3 plays that made the difference for the NY Giants in Week 7
By Zach Wolpin
Starting 6-1 for the first time since 2008 are the NY Giants, who fought and battled until the very last play as usual. The G-Men managed to beat the Jaguars 23-17, with a hectic last two minutes of action being recorded. It’s incredible to watch this team come from behind week after week and walk away with a win.
Two years ago it was easy to blame a Giants loss on Daniel Jones. You simply can’t do that this campaign. Jones is playing the most effective and efficient football yet in his first year with Brian Daboll as head coach and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka calling the plays.
The combination of an effective offense and the bend don’t break defense coached by Wink Martindale has proven to be productive for Big Blue. Here are three plays that made the difference for the NY Giants in Week 7.
3. Xavier McKinney’s forced fumble near the goal line
In the second quarter, the Giants put together a drive that went 60 yards in 10 plays and ended in a Graham Gano 33-yard field goal. Jacksonville now had a slim 11-10 lead with about 7:30 left in the second. Fast forward to the Jags next drive and they’d already moved the ball past midfield and were in the red zone threatening to score again. Big Blue needed a stop, as the Jags were receiving the second-half kickoff.
On 2nd-and-10 from the Giants 17 yard line, Jags running back Travis Etienne ran the ball right up the middle and it looked like he was going to score or at least reset the chains for Jacksonville. Luckily, Giants star safety Xavier McKinney had a big hit on Etienne that forced a fumble. Julian Love recovered the ball in the end zone and the Giants had a touchback. Boom.
❌ DENIED ❌
— New York Giants (@Giants) October 23, 2022
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/LwxDAgR4Ac
McKinney’s forced fumble gave the Giants possession and enough time to put some points on the board before the half. They did exactly that with another Gano 33-yard field goal make and the visitors entered the break with a 13-11 lead. The forced fumble that turned into the Gano FG was crucial for the G-Men. Talk about a head-turning hit from McKinney.