The Eagles miraculously won a rainy game in Buffalo on Sunday. A dominant defensive performance powered Philly to a 13-12 win when the offense couldn’t get much going. While the rookies as a whole didn’t play much of a part, one in particular played very well. Jihaad Campbell: B+ Unsurprisingly, Campbell excelled as he played […] The Eagles miraculously won a rainy game in Buffalo on Sunday. A dominant defensive performance powered Philly to a 13-12 win when the offense couldn’t get much going. While the rookies as a whole didn’t play much of a part, one in particular played very well. Unsurprisingly, Campbell excelled as he played full time instead of as a rotational player. Campbell was on the field for 71 defensive snaps and was a force in all three phases of defense. Campbell made an impact attacking the Bills normally potent running game, helping limit James Cook on a night where Buffalo needed a big game from him. As a pass rusher, Campbell generated two hurries as part of a team effort that sacked Josh Allen five times. Most impressive was Campbell’s play in coverage, where he allowed just a 59.4 passer rating when targeted. More than once, the first-round linebacker was step for step with James Cook in coverage. A running back nearly 50 pounds lighter than him and he kept up downfield, not allowing Cook to make a single catch. Campbell plays on a defense full of incredible football players and it’s really a lot of fun to see him stand out. The Rest Darius Cooper had one catch for four yards but most of his snaps were to be a run blocker, where he did pretty well! Smael Mondon Jr. and Ty Robinson got some snaps on special teams. Mac McWilliams was active but did not play. See More: Philadelphia Eagles analysis
Eagles rookie report card: Jihaad Campbell looked good in return to the starting lineup
Eagles waive Charley Hughlett
The Philadelphia Eagles waived veteran long snapper Charley Hughlett on Monday evening, according to an official team announcement. This is an unexpected development. I suspect there might be some roster chicanery afoot and we could see Hughlett re-signed sooner than later. I feel pretty confident that they’re not going to play their Week 18 game […] The Philadelphia Eagles waived veteran long snapper Charley Hughlett on Monday evening, according to an official team announcement. This is an unexpected development. I suspect there might be some roster chicanery afoot and we could see Hughlett re-signed sooner than later. I feel pretty confident that they’re not going to play their Week 18 game against the Washington Commanders or their playoffs games without a long snapper on the team. Of course, that’s assuming Hughlett clears waivers, which all players (regardless of prior NFL experience) are subject to following the NFL trade deadline each season. I’m guessing there isn’t a team out there desperate to add the 35-year-old Hughlett to their roster. If the Eagles are actually unsatisfied with Hughlett, perhaps they’d look to re-sign Cal Adomitis, who is currently on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad. Or maybe they’d look to bring two-time Super Bowl champion Rick Lovato out of retirement to get him a third ring?! We’ll soon see what the Eagles do with the newly open roster spot. See More: Philadelphia Eagles News
NFL Week 18 Betting: Best early bets before lines move
A contest between the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is among the Week 18 games that present early betting value. NFL Week 18 Betting: Best early bets before lines move Get PFF+ for 30% off: Use promo code HOLIDAY30 to unlock the PFF Player Prop Tool, Premium Stats, fantasy dashboards, the PFF Mock Draft Simulator, industry-leading fantasy rankings and much more — everything you need to win your season. Week 17 is nearly a wrap, and betting lines are now available for Week 18. Here are our favorite early spread picks for the slate. Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3) [Total: 43.5] Best Bet: Panthers +3 The NFC South comes down to this. Neither the Buccaneers nor the Panthers was able to secure a crucial victory in Week 17, leaving this matchup to decide the division. (Another scenario, in which the Falcons win their final two games and force a three-way tie atop the division, could render the Buccaneers-Panthers contest moot, though.) While it was somewhat expected that the Panthers (+7) would have difficulties with the NFC-leading Seahawks, the Buccaneers (-6) unexpectedly fell flat as road favorites in Miami. The latter result leaves some room for doubt that Tampa Bay should be laying a full field goal with the division crown on the line. The Panthers claimed the outright victory as three-point home underdogs in the first matchup between these two teams just eight days ago, adding to the Buccaneers’ 0-8 record against the spread since the start of November. Tampa Bay’s offensive effectiveness has dwindled down the stretch, with the team settling in the bottom third of the league in yards per play (4.9) and turnovers (10) since Week 10. Quarterback Baker Mayfield has put the ball in danger frequently this season, recording the second-most turnover-worthy plays (23) in the NFL. He added another three to his total against the Dolphins in Week 17. Carolina’s ability to play teams closely generally hinges on an ability to find takeaways. Since Week 12, the Panthers have forced 19.1% of opposing drives to end in a turnover, the highest rate in the NFL. Panthers cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson have combined for nine interceptions this season, the most by a cornerback tandem in the NFL. If Mayfield gets careless with the football, expect those two to take advantage. Explore Top Player Props
Did Rams losing NFC West also lose Matthew Stafford MVP?
Outside of the NFC West title race and the battle for the NFC’s No. 1 seed, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has been in the MVP conversation throughout the season. For much of the year, Stafford has led that discussion, but New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye hasn’t been far behind and has been […] Outside of the NFC West title race and the battle for the NFC’s No. 1 seed, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has been in the MVP conversation throughout the season. For much of the year, Stafford has led that discussion, but New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye hasn’t been far behind and has been a primary contender in that race. However, following a blown 16-point lead against the Seahawks and the results from Week 17, the Rams have been eliminated from the NFC West race and the NFC’s No. 1 seed. The only ‘race’ remaining is Stafford’s race for MVP. While those in the Rams fanbase may believe that Stafford is a clear front-runner, it is much closer than some would like to think. As mentioned, the race for MVP likely comes down to Stafford or Maye. While Josh Allen entered the conversation for a bit, Stafford is -225 to win MVP and Maye is +180. Way behind both is Allen at +10000. Maye leads the NFL in EPA per dropback, passer rating, and yards per attempt. MVP may be an individual award, but team success certainly plays a role in that conversation. For the first time since 2017, the Patriots won 13 games under Maye and also won the AFC East. With a win and Broncos loss in Week 18, Maye will lead the Patriots to the AFC’s No. 1 seed. However, the big key there is that Maye led his team to a division title. Contrarily, the Rams cannot win the NFC West. That looms large in any MVP discussion. Since 2000, there have been just four instances of the MVP award being given to a player who did not win their division. Those were Adrian Peterson in 2012, Peyton Manning in 2008, Steve McNair in 2003, and Marshall Faulk in 2000. Manning in 2008 was also the last quarterback to win and not be the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the conference. The 2008 Colts went 12-4, losing the division to the 13-3 Tennessee Titans. Among teams with a winning record, Manning clearly had the better numbers. Manning was the only quarterback in 2008 to throw for 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns to have a winning record. Drew Brees threw for 5,000 yards, but the New Orleans Saints went 8-8 and finished last in the NFC South. In 2008, Tom Brady tore his ACL and the biggest competition for Manning was Chad Pennington and Phillip Rivers. Pennington led the Dolphins to an 11-5 record and AFC South title, but threw just 19 touchdowns. Rivers had 4,000 yards and 34 touchdowns, but the Chargers won the AFC West title at just 8-8. The competition for Stafford is much better this year. Even if Maye is Stafford’s biggest competition, he still has over 4,200 yards and 30 touchdowns with fewer than 10 interceptions. He’s not having a statistically bad year by any means and he has the Patriots at 13-3. It’s also hard to say that Stafford didn’t have opportunities to win the division. Stafford had the Rams in position to tie the Carolina Panthers at the end of regulation and fumbled. In the fourth quarter against the Seahawks, the offense went three-and-out three times. Stafford had the ball at midfield with a minute left and threw three consecutive incomplete passes. How much sympathy will voters have for Stafford putting the Rams in position to win against the Eagles, 49ers, and Seahawks, but his team failing him? Stafford did throw a potential game-winning touchdown in overtime and left the field with the lead before ultimately losing. For much of his career, Stafford has missed out on individual awards because of the lack of team success. Since joining the Rams, that hasn’t been a problem as Stafford has made two Pro Bowls, won a Super Bowl, and made the playoffs four times. However, this is the first time that the Rams may have somewhat failed Stafford. If Stafford doesn’t win MVP, it will be because special teams allowed two blocked game-winning field goals against the Eagles, Kyren Williams fumbled against the 49ers, and the defense allowed a touchdown drive and two-point conversion against the Seahawks in overtime. Stafford still needs to just focus on his game over the final two weeks. With three touchdown passes against the Falcons, Stafford can tie Tom Brady for the second-most touchdown passes in a single season by a QB age 37-or-older in NFL history. With three touchdowns and a passer rating of 110-or-higher, Stafford can become just the fourth quarterback to accomplish that four or more times in a single season. At the end of the day, Stafford likely doesn’t care about the MVP as much as he does about simply winning. It’s an individual award and a resume builder, but Stafford can also do that by winning a second Super Bowl. However, by not winning the NFC West, the Rams may have cost Stafford his best shot at the prestigious award.
The Colts made history in the worst way possible
The Indianapolis Colts have recently become known as a franchise that isn’t afraid to forge a unique path. They brought in an ESPN analyst in the middle of the season to be their interim head coach. Not Jeff Saturday’s fault, but that act set the scene for a 1-7 finish to the year. Look no […] The Indianapolis Colts have recently become known as a franchise that isn’t afraid to forge a unique path. They brought in an ESPN analyst in the middle of the season to be their interim head coach. Not Jeff Saturday’s fault, but that act set the scene for a 1-7 finish to the year. Look no further than three weeks ago to see the latest example in which a 44-year-old retired quarterback was brought in as a final heave to save the season. While the experiment didn’t work, it wasn’t a total embarrassment either. Yes, the Colts are no stranger to the bizarre. That is why it is fitting they became part of history in the worst possible way over the weekend. Leave it to the Colts to be the first team in 30 years to start 8-2 and miss the playoffs. Not since the 1995 Raiders has that been accomplished. On one hand, that statistic is a bit cheeky because a team has to be 8-2, not 9-1 or 7-3, but 8-2. That is how those little sports nuggets go though, right? He is the first player to throw for 303-yards and score two rushing touchdowns on November 12th, the day after welcoming the birth of his first daughter. It’s stuff like that which sounds relevant but isn’t. That isn’t to say that being the first team in 30 years to start 8-2 and not make the playoffs doesn’t carry any weight though. This statistic is much more meaningful and franchise altering than the 303 game after welcoming a child into the world. What the Colts did this weekend was hard to stomach. Yes, they lost their starting quarterback, and that had a lot to do with. Yes, it was a slow burn, but it was still difficult to watch. Would Daniel Jones have beaten these Seahawks or 49ers teams? Watching the level of play over the last month, it is hard to say he would have done much better. Like sugar in water, it was hard watching something so sweet dissolve before our eyes. A huge Berlin win, a monster trade for a lockdown corner, and the best record in the league, all meaningless as the Colts wrap up another disappointing season. Maybe the Sauce Gardner trade will be a silver lining, but then again, the Colts thought they were giving up a pick in the high twenties, not the teens. It’s hard to be mad about it because it happened in slow motion, preparing us for the end result. It’s not hard to understand the “why” though. A soft schedule got hopes up, a regression from Shane Steichen, and the inability of the Colts to adapt and make big plays ultimately sunk this ship. Where do the Colts go from here? No clue. They are back in no man’s land. This once proud franchise used to make history the rest of the league was envious of and strove to replicate. Now, the only history the Colts make is the kind the rest of the league wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole. See More: Indianapolis Colts Analysis
Raiders Week 18: Meet the Chiefs
The Las Vegas Raiders will are preparing to play their final regular-season game of the year against the Kansas City on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:25 p.m. PT. Let’s take a quick look at the Chiefs: Record: The Chiefs are 6-10 after a 20-13 loss to the visiting Denver Broncos on […] The Las Vegas Raiders will are preparing to play their final regular-season game of the year against the Kansas City on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:25 p.m. PT. Let’s take a quick look at the Chiefs: Record: The Chiefs are 6-10 after a 20-13 loss to the visiting Denver Broncos on Christmas night. Last meeting: In Week 7, at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs shut out the Raiders, 31-0 led by star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who is now out for the season with a knee injury. It was the biggest shutout in the series of this long matchup of division foes. The Chiefs had 30 first downs. The Raiders had three first downs. The Chiefs have never lost at Allegiant Stadium, but these aren’t the normal Chiefs. See More: Las Vegas Raiders Game Information
Vikes Views: Viking of the Week: Week 17 – Lions at Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings swept the season series against the Detroit Lions on Christmas Day. The Vikings knocked their divisional rival out of playoff contention, but also clinched the playoffs for the Packers at the same time. The Week 18 matchup between Green Bay and Minnesota will be meaningless for playoff positioning. The Lions offense was […] The Minnesota Vikings swept the season series against the Detroit Lions on Christmas Day. The Vikings knocked their divisional rival out of playoff contention, but also clinched the playoffs for the Packers at the same time. The Week 18 matchup between Green Bay and Minnesota will be meaningless for playoff positioning. The Lions offense was stifled all day by the relentless Vikings defense. Max Brosmer and the offense weren’t able to get much going, but did just enough to get the team over the finish line. Will Reichard was perfect on the day, as we all have come to expect. Harrison Smith Harrison Smith is having fun playing right now. You can see the joy in his face. It sure does seem like Sunday will be his last game. He had another vintage performance on Thursday. He snatched an interception, a sack, 3 TFLs and 3 passes defensed. Byron Murphy Jr Murphy hasn’t had the best season, but it was a good Christmas for him. Murphy was able to grab an interception and fumble recovery (Gibbs). Andrew Van Ginkel Van Ginkel had a pair of fumble recoveries, with the 2nd on a very impressive play to get the ball away from Goff as he tried to jump on a bad snap. Van Ginkel fought through injuries for most of the season, but has returned to form as of late. Will Reichard Just another day at the office. Reichard was 3/3 on FGs and 2/2 on XPs. With the 2 50+ yard FGs on Christmas, Reichard broke the team record for most FGs of 50+ yards on the season. Best kicker in the game right now. Brian Flores The Vikings knew they would need an impeccable defensive effort to win this game. Flores’ defense stepped up big time. 6 turnovers and only 231 yards allowed. Just an epic performance from a team that was eliminated from the playoffs weeks ago. It’s going to be hard to keep Flores around this offseason. See More: Minnesota Vikings discussion
The NFC playoffs will show the Eagles if offense or defense wins championships
Any Eagles fan who watched the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears go up and down the field in a wildly entertaining game on Sunday Night Football this week, won by the Niners 42-38, had to wonder if they were watching a different sport. There was 936 yards of total offense. The teams combined for […] Any Eagles fan who watched the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears go up and down the field in a wildly entertaining game on Sunday Night Football this week, won by the Niners 42-38, had to wonder if they were watching a different sport. There was 936 yards of total offense. The teams combined for 58 first downs. Both quarterbacks threw for over 300 yards. There were five combined passing touchdowns and big plays all over the field. With both offenses sprinting up and down the field, one couldn’t help but marvel at the genius of the architects of those two offenses, Kyle Shanahan and Ben Johnson. And after the 49ers snuffed out the Bears’ last gasp at the goal line as time expired, one was left with the impression that these were two juggernauts in the NFC. These were elite teams playing at an elite level. And, that was partially correct. The offenses were elite. The defenses, though. Yikes. Contrast what we saw from Chicago and San Francisco with the display the Eagles put on in Buffalo on Sunday. During a solid first half in which Jalen Hurts and the offense piled up 174 yards of offense and scored on three of its five possessions, it felt like the offense was continuing the improvement it showed against lesser opponents the previous two weeks. But then the offense gained 17 total yards on their final five drives in the second half, failing to gain a single first down on their last four and Jalen Hurts 0-for-7 after halftime. This isn’t new. The Eagles did the same thing in losses to Chicago and Denver earlier this season as well as in slim victories against Tampa, Detroit and Green Bay. It was gross and once again put the onus on Vic Fangio’s incredible defense to stop a high-powered Buffalo offense that had averaged 29 points per game this season. Of course, Vic’s boys came through. It wasn’t easy, and the dam nearly broke by the end of the game. Being on the field for two-thirds of the second half will wear down even the deepest of rosters, and it was clear the defense was a bit gassed on that final drive. That said, it took three miracle catches and some incredible Houdini acts by the reigning NFL MVP and his receivers to even put Buffalo in a position to tie the game at the end of regulation. The Eagles have their very own Kyle Shanahan or Ben Johnson in Philadelphia. He simply coaches the other side of the ball. The question is whether or not the Eagles can repeat as Super Bowl champions with their star coordinator coaching defense rather than offense. Here is how the rest of the NFC playoff teams stack up in terms of scoring defense (I’m including the Panthers and Bucs, as both are still alive for the NFC South title): Seahawks 18.1 (2nd, giving up 21.0 the last 3 games) Eagles 18.8 (3rd, giving up 10.0 the last 3 games) Rams 19.9 (7th, giving up 29.7 the last 3 games) Packers 21.5 (11th, giving up 32.3 the last 3 games) 49ers 22.4 (13th, giving up 29.7 the last 3 games) Panthers 22.8 (16th, giving up 22.3 the last 3 games) Bears 24.8 (22nd, giving up 20.3 the last 3 games) Bucs 24.8 (22nd, giving up 24.0 the last 3 games) In terms of offense: Rams 30.5 (1st) Seahawks 29.4 (2nd) 49ers 27.1 (8th) Bears 26.6 (10th) Packers 24.3 (13th) Bucs 22.8 (18th) Eagles 22.6 (19th) Panthers 18.6 (27th) The Rams and Seahawks jump off the page as both are in the top-10 in offense and defense. Other than that, every NFC team is clearly better in one aspect or the other. As Eagles fans, the defense is their superpower, and no unit is playing better than Philadelphia’s defenders over the last six weeks. Watching Sunday’s second half offensive dry heave was torturous, and there is nothing more frustrating to watch than a struggling offense, no matter the sport. Fans always feel better watching a team score while giving up a lot of points over a team that is stingier on defense but finds scoring arduous. For teams like the Bears, 49ers, and Packers (now without Micah Parsons for the rest of the season), their defensive struggles are every bit as real as the Eagles’ offensive issues. They’re just easier to paper over when you score a bunch. It remains to be seen which will win the day in the postseason. It is unlikely a team is going to be able to win the Super Bowl by being truly awful either on offense or defense. One of these teams, like the Eagles did last year in the postseason, is going to have to get enough out of their one lackluster unit to make sure the one that has carried them all season can get them to the finish line. It’s why the Eagles have every bit as good a chance to win it all as anyone. Despite the inconsistency, the offense remains loaded with talent. Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, Devonta Smith, Dallas Goedert and yes, even the struggling offensive line once Lane Johnson returns, have proven themselves capable of getting hot and putting points up on the board. Can the 49ers, Bears or Packers defense say the same? When the tournament begins in two weeks, we’ll find out if the Eagles can rely on their genius, Fangio, the way the offensive-minded teams can rely on theirs. Fangio’s defense just held Allen to 12 points, only gave up 17 points to Patrick Mahomes in Week 2, 7 to the Packers in Week
Giants-Raiders review: 5 plays that led to 3rd victory of the season
The New York Giants defeated the Las Vegas Raiders, 34-10, in Week 17. It was a bounce-back game for Jaxson Dart, who finished with 207 passing yards and two rushing touchdowns. The rookie quarterback didn’t need to do much but looked comfortable and composed against a team that doesn’t seem eager to win. Nevertheless, Dart’s offense had 343 total yards and was 7 of 14 on third and fourth down. New York played complementary football for, seemingly, the first time this season. Not only did the defense hold Ashton Jeanty to 60 yards on 16 carries, after he ran all over the Houston Texans last week, but they also forced two interceptions that proved costly for the Raiders. The offense moved with ease, and the special teams added a touchdown with a Tae Banks return. Overall, the Giants played respectably and won the game. They now lose the first overall pick unless the Giants defeat Dallas next week and the Raiders defeat the Chiefs. Nevertheless, here are the five plays, or sequence of plays, that led to the Giants’ victory. Play(s) 1: Jaxson Dart! The Giants responded to the Raiders’ field goal with an eight-play, 65-yard drive that featured a lot of Dart’s legs – 21 yards total on the drive, including this 12-yard touchdown run: Mike Kafka dialed up a fast four to the three receiver side, which lightened the box on the designed QB draw (once Devin White No. 45 followed Tyrone Tracy Jr. (28). Dart did the rest and finished the play while taking a big shot. Dart also connected for 21 yards to Darius Slayton on a first-and-10 completion. Dart added a second rushing touchdown on fourth-and-1, which was the dagger that ended the Raiders’ slim chances to compete in the game: Play 2: Bobby Okereke’s interception Geno Smith (7) threw an interception right to the veteran linebacker when Okereke (58) passed off the clearout and undercut Michael Mayer (87). Okereke returned this red zone turnover to set up the offense’s first touchdown, which Devin Singletary seized with a 1-yard touchdown rush. This was the Giants’ seventh interception of the season. Play 3: Dane Belton with an interception Dane Belton intercepted Geno Smith on third-and-6 at the beginning of the fourth quarter, and that would be Smith’s last snap of the game after he was blindside blocked by Rico Payton. The Raiders, down 17 points when the interception happened, had a feeble pulse; the Giants’ offense was moving the football, Deonte Banks returned a kick for a touchdown, and Geno Smith had little time to throw the football with Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and the defensive tackles easily getting pressure. Play(s) 4: Wan’Dale Robinson gets 1,000+ Wan’Dale Robinson caught 11 of 14 passes for 113 yards, putting him at 1,014 total yards on the season. It is the first time Robinson has secured the thousand milestone, and I’m sure it will be yet another negotiation chip for Robinson, who The Sports and Entertainment Group represents. Robinson may be in demand and is likely looking at a deal north of Khalil Shakir’s four-year, up to $60.2 million contract, featuring $32 million guaranteed with incentives. The Giants will have to retain Darius Slayton, who will enter the second year of his three-year, $30-million contract. Releasing Slayton would cost the Giants just over $15 million in dead cap, so expect him on the roster. But will the Giants be in the market for Robinson, or did his impressive 2025 season up his market value out of the Giants’ range? That is a question we’ll be pondering as this season ends. Still, Robinson was more than just a gadget player against the Raiders. He was the catalyst of the offense, and Mike Kafka designed several first-read plays for Jaxson Dart to the undersized receiver. He was a massive reason for the Giants’ victory. Play 5: Were Special Teams special? Giants’ 2023 first-round pick, Tae Banks has carved a valuable role out for New York, but it’s not on the defense. Banks has quietly been a good kick returner for New York this season. Before the Week 17 game, Banks had averaged 29.7 yards on 15 kick returns. He showcased his vision on Sunday, galloping through a crease while also flashing impressive acceleration to eliminate angles. Banks is a great athlete, and I’m happy to see him trusted with a role and to watch him thrive within that responsibility. Still, I hope to see his natural skills manifest on the defensive side of the football. See More: New York Giants analysis
PFF grades and snap counts from the Giants’ victory over the Raiders
There is a tendency to dismiss the New York Giants’ 34-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders Sunday, not just because of its implications for the draft, but also because the Raiders are terrible and sat Maxx Crosby and Brock Bowers. That’s not unreasonable. Consider this, though: In their opener the Raiders beat the Patriots 20-13. In Game 4 they lost to the Bears by one point. In Game 9 they lost to the Jaguars by one point. They lost twice to the Broncos, once by 3 points and once by 7. Just last week they lost to the Texans by only 2 points. All of those are playoff teams, some of them actual contenders for a ring. In that regard the Giants are a very similar team, having lost close games to many playoff teams this season, often when they had a fourth quarter lead. That’s not to say that either team is good, only that they’re not devoid of talent. How much of the Giants’ failures are due to poor coaching and how much to poor players is difficult to say, but it’s not out of the question to suggest that they are closer to being good than 3-13 makes them seem. In that light, let’s see who played well vs. poorly and how much yesterday. Offense PFF grades First, let’s look at the offense overall: Courtesy of Pro Football Focus For a change, the Giants had a number of players who graded at least very good on offense, and only one, Daniel Bellinger, was significantly below average. Now let’s look at the passing: Courtesy of Pro Football Focus Jaxson Dart played well overall. It was more a workmanlike than spectacular performance (no big-time throws, no TD passes), but neither did he put the ball up for grabs, with no INTs or even any turnover-worthy plays. He wasn’t great under pressure, but he did complete 3 of 5 against the fairly infrequent blitzes that the Raiders sent. Now the pass blocking: Courtesy of Pro Football Focus Overall this was one of the Giants’ best pass blocking games of the season. Of course, not facing Maxx Crosby might have affected that just a tiny bit. Marcus Mbow, subbing for Andrew Thomas at left tackle, had a rough time of it with a sack, a QB hit, and 3 pressures allowed, but overall his grade was only slightly below average in 36 pass blocking snaps. The rest of theline except for Austin Schlottman (1 hurry) had a clean game, with Jon Runyan, Jermaine Eluemunor, and Greg Van Roten all grading in the 80s. Let’s move on to the receivers: Courtesy of Pro Football Focus Wan’Dale Robinson unsurprisingly led the pack and had almost half the overall targets. The rest of the receivers were generally OK the few times the ball came their way except Bellinger, who caught two short passes but was unable to come down with his one contested target. Now the running backs: Courtesy of Pro Football Focus Dart was the Giants’ best rusher, as Mike Kafka loosened the reins a little bit. Dart rushed nine times, and only three of those were scrambles. Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary had pretty similar games, both of them having one explosive run. Finally, the run blocking: Courtesy of Pro Football Focus Among the offensive line, Austin Schlottman was above average, but everyone else on the line was average or close to it. Snap counts Jaxson Dart and the entire offensive line played every snap except for Jermaine Eluemunor, who sat for three snaps and was replaced by Bryan Hudson Darius Slayton and Isaiah Hodgins played most of the game, although neither one had a large impact. Wan’Dale Robinson, who did have a large impact, played three-quarters of the snaps. Gunner Olszewski and Dalen Cambre each played a few snaps. With Theo Johnson out, Daniel Bellinger played almost every snap, Chris Manhertz about a quarter of the snaps, and Zach Davidson was elevated from the practice squad for seven snaps because the Giants always have to have a Davidson on the game-day roster and IDL D.J. Davidson had been placed on IR. The bottom line is that the Giants were mainly in 11 personnel. Tyrone Tracy played two thirds of the snaps and Devin Singletary most of the rest, with Eric Gray getting one series. Turbo Miller was elevated but inactive. C’mon Mike Kafka, give him some snaps next week. Defense PFF grades First, the defense as a whole: Courtesy of Pro Football Focus PFF gave the defense overall a grade of 80.0, their highest of the season; the only other game in which they graded better than average this season was the Chargers game (72.4). Seven players graded from very good to outstanding, and two more just missed clearing the Very Good bar. Now let’s look at the pass rush: Courtesy of Pro Football Focus The Giants’ best pass rusher yesterday was…Roy Roberston-Harris? Yes, RRH had a hit and two hurries yesterday. In fact, this was maybe the IDL’s best game of the season, with Darius Alexander getting a sack, a hit, and a hurry, and Chauncey Golston getting two hurries. (Sorry, once again Dexter Lawrence did not make the pass rush stat sheet.) On the edge, both Brian Burns and Abdul Carter were productive, with Burns having two sacks, a hit, and a hurry and the latter getting a sack, three hits, and three hurries. Moving on to the pass coverage grades: Courtesy of Pro Football Focus Dane Belton was outstanding yesterday in all three phases of the game. He had an INT and only gave up one reception for 13 yards in 39 coverage snaps. Bobby Okereke was almost as good (80.8). He gave up four receptions in five targets but for only a combined 29 yards, and he too had an interception. Paulson Adebo had a pass breakup and only one big play, for 26 yards. Even Deonte Banks was effective, with a forced incompletion of