The 2-4 New York Giants, coming off a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, look to keep the good times rolling in Week 7 when they travel to face the 4-2 Denver Broncos. Here are some of the storylines to follow this week.
The Jaxson Dart era as starting quarterback for the Giants is off to a hopeful beginning with two victories in three games. While both of those victories were impressive ones over good teams — the Los Angeles Chargers and defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles — they both came at MetLife Stadium.
The only road game of the Dart era was a disappointing, turnover-filled loss to a previously 0-4 New Orleans Saints team.
The Giants are back on the road Sunday against a good team in a difficult environment for a visiting team. Can the Giants win in Denver? If they did, that would have to open some eyes among those not yet convinced that what they have begun to see from the Giants is real. At the least, a competitive, steadier performance than what the Giants put together against the Saints would be promising.
Dealing with Denver’s devastating pass rush
The NFL record for sacks in a season by a team is 72, set waaaay back in 1984 by the Chicago Bears. The Broncos have 30 sacks in six games, a league-leading pace that would see them shatter Chicago’s mark by totaling 85 sacks over 17 games. The Bears set their mark in 16 games, and Denver’s pace over 16 games would net them the record with 80 sacks.
We have been discussing how the Giants’ veteran offensive line has been playing better. This will be a tremendous challenge. The Broncos are talented, and good at disguising their intentions as far as who is and is not rushing at the line of scrimmage.
As of this writing, it is unknown if starting center John Michael Schmitz (concussion) will be available.
Matchup to watch: Andrew Thomas vs. Nik Bonitto
Left tackle Andrew Thomas has been outstanding since returning from his Lisfranc injury. Thomas is pass protecting as well or better than he ever has, giving up just two pressures in 130 pass-blocking snaps over four games. Thomas’s Pro Football Focus pass-blocking efficiency score of 99.2 is the best in the league among 81 qualifying tackles.
Nik Bonitto, who leads the NFL in sacks with 8.0 and has a league-best among edge defenders 15.0 pass-rushing productivity score from Pro Football Focus, will likely be matched up with Thomas most of the day on Sunday. He has played 238 snaps this season, 226 of them at right outside linebacker. That would put him 1-on-1 with Thomas.
That should be tremendous to watch. If Thomas can neutralize Bonitto, the Giants’ chances of an upset rise exponentially.
Tent-Gate
We still don’t know what punishment the Giants will receive thanks to coach Brian Daboll and running back Cam Skattebo trying to get into the medical tent to check on the progress of Darts concussion test on Thursday against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Some have said there will be a fine. Others have intimated the team could lose a draft pick. All I know is this was a bad look for Daboll and the Giants, and they should hope that the NFL doesn’t decide to come down hard in an effort to make sure nothing like this ever happens again.
Defensive growth
In the Giants’ victories over the Chargers and Eagles, the defense played much more like the unit the Giants hoped it would be this season, holding Los Angeles to 18 points, the Eagles to 17 and generating a pair of turnovers in each game.
In each of the past two weeks, the Giants previously porous run defense has been solid. Over that time the Giants have allowed just 3.22 yards per rushing attempt. The pass rush generated five sacks and steady pressure in those games.
Will that continue? If the Giants are going to defeat the Broncos, it will need to.
Denver possesses the league’s second-ranked defense, giving up just 15.8 points per game. If the Giants are going to win on Sunday, the game will more likely resemble the 13-11 slog-fest the Broncos won against the New York Jets in Week 6 than a high-scoring affair.
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