The 1-3 New York Giants earned their first victory of the season on Sunday with a 21-18 upset of the previously unbeaten Los Angeles Chargers. The win came at a cost, though, as star receiver Malik Nabers is feared to have torn his right ACL. He is scheduled for an MRI on Monday.
The Giants showed a lot of toughness. The Chargers did not make things easy, as the Giants’ run defense failed to bottle up Omarion Hampton in the second half. Yet the Giants’ defense, overall, did well to pressure Justin Herbert and dictate to the Chargers’ potent offense.
Dexter Lawrence and Dru Phillips both came away with interceptions that turned into 10 points for New York. Those defensive plays were a major difference, as the Giants protected the football and had zero turnovers (other than the turnover on downs).
The Giants’ red zone offense was again a problem. They failed on a fourth-down conversion attempt late that was almost disastrous for the team. Still, the Giants were much better on third down (7 of 15) and the offensive energy was much more evident. The Giants were out-gained 338 to 250 yards, but it’s the Giants who won the game. Here is the report card.
Quarterback
Jaxson Dart earned a victory in his first NFL start – BRAVO! Dart finished 13 of 20 for 111 yards with a touchdown to Theo Johnson and a rushing touchdown. He had 54 yards on the ground (5.4 yards per carry), and he took five sacks. Dart certainly had some rookie moments; taking sacks and not throwing to receivers, who were open (The Beaux Collins Comeback). Still, one must applaud the toughness and grit of Dart going up against a vaunted Chargers’ defense, while also losing a star receiver. The Giants secured the win, with Dart providing significant help.
Grade: A
Running Back
The combination of Cam Skattebo and Devin Singletary was respectable. Skattebo earned 25 carries; although he only secured 79 yards on the ground (3.2 YPC), he still provided the necessary energy and physicality. Singletary had 28 yards on seven carries. The rushing attack did not dictate the game, but it was functional.
Grade: C+
Wide Receiver
Devastating. The Giants didn’t receive a half of football with their star receiver and rookie quarterback. Ian Rapaport reported that Malik Nabers tore his right ACL. The loss is immeasurable. Both Jalin Hyatt and Beaux Collins received snaps in lieu of Nabers. Darius Slayton had a few clutch catches (three for 44 yards) in high-leverage situations over the middle of the field. He also caused a defensive holding penalty in the red zone.
Wan’Dale Robinson had just three catches for 14 yards with a big drop in the end zone on fourth down. Robinson has to squeeze the football when it gets into his hands; his limited catch radius is a hindrance enough; if the football finds his hands, he must find a way to secure it.
Grade: C
Tight End
Theo Johnson scored his first touchdown of the season on the shovel pass underneath; good job by the big man, spinning off contact to cross the end zone line. Daniel Bellinger also had a big 13-yard grab over the middle of the field where he spun to the first down, which was confirmed by Brian Daboll’s first challenge. The blocking was adequate from the group, albeit there were some missed assignments that led to less than desirable run plays.
Grade: B-
Offensive Line
Dart was sacked five times but that wasn’t the product of the offensive line, necessarily. The Giants gave him quality pockets and the rookie quarterback held onto the football a bit too long a few times, which is to be expected. New York wasn’t generating a ton of push up front, especially since the Giants scheme and offensive philosophy in this game spread the defense out and held defenders in conflict, leading to lighter boxes and expanded rushing lanes. Still, the unit was fine.
Grade: B-
Defensive Line
Dexter Lawrence made his presence known after all the chatter of his “absence.” Big 97 intercepted Justin Herbert and took it all the way down inside the 5-yard line, but the Giants’ red zone offense remained inefficient and ineffective on that specific drive, leading to just three points. Lawrence also had a few pressures and the Giants did a solid job bottling up the run early, which was hardly tested by a Chargers’ offense who threw the ball for much of the game. The late game struggles against Hampton were more a product of the second level defenders than the defensive line, albeit the three-technique was removed from the play on the touchdown run.
Grade: B
Edge
Kayvon Thibodeaux and Abdul Carter were everywhere early and often in the game. Carter’s usage, all over the front seven, appears to be giving opposing protection packages a lot of issues, while giving the Giants’ defense personnel flexibility. Brian Burns, like always, was also everywhere, and the Edge group did a great job preventing Justin Herbert from working the play-action bootleg. They were a disciplined and effective group. Burns’ third-and-nine sack late in the game was a critical play on the T/E twist. The Giants’ Edge group just had two sacks, but constantly dictated to the Chargers’ injured offensive line.
Grade: A+
Linebacker
It was great to see Darius Muasau back healthy for the Giants. He had a few very nice STOPs at the line of scrimmage and read a screen exceptionally well, which forced a four-yard loss. Okereke had a few nice plays against the run, but he didn’t overlap on the Hampton touchdown run; Muasau and Adebo took on the two pullers, and Okereke went inward with Muasau, leading to the exposed hole. Admittedly, I may be wrong on my assessment here, but that was my read on the situation from watching it live. Either way, the linebackers need to be better there and more consistent.
Grade: C
Cornerback
The Giants pass rush eased the burden of covering the Chargers’ receivers – at least temporarily. Justin Herbert seemed to figure out the Giants’ defense a bit on their fourth and fifth drives. Herbert picked on Cor’Dale Flott in the two-minute drill to advance the football and set up the subsequent 36-yard touchdown pass to Quentin Johnston, who beat Deonte Banks and Dane Belton.
Banks also had a few lackluster tackle attempts and was called for a defensive holding. Dru Phillips, however, had a much better game than last week. He had a few passes defended and harassed Ladd McConkey for most of the game. Phillips also came away with an excellent interception off a pick route late in the third quarter. Phillips returned it to the four yard line.
Adebo had an embarrassing moment against Omarion Hampton on a third-and-1 in contain; the rookie running back ran through Adebo and carried him for several yards. Other than that, Adebo was sticky enough in coverage and had a knockaway.
Grade: B
Safety
Jevon Holland left the first half with an injury (he returned in the second half), which forced Dane Belton into Holland’s role. Belton was late getting over the top on the Johnston touchdown, but it appeared like Banks was responsible for the coverage lapse off the double-move. Nubin had a few tackle attempts that he’d like to have back; he also was outpaced by Hampton after taking a poor angle downhill from depth. It’s always difficult to truly assess the safety position until the All-22 film is evaluated, though.
Grade: D+
Special Teams
Jude Mcatamney nailed both of his field goals confidently. Gunner Olszewski is a good returner and had an excellent move to secure 15 more yards on a Chargers’ third-quarter 60-yard punt; however, the effort was negated by two holds from the Giants’ punt return unit (Swayze Bowman and Nic Jones).
Jamie Gillan booted a 69-yard punt from his own end zone, which is exceptional work from a punter who can be turbulent; the coverage team also did an excellent job. Gillan also pinned the Chargers inside the 10-yard line early in the fourth quarter.
Singletary and Tae Banks were on the kick return team as well; Singletary, at the end of the third quarter, perhaps should have allowed the kick to sail out of bounds. The Chargers’ mistake on the final punt of the game was costly. Good job by the Giants to extend him east-west to waste time.
Grade: A-
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