For the second consecutive year, the New York Giants have faced a dismal start to their season. The system implemented by Brian Flores effectively stifled the offense, while the defense struggled to contain Sam Darnold. This culminated in a disappointing defeat against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday with a score of 28-6, further opening the floodgates of negativity surrounding the team.
Finding positivity within this Giants squad feels akin to searching for Waldo amidst a bustling crowd of red-striped shirt enthusiasts. The offensive line, missing key player Andrew Thomas, performed below expectations; the quarterback’s performance was alarming, and the defensive line only managed 11 pressures, with 6 attributed to the standout player, Dexter Lawrence. The lack of cohesion and effectiveness raises concerns for the season ahead.
Amidst the prevailing pessimism, let’s delve into the Week 1 recap for 2024, as we uncover Tales from the timeline:
Unleashing Dexter Lawrence: The Defensive Powerhouse of the Giants
PFF had Dexter Lawrence as the highest-graded DL in Week 1
He was the second highest-graded protective gamer behind T.J. Watt.
Dex had 6 pressures, 5 rushes, a sack, and 2 STOPs.
— Nick Falato (@nickfalato) September 9, 2024
Dexter Lawrence proved to be one of the most dominant players in the entire NFL during his performance. He accounted for half of the team’s pressures and is currently tied for a league-leading 5 rushes, alongside George Karlaftis and Chris Jones of the Chiefs. His ability to draw double teams against Kevin O’Connell’s offense highlighted his impact on the game.
Despite Lawrence’s impressive performance, the Giants’ defense allowed a staggering 312 total yards, while Sam Darnold appeared nearly unstoppable throughout most of the game. Removing Lawrence from the equation diminished the threat level against the Vikings significantly. Here are four standout plays that showcase Lawrence’s prowess:
Analyzing the Pass-Rush: Challenges Beyond Dexter Lawrence
Unfortunately, there isn’t much to highlight beyond Lawrence’s contributions. If we were to assess the Vikings’ performance, we would see Christian Darrisaw dominating Kayvon Thibodeaux for the majority of the contest. Regrettably, the Giants managed only 5 pressures from players other than Dexter Lawrence. Two of these pressures came from D.J. Davidson, whose best snap coincided with a touchdown by Jalen Nailor:
D.J. Davidson sets outside vs. Ed Ingram and lands a strong push-pull/swim transfer to permeate the pocket.
Darnold still got the pass off for a tuddy, however this was among 5 Dexter Lawrence-less rushes the #Giants had vs. the Vikings. pic.twitter.com/e7adN5MHOU
— Nick Falato (@nickfalato) September 9, 2024
However, among all the defensive players in the NFL (excluding Monday Night Football), Davidson recorded the third-lowest Pro Football Focus grade after 22 snaps (among players who logged at least 20% of their team’s snaps). His performance against the run was subpar, a fact reflected in his grade.
Kayvon Thibodeaux faced challenges as well, being overpowered at least twice by Darrisaw. It’s becoming increasingly concerning for the fifth-overall pick from 2022 if you haven’t already begun to worry. Elijah Chatman played 24 snaps but appeared overmatched, finding himself on the ground at least three times while attempting to rush the passer.
On a different note, Brian Burns deserves some leniency for his performance. It’s frustrating that he too was nearly invisible; however, O’Connell frequently utilized a tight end or running back to assist him:
I get the disappointment with Burns on the surface area. However, he regularly had a TE or RB to his side.
He was handling chips like he was at Chili’s. Others on the group requirement to step up with their 1v1 matches in those circumstances. https://t.co/U0iQtTg5HK
— Nick Falato (@nickfalato) September 9, 2024
Again, Burns commanded attention from the offense.
It’s incumbent on his colleagues to ease that attention. Dexter will get his, however Kayvon and the other PR need to step up. https://t.co/tw34FLP8yW
— Nick Falato (@nickfalato) September 9, 2024
I still expect more from this significant offseason acquisition. It’s crucial for the Giants’ fifth-overall pick to excel in his individual matchups, yet he struggled to win even a single rep as a pass-rusher.
Evaluating the Performance of the Rest of the Defense
If there’s one positive takeaway regarding the Giants’ defense beyond Dexter Lawrence, it would be the impressive performances of the two rookie defensive backs: Andru Phillips and Tyler Nubin. Phillips contributed significantly to the Giants’ efforts by forcing a fumble that was promptly recovered by another standout player — Bobby Okereke — when the score was still tied at zero.
This forced fumble by Phillips (22) occurred just one play after Dexter Lawrence’s sack. It provided the much-needed spark for a defense that had just witnessed an offense go three-and-out. However, the offense struggled to capitalize, managing only three points on the board. Phillips also made a solid tackle as the primary force defender:
The running back attempted to bounce the run outside, but Phillips was able to secure the tackle and stop the play at the line of scrimmage. Speaking of impactful tackles, let’s discuss this play made by Tyler Nubin:
Nubin (31) filled the C-Gap after overcoming a double-team from Rakeem Nunez-Roches (93), showcasing his ability to shed a receiver’s block to make a stop against the run. Additionally, Nubin demonstrated versatility and decisiveness in coverage during his 55 total snaps on the field.
Although Dane Belton played only 9 snaps on defense, he made a crucial pass defense that resulted in Darnold’s first incomplete pass:
Good task by Dane Belton to get his hand into the tossing window for a PBU.
This was Sam Darnold’s very first insufficient pass…with 1:15 left in the very first half… pic.twitter.com/n0mehlEXKA
— Nick Falato (@nickfalato) September 9, 2024
Belton is expected to see more action in sub-packages moving forward. The Vikings only faced ten third-down attempts throughout the game and maintained control of the sticks for much of the contest.
Deonte Banks recorded four tackles during the game, with one particularly impactful play standing out:
Unfortunately, a few plays later, Banks allowed a touchdown to Justin Jefferson. He was matched against Jefferson while receiving some safety help but still saw five targets, yielding three catches for 56 yards, including the touchdown. It’s important to note Bobby Okereke (58) on this play; he managed to avoid contact and move outside, away from blockers. Had Banks been able to disengage from his block, he likely would have made the stop. While Okereke didn’t have his best game either, he’s far from the core issues plaguing this team.
Analyzing the Giants’ Offense: Challenges and Opportunities
With Brian Daboll taking on the role of play-caller, he assumes greater responsibility for the struggles faced by Daniel Jones and the offensive line, among others. There are no more excuses or scapegoats if this trend continues. The reality is stark: Daniel Jones had a dismal performance this Sunday. However, first, I want to highlight a couple of plays from Andrew Thomas, showcasing his excellent ability to anchor against a power rush:
Those were encouraging moments. He is indeed a talented player. Here are some additional noteworthy offensive plays:
Credit where it’s due: This was an extraordinary toss from Daniel Jones.
It’s maddening that he can doing this, however can just pull it out of his bag 0-2X per video game on 30-40 (often more) dropbacks.
Two various #Giants programs have actually chased after these quick highs for 6 years. pic.twitter.com/aJNNmbRlOw— Dan Schneier (@DanSchneierNFL) September 9, 2024
The above play was one of the few bright spots for Jones as he connected with Malik Nabers on a well-placed dig route, demonstrating their chemistry based on the defensive leverage. Overall, Jones appeared anxious in the pocket—especially during the second half—struggling with accuracy and displaying slow decision-making.
Devin Singletary averaged only 3.7 yards per carry (30 yards on ten carries). Still, he showcased his ability to break tackles and find his way through tight spaces. His intelligence as a running back is evident, particularly in plays where he evades defenders to create space on the outside, which adds value to his role within the offense.
Wan’Dale Robinson executed a spin move—potentially classified as a B or an X—but it’s encouraging to witness any signs of life from this Giants offense. Robinson received 12 targets, successfully catching 6 for 44 yards. One of his plays was recorded as a carry, resulting in a gain of 14 yards.
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