5 best Giants plays in 2023 despite the 4-8 record

The New York Giants have stunk this season and have massively failed to live up to their high expectations coming off their first playoff appearance since 2016 and first playoff win since 2012.

Injuries and underperformance, the two Achilles' heels of seemingly every Giants season, have struck again. Daniel Jones fell victim to both. He was absolutely awful when on the field, but he suffered a neck injury and then tore his ACL. Darren Waller, Saquon Barkley, Andrew Thomas, Evan Neal, and John Michael Schmitz are among those who have had extended injury absences.

Despite being 4-8, New York has had many bright spots this season. Tommy DeVito has been a sensation, Jalin Hyatt and Deonte Banks look like franchise building blocks, and the entire Giants defense has been stingy. Here are the five best plays of the Giants 2023 season through 12 games:

5. Jalin Hyatt's 58-yard catch to open the second half in Arizona

Remember back in Week 2 when the Giants were down 20-0 to the Cardinals at halftime? That was a very dark time to be a Giants fan. Big Blue had already given up 60 points to their opponents in 2023 but had yet to score.

New York got the ball to start the second half and immediately took a deep shot to Hyatt, the ultimate downfield threat, on the first play of the half. Jones usually hesitates to throw deep, but he pulled the trigger here and it gave NY life:

This play completely changed the course of this game. New York scored 31 points in the second half and beat the Cardinals 31-28. Jones played one of the best games of his career, while Waller, Barkley, Waller, Hyatt, and Isaiah Hodgins all shined.

In hindsight, given the overwhelming evidence that Jones is not a franchise quarterback, losing that game could have been much more beneficial (a loss would have improved Big Blue's draft stock) in the long term.

4A. Jalin Hyatt's deep catch against New England

Speaking of Hyatt, he has found a spark with Jones sidelined. Tyrod Taylor found Hyatt when he was the quarterback, and now Hyatt and DeVito, the two rookies, have developed a strong rapport working together.

Hyatt had the first 100+ yard receiving game of his career against the Patriots last Sunday and the first 100-yard receiving game from any New York Giant this season. DeVito's throw to Hyatt here was a little off the mark, but the wideout made a great adjustment and came down with an unreal grab.

4B. Another great grab for Jalin Hyatt

These two hooked up again on another long bomb in the second half vs. the Patriots. On 3rd-and-16, DeVito drops it right in the bucket with an insane throw to Hyatt, who makes the snag in double coverage. DeVito's throw to Barkley in Washington was excellent, but this throw is the best we have seen a Giants quarterback make since Eli Manning's retirement.

We will likely see some more Tommy Cutlets to Hyatt magic. The fact both these throws happened against Bill Belichick, who dominates rookie quarterbacks, makes this all more incredible. It also gave us a close look at Hyatt's potential.

3. Tommy DeVito with a dime to Saquon Barkley

Speaking of DeVito's throw to Barkley against Washington, come on, this was downright sensational from the rookie quarterback. You also have to give No. 26 a ton of credit as he was able to make the catch AND hang on to posession after taking a massive hit:

This play is incredible for two reasons. Number one: the throw and ball placement. If the New Jersey kid places the ball anywhere but exactly where he did, it's an incompletion or even an interception. He just dropped it straight into a bucket.

When Barkley first entered the NFL, he was explosive as a pass-catching back. We haven't seen that as much in recent seasons, but his two-receiving touchdown performance against Washington shows that he still has that ability. He ran a tremendous route and snagged the ball with his fingers despite taking a major lick. The touchdown was also the first first-quarter touchdown of the Giants season.

2. Isaiah Simmons saves the day vs. the Commanders

Another incredible play from the stunning win over Washington had to be Isaiah Simmons posting a pick-six for the ages. At this point in the game, NY was holding on to a lead, but Washington was driving and people were worried the Commanders were going to score late to steal the victory. Simmons had other ideas:

Sam Howell tried to make something happen out of nothing, but Simmons made him pay for it. Not only was Simmons able to come down with the sweet grab, but he also raced his way down the sideline for the score. It sealed the deal on a needed win on the road against the Commanders. Thanks for this, Isaiah.

1. Jason Pinnock's 102 yard pick-six in South Beach

Jason Pinnock has been tremendous this season and looks like one of Big Blue's long-term safeties. This play against Miami earlier in the season is the best and most surprising play of New York's 2023 campaign. Yes, Miami ended up cruising to an easy win, but this interception is something that Pinnock will always remember:

Tua Tagovailoa's pass goes right off the hands of Bobby Okereke and into the arms of Pinnock, who flies down the sideline and into the endzone for a pick-six. This play was the Giants' first first-half touchdown of the season and was kind of the turning point for Wink Martindale's defense, which has been a very good unit since this play.