4 underrated NY Giants who continue to help the team win games from behind

Absolutely no one could have predicted that the NY Giants would be 5-1 through their first six games. This team is different than any Giants team we’ve seen in the last five to six years. With the 24-20 win vs. Baltimore, Big Blue has matched or passed their win totals from 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021.

With the Cowboys loss to the Eagles on Sunday Night Football, the Giants took sole possession of second place in the NFC East. Certain big-name players like Saquon Barkley, Dexter Lawrence, and Andrew Thomas are leaders on the team who let their play speak for them. They’re critical pieces to the NY Giants success through six weeks.

You can’t forget about the players whose names may not be as familiar like Barkley, but the team wouldn’t be the same without them. With that being said, here are four underrated NY Giants who continue to help the team wins games from behind.

4. TE Daniel Bellinger 

Rookie tight end Daniel Bellinger has been a breath of fresh air for Giants fans after having to watch Evan Engram for five seasons. Bellinger is a dual-threat TE who can run block and catch passes at a high level. He’s played in all six games this season and started five of those six. On Sunday, Bellinger played in 94 percent of the Giants offensive snaps due to backup Tanner Hudson coming back from an illness.

Through six games the rookie has two receiving scores and one rushing touchdown. Late in the fourth quarter, Bellinger caught an eight-yard pass from Daniel Jones for a touchdown. This cut Baltimore’s lead to three and the Giants would get their first interception of the year on the very next drive. Bellinger has been one of Jones’ top targets so far this season. He’s third in receptions and fourth in receiving yards on the team.

The Giants have been using a lot of two TE sets as they are thin at receiver. Luckily, the team did get back rookie WR Wan’Dale Robinson who caught his first NFL touchdown in the team’s win vs the Ravens.

3. LB Jihad Ward 

The Giants hired defensive coordinator Wink Martindale in the offseason from the Baltimore Ravens. Martindale brought in a few players with him that he knew could fit in with the Giants. One of those players was Jihad Ward and he’s been solid for the team so far.

Ward has played for the Ravens, Colts, Raiders, Jaguars, and now the Giants. He only played one season in Baltimore for Wink, but he must have left quite the impression on him. The longtime DC had this to say about Ward to the media.

"“He’s the character of what you’re looking for in a defensive player.” – Giants DC Wink Martindale"

Ward ranks top five for the Giants in both solo and total tackles. Through six games he also has one sack, six tackles for loss, one pass deflection, and one forced fumble. Ward seems to be meshing with the Giants well and the team is surely happy to have his consistent production. Shout out to Wink for recruiting Ward to come play for Big Blue.

2.  S Dane Belton 

A beautiful part of Martindale’s defense is how interchangeable it is. He doesn’t necessarily need a CB playing CB. Sometimes a safety or LB may be asked to play that position for a few plays. That is exactly what the Giants did in Week 6 with rookie safety Dane Belton.

The rookie had his most tackles ever as a pro vs. the Ravens with six total stops and a key pass deflection in the end zone that saved a touchdown. Baltimore’s TEs as a whole gave the Giants defense an issue almost all game long. Mark Andrews had seven catches on 11 targets for 106 yards and a touchdown.

Belton played 71 percent of the snaps on Sunday for Big Blue. The Ravens trio of TEs were giving the Giants problems, so Martindale’s solution was to use Belton in the nickel DB position instead of the smaller Darnay Holmes. Holmes only played 17 percent of the Giants defensive snaps and that’s the sacrifice a key player might have to make for the better of the team.

1. P Jamie Gillan 

Special teams play for the Giants has been above average through six weeks. Making an impact in his first year as a Giant is the “Scottish Hammer,” Jamie Gillan. The fourth-year pro had spent his three previous seasons with the Browns. Gillan had some issues with his passport when the team was traveling back from their Week 5 trip to London, but thankfully he was back in time to face Baltimore.

He has a net average of 41.8 yards on his punts this season and has a long of 69 yards. Additionally, he’s had eight punts inside the 20 yard line, three touchbacks, and seven fair catches on 25 punts.

Giants football is fun to watch again. Previous seasons were incredibly hard to watch and fans are being rewarded with a 5-1 start, which is the team’s best since 2009. Brian Daboll is doing something right and he and the coaching staff have their players well prepared. This includes Gillan, who has made his mark with the team. That should continue the rest of the way.

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