Because we ran the football.
We gained 148 yards on the ground and ran for 4.6 yards a clip on the best rushing defense in football.
Coming into tonight, Denver was allowing 2.4 YPA. They had allowed just 203 rush yards in 4 games and 0 rushing TD's.
This is the same defense that made Ezekiel Elliott pretty much quit just 3 weeks ago.
This season could have been much different if we had identified the offensive linemen who could block, the backs who could find holes, and made more of an effort to establish a ground game from jump street. But we didn't. We decided to simply hand jobs to guys who didn't earn them.
No one is going to mistake this line for Dallas or even call them "good" - but it's pretty clear that we went into this season with the wrong configuration.
It's also pretty clear that McAdoo should have given up the playcalling some time ago.
It makes such a massive difference when you can get a few first downs and run the football in this league. Even if you don't score on every drive. Just pushing possession and helping out your defense is a big deal. The way this team was playing early in the season was fucking impossible.
It's too little too late now - but it's tough because I think a lot of us knew this team shouldn't have been 0-5.
Hard to be mad about the Giants winning a football game.. but it's fucking frustrating that we are where we are now.
The Giants were running well to the right last week when Hart was at RT. No doubt Pugh is the better RT, but don't dismiss what happened last week.
We finally had a pass rush so our defensive backfield could make some plays.
The defense needs the pass rush to be successful
Yeah, the OL looked better. Maybe Sullivan was a difference. Hell, John Jerry even played better on the left side. Darkwah ran better, Engram had a great night, and most importantly, this was the first time the D actually played remotely close to what people expected them to look like this year.
They almost looked like the team they were expected to be this year. Except for the lack of Beckham, Vernon, Marshall, Sheppard, DRC etc.
Let's call it Complimentary Coaching, that's where it starts. Glad to see the HC took his head out of his ass this week.
its weird
The biggest change was the O line configuration and Sully making the play calls
The D, minus DRC and Vernon, came out, ugh, "heavy handed" and "bullied" the other team off the field. They got after the QB, they stopped the run, and they wrapped up all over the field.
This was the D we knew we had, the question is - where the fuck were these guys for the first few weeks of the season? I hate to say first few, for the first couple of weeks I felt they did a very good job, despite being hung out to dry by a completely dysfunctional offense. But the next 3 games were an absolute abomination, and I still can't figure out why Spags hasn't eaten more shit over it to date.
I also want to say this with all honesty, that was the best feeling after a W I have had in the past 2 years. None of the 11 wins last year were this decisive (against a very good opponent), and it was shocking/awesome to watch. Just wish we won one of the previous 3 and we would have a season right now.
Sean : 8:13 am : link : reply
after tonight the problem looks more to be coaching. This team has talent.
Reese drafting has been terrible that why we have little to no depth . We had 12 first downs the WR's caught two balls .
We won the game in the trenches as in part to Pugh moving to RT and inserting Fluker . Hart needs to stay on the bench
he is not a RT . Was happy for Darkwa because he is always injured . The pick six gave us some breathing room and the run game aided in the TOP keeping the defense from wearing out they still hung 400 yards of passing . Apple finally played a decent game he had 3 passes defended and made some good stops .
The defense is not a dominant unit, but can have dominant stretches. The offense needs to move the football at an average clip and this D will resemble last year's. Lots of bend, timely turnovers and lockdown red zone play.
The biggest difference last night was no head scratching, stomach turning turn over.
On defense, after weeks of waiting for it, we finally saw some big plays on defense with the pick-6, Collins' interception, and the goal-line stand.
This game was closer than the scoreboard might indicate. Take away the pick-6, the missed and blocked FG's by Denver, and give them the TD that was so close the replay officials couldn't confirm one way or the other, and this game probably would have been lost by the NYG.
I'm glad they won, they deserved to win. They also were very close to winning the previous three weeks. They just couldn't catch the breaks, didn't score early, and couldn't get a big defensive stop or play in those previous three games. Football fans should realize those things were going to happen, but also shouldn't count on them happening every week.
On defense, after weeks of waiting for it, we finally saw some big plays on defense with the pick-6, Collins' interception, and the goal-line stand.
This game was closer than the scoreboard might indicate. Take away the pick-6, the missed and blocked FG's by Denver, and give them the TD that was so close the replay officials couldn't confirm one way or the other, and this game probably would have been lost by the NYG.
I'm glad they won, they deserved to win. They also were very close to winning the previous three weeks. They just couldn't catch the breaks, didn't score early, and couldn't get a big defensive stop or play in those previous three games. Football fans should realize those things were going to happen, but also shouldn't count on them happening every week.
Dan, you can play the if's and but's game in about 95% of the NFL games played. Most are tightly contested and could go either way. I dont think it was a matter of the game being close or not that made this W feel good. We saw 11 W's last year, and I dont think any of them felt as good as this one. As mentioned before, the Giants were able to establish a run game, pass-block with 2 competent looking Tackles, and play a sound defensive football game. It was a sight to see. Unfortunately, probably a tad too late.
Simien sucks. Hes a big reason why they lost
They lose and the coach gets killed. They win and the coach gets killed. Classic BBI.
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Well said.
Manning only completed 11 passes. We only gained 12 first downs. But it FELT different. That all said, this offense has a long way to go.
The Giants really have botched the OL situation for some time now. It's not only a talent issue, but as folks have pointed out, THE COACHES (unless they were being pressured by the front office) picked the wrong configuration.
They killed the season with the first five losses. Right now, I'm happy they won, but in a way, it feels like another kick to the balls because three of the five losses were games where we had 4th quarter leads. If our OL had been configured better... if Tom Quinn's special teams did have a huge hand in four of the losses... if the defense could have held the lead in three of those losses...
Oh well.
You know what I mean... this game had a totally different feel - this was the first time all year where I felt like on both sides of the ball, we were going to do what we had to do.
It felt like the Giants came into this game, had a game plan, and followed through with it.
Like I said before, it's just frustrating because I feel like this team should never have been in this 0-5 hole to start. But it's too late now and here we are.
Maybe the different "feel" just comes down to the basics of winning physical battles, not getting blown up, making blocks, getting off blocks, not making dumbass mental mistakes, not whiffing on tackles, you know, competency.
LA: 36 attempts
Denver: 19 attempts
It is more about the ratio.
While there's some merit to that, the ratio from last night is completely unsustainable for the purposes of winning in most cases. You aren't going to go anywhere meaningful if you cannot establish a pass offense, thus a balanced offense. You can bet the next team will be keying for the run and it won't be a "trap game". A run heavy offense that can't pass when they have to is easily defended. They're not at the point where they can confidently run even when the opponent knows it's coming. Even last night, a good night for running, plenty of plays got stuffed at or behind the line. That plan also won't work if they fall behind and don't have a defense that's creating turnovers and actually scoring.
Sullivan had a bunch of two tight end sets. The offensive line shakeup was a big factor, but it felt like they were playing smash mouth football last night.
Mac's dink and dunk west coast offense wasn't there, and it gave the guys confidence. It also made some former players happy. Diehl, Tuck and Dave Tollefson were on twitter making comments like these.
It figures, when I don't put the game on until 10 minutes left, they win.
It's better then the alternative, still see 1-6 heading into their bye week.
The Seahawks won't be napping.
Why did Mac kick a field goal with 29 seconds left is
a better question? Geez, I wonder what could go wrong
there? Just saying.
Sullivan had a bunch of two tight end sets. The offensive line shakeup was a big factor, but it felt like they were playing smash mouth football last night.
Mac's dink and dunk west coast offense wasn't there, and it gave the guys confidence. It also made some former players happy. Diehl, Tuck and Dave Tollefson were on twitter making comments like these.
It always feels like "smash mouth football" when it works.
Being a self-important shithead was a distraction, they need to nip that shit.
More importantly, we didn't turn the ball over.
I think my point was that the coaches may have made a pretty costly error by not being able to figure out our best OL configuration until it was a bit too late. It's also probably safe to say that it was evident McAdoo should have stopped calling plays some time ago.
His stubbornness probably hurt this football team a bit this year.
I'm fine giving up yardage if it doesn't result in many points. The Patriots have been living on that model for a while now.
This team needs to be about running the ball, stopping the run, and passing efficiently. That can completely happen with the quality of the tight ends, and with Vereen out of the backfield.
It's not too late to try to make something out of this season, even if it is just playing good football.
Why do you hire McCarthy or McAdoo, or Gase, or any hot coordinator and then have a short fuse for demanding that he stop doing what his primary skill was so that he can focus on supervising other people try to do what he was better at?
Why do you hire McCarthy or McAdoo, or Gase, or any hot coordinator and then have a short fuse for demanding that he stop doing what his primary skill was so that he can focus on supervising other people try to do what he was better at?
Has the fuse really been that short? This isn't his first season here. This offense was one of the worst in football last year.
It's not like people gave the guy 2 games and then decided to start lobbying for change. We've been having problems offensively for some time now. I think it's become clear that perhaps he should be more focused on coaching the entire football team. His quote about that rubbed a lot of people the wrong way - and perhaps he could have worded it better - but I agreed with the overall point.
McAdoo needs to coach the TEAM. Not worry as much about calling the offense.
Yesterday felt like a team win. Maybe it'll just be a drop in a bucket and we'll never see it again this year. But for one night, it was nice to watch a team that seemed to be prepared and in sync.
I'm fine giving up yardage if it doesn't result in many points. The Patriots have been living on that model for a while now.
This team needs to be about running the ball, stopping the run, and passing efficiently. That can completely happen with the quality of the tight ends, and with Vereen out of the backfield.
It's not too late to try to make something out of this season, even if it is just playing good football.
I would agree with this and am hoping to see more of the same. The wins and losses won't matter as much as this point - but I'd like to see the team continue to play smart/quality football. It'll benefit us in the long run.
How about average?
We were one of the worst offenses in the entire league last year.
Not sure why he gets a complete pass for the predictable playcalling or the refusal to commit to the run game.
It's just me thinking, but you hire a guy based on his resume and then give him work that isn't related, and take away what he DID prepare for and was known for. Does that really make sense?
Like promoting your top salesman to sales supervisor. Now your best sales guy isn't selling for you. He's watching other people sell, who aren't as good as he was.
And you can hate McAdoo all day, you're entitled to your opinion, but Mike Sullivan is somebody who, two months ago if you suggested on here should be able to run his offense, you would get run off the site, and it would be justifiable.
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and say they should have had a good offense? I can't believe we're going back to that.
How about average?
We were one of the worst offenses in the entire league last year.
Not sure why he gets a complete pass for the predictable playcalling or the refusal to commit to the run game.
They should have had an average offense with Beckham, no TEs, a shot Cruz, a retired Jennings, the same bad offensive line we all agreed was horrible and the same backup WRs who were on the field last night?
You really feel that way?
Two critical skill position starters on the 2016 team are no longer in the NFL. One retired and one is trying to run away from retirement. I feel like that speaks loudly, or it should. The TE position was so terrible they threw a first-round pick and big free agent money at it. I do feel like it was that bad. Also didn't help, as we have repeated so often, that that offensive line was a horror.
For a guy who was brought here to "fix" the offense, and that side of the ball being his calling card, I wouldn't expect a 25th/26th ranked unit.
There were teams without an elite WR like Beckham or even a QB of Eli's stature who fared slightly better.
So, yes - I really feel that way. I feel that he hasn't done well enough here coaching the offense since that was what he was brought here for.
And yeah - the offensive line was terrible. I don't think it's a coincidence that they've played better without Bobby Hart @ RT. He should know his personnel and it's very possible he spent a lot of games putting the wrong guys on the field. That should fall on his shoulders.
He hasn't been as good in 2017, and has made some game management errors. Hopefully those go away.
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Was the 2016 personnel really worse than the 2015 one that was 6th in scoring and 8th in yards? I thought Eli had a bad year last year and was a (but not the only) reason for the decline.
Two critical skill position starters on the 2016 team are no longer in the NFL. One retired and one is trying to run away from retirement. I feel like that speaks loudly, or it should. The TE position was so terrible they threw a first-round pick and big free agent money at it. I do feel like it was that bad. Also didn't help, as we have repeated so often, that that offensive line was a horror.
That's answering a different question, though. The 2015 offense was not one littered with weapons or an elite offensive line. There shouldn't have been that big of a drop-off from 2015 to 2016.
He hasn't been as good in 2017, and has made some game management errors. Hopefully those go away.
Well, that's a two part question - because he wasn't initially hired to be the head coach.
He was hired to fix the offense.
Statistically, the offense did improve from 2013 to 2014 and again from 2014 to 2015.
So, he was promoted and became the head coach.
Now, his job is no longer just coaching the offense - his job is coaching the team. But that shouldn't mean regression for the offense or struggles like we've seen.
If he can't handle everything that comes along with coaching the entire team, perhaps the position isn't for him and he'd be better suited as an assistant.
Yesterday may have been a step forward for him - but that'll depend on where we go from here.
McAdoo is young. He wasn’t going to be brought in here and set the world on fire. If this season becomes 8-8, I’d argue we have our HC of the future. The Giants have operated year to year since 2013, I’m rooting for McAdoo to succeed, but we may need to accept that this is a growing pains year that is beneficial long term.
Let Sullivan run the offense, Spags run the defense & McAdoo oversee the team and handle game management.