goals, one from 31 yards out and one from 42. This is the ninth game this season that Gano has made two or more field goals for Big Blue.
Further, in this week’s loss he tied the Giants’ record for most consecutive field goals made with 29, previously held by Josh Brown.
Gano will hopefully break that record to put himself as sole number one next week. And if the Giants do beat the Cowboys, Gano will likely be the one to help them do it.
CB Isaac Yiadom
Grade: F
The defense was as much to blame for this loss as the offense. In particular, cornerback Isaac Yiadom was a big reason why the Ravens went up big in the first half.
Lamar Jackson only needed that first half to expose the weaknesses within the Giants’ zone defense. And once he found Yiadom to be the weakest link in the bunch, he really targeted in.
On the Raven’s third drive, Yiadom missed what would of been a tackle for loss on Gus Edwards, who then scampered for a 9 yard gain. Then he missed another tackle on Jackson, who converted on 3rd down to continue the drive that would put the Ravens up by three scores.
Jackson threw for 127 yards in the first half, going 12-20 and reaching the Red Zone four times. He didn’t have to do much more during the second half, as he went 5 of 6 and threw for 56 yards over the final two quarters.
Though no one on the defense had a great game, Yiadom played noticeably poor. He was always late getting to his spot, chasing a receiver from behind, or failing to bring a runner down from the front. He finished with a season-low one tackle, and an F for his performance.
S Xavier McKinney
Grade: B
Rookie Xavier McKinney had the most productive game of his young career.
McKinney has been gradually seeing more and more of the defensive snaps since coming back from his pre-season injury, and this game he showed he can hang with the Giants starters if given more time.
He finished with 8 tackles. While that’s nothing to be wowed over, it’s as much as his past two starts combine. And only Blake Martinez finished with more this week.
Cornerback Logan Ryan, who just signed a three-year contract extension, also finished with eight tackles. So did linebacker Tae Crowder.
But seeing McKinney as productive as these players should give the Giants hope that they have another piece to their defense going forward.
McKinney’s productivity was a rare, slim bright spot in an otherwise ugly display by the defense.
MVP: WR Sterling Shepard
Sterling Shepard was all over the field this week, and was really the only offensive player who looked to give every play his 100% effort.
Shep had season-highs in receptions, targets, and yards. He caught nine of his 12 targets for 77 yards and hauled in the Giants’ lone touchdown.
But the most impressive part of Shepard’s game was how many times he converted a first down.
The Giants did not pick up a first down until their third drive of the game, and Shepard was who kicked it off. He caught a short pass from Jones but took it 14 yards. He then caught another short pass five plays later and took that one for 11 yards. Then caught another on the drive which went for four yards.
Steps three catches on that drive helped set up the Giants first score.
In the second half, the Giants caught a break on a roughing-the-kicker penalty that kept their drive alive. After an Andrew Thomas false start made it 3rd & 15 a few plays later, Shepard caught another first down, before catching the Giants first touchdown in nine quarters.
Shepard would go on to catch more first downs on every subsequent drive for the Giants. He was Jones’ most reliable and productive receiver, which would explain why he led the team in targets and receptions.
Sterling Shepard, at 5’-10”, should not be the team’s number one option. It’s no diss to him — he’s an exciting and explosive slot receiver. And if there was a big-body number one option on the outside, his numbers would be even better than they already are.
Unfortunately for Shepard, Jones, and the Giants’ offense at large, the Giants have no true number one option. But Shepard’s effort this week is how he plays whenever he’s on the field. He’ll continue to do everything in his power to bring the Giants back to the playoffs.