GMEN HQ
FanSided

The NY Giants need a more sustainable offense

By Joseph Weitemeyer

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 02: Daniel Jones #8 of the New York Giants runs the offense against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second half at MetLife Stadium on November 02, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 02: Daniel Jones #8 of the New York Giants runs the offense against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second half at MetLife Stadium on November 02, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
Evan Engram, NY Giants
New York Giants tight end Evan Engram (Image via The Record) /

Third and Never

The Giants were nearly as bad in third down conversions as they were in getting a fresh set of downs. A reminder: The team was 30th in the league, making 72 third downs.

Even if you look at the Giants’ overall conversion rate, instead of the number they made, they were 29th in the league with 36.4% — ahead of only the Bengals, Bears, and Jets.

Both of these numbers pale when comparing to the Bills. The Bills were tied for seventh in the league for third downs made with 93, but first in the NFL in percentage with 49.7%.

The importance of starting strong is also evident when breaking down the Giants third down conversions by game.

When the Giants fail to achieve the majority of their first downs within the first half, which happened in five games in 2020, they never had a winning percentage of third down conversions.

Further, the Giants only had three games in which they made more third downs than they missed. In two of those games, the Giants offense had three or more first downs on their first drive.

Along with scoring more points and yards, the Giants had a higher third down conversion percentage when moving the chains three or more times on their first drive, 38% vs 33% when they had two first downs or fewer.

Clearly the tone and pace of a game is dictated by an offenses’ ability to come out hot and stay hot. But the Giants fail to do either. And the team lacked the big-play ability to get them back into games once they fell in a hole.

It’s unlikely that the NFC East will send another losing team to the playoffs. If the Giants don’t find a player, a coach, or a scheme to help keep their offense on the field, they’ll come up short in the playoff chase yet again.

Home/NY Giants News