 |
| (image via @nygiants on Instagram) |
The official New York Giants social media posted this image after yesterday's franchise-record 21-point comeback win in Arizona. And I think this is the perfect way to describe how all Giants fans felt on Sunday.
After their blowout loss to Dallas last week, Giants fans were hoping that Big Blue could put that game in the past in a 'get right' matchup against a beat-up Cardinals team. But after the first half Sunday, it appeared as if nothing had changed. The G-Men's zone defense looked like swiss cheese and was getting picked apart by the Josh Dobbs to Hollywood Brown connection. RB James Connor ran right through the d-line, and the offense somehow looked even worse than the week before. New York looked lost on both sides of the ball once again.
But in the second half, something changed. The defense played fast and hungry. Gang tackling receivers and stuffing the run at the line of scrimmage like we are accustomed to seeing. The offense looked as if they took a completely different approach and it was working. It also appeared as if head coach Brian Daboll took over playcalling duties in the second half, which is usually the job of offensive coordinator Mike Kafka. However, in the post-game press conference, Daboll told reporters that he did not.
Whether it was a change of play-caller or just a different game plan, whatever the Giants did in the second half is the team we all expected to see in 2023. That is the way the offense should have looked from the beginning. They used the RPO game to perfection hitting Waller down the middle multiple times and finally took shots down the field.
It only took 6 quarters for the Giants to realize they needed to put in rookie Jalin Hyatt and throw it deep. The elite speed of Hyatt, who ran a 4.4 40-yard dash at the combine, was finally utilized in the second half. On the first play of the third quarter, DJ dropped back and dropped a dime 58 yards downfield to Jalin. Although he ended the game with just two receptions, he was a massive catalyst for the offense when they needed it most.
It wasn't just the passing game that got the offense going. Barkley and the run game had a lot more success in the second half as well. Barkley ran angry and with a purpose in the third and fourth quarters, something I hadn't seen him do since the Giants playoff game in Minnesota. His success on the ground was a key part of opening up things on the offensive side of the ball. Unfortunately, on New York's game-winning drive; Saquon Barkley got tangled up with a defender on what was a weird-looking play. Barkley stood up and began limping before having to be helped off the field by members of the Giant's training staff. He was clearly aggravated by the injury and the camera even caught him slamming his helmet to the ground in frustration. Post-game X-rays came back negative for any breaks in his ankle. An MRI from today, which as I am writing this has not been released, will determine the severity and how long 26 could be sidelined with what is believed to be an ankle sprain. The G-Men are going to need him back sooner rather than later with some big games coming up in San Fran, home against Seattle in primetime, and then in Miami.
But hey let's be positive, cross our fingers, and enjoy the first victory Monday of the season!
 |
| (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) |
Comments
Post a Comment