The offense scored 23 points last night. The previous three weeks, they scored 22, 23, and 24 points, so while the offense was improved by some measures, its actual output remained the same. The difference was the defense allowing just ten points after 27, 25, and 27 points previously.
I know some people are going to try to make a folk hero out of Mike Sullivan, but the story was the defense reverting to their 2016 form.
In reality, the Denver O vs the Giants D is a good matchup and one that probably went close to how people expected other than the turnovers which was a pleasant surprise.
So while I agree with you on the play of the D, the Giants OL vs Denver DL was not a battle anyone expected the Giants to win and IMO that's the difference in the game.
We had two respectable scoring drives in the first half. That helped. But it was no offensive "renaissance."
3 and outs.
Interceptions and fumbles for the D.
No turnovers.
No bad offensive decisions to cost the game
I agree the defense came to play, but give credit where it is due, at least.
It wasn't the play of the offense, it was WHEN the offense played well that made all the difference in how the game felt, imho.
The 17 yard run off the goal line last night was a huge play in the field position battle. Something we could not do earlier in the year.
But on 11 offensive possessions, the Giants also had four 3-and-outs and had two other drives that ran just four plays and another with just five plays. They only had one drive with over 10 plays.
If the defense played like they did last night the past three weeks, I think we would be 4-2 right now. I think that is the point Greg is making.
That's exactly it. They've had fourth quarter leads for four straight weeks, but only made it hold up this once. I wish I had an explanation for the sudden turnaround, but I don't.
But on 11 offensive possessions, the Giants also had four 3-and-outs and had two other drives that ran just four plays and another with just five plays. They only had one drive with over 10 plays.
If the defense played like they did last night the past three weeks, I think we would be 4-2 right now. I think that is the point Greg is making.
That's fine, but also worth noting that they were playing against the number one ranked defense in the NFL, who was at home. And Mile High is a hard place to win. We've only done it one other time, the Gary Reasons hit game in 1989.
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If the defense played like they did last night the past three weeks, I think we would be 4-2 right now. I think that is the point Greg is making.
That's exactly it. They've had fourth quarter leads for four straight weeks, but only made it hold up this once. I wish I had an explanation for the sudden turnaround, but I don't.
No explanation, but one guess is Denver doesn't seem like a team that can really play catch up. Once the Giants forced them into pass first and took them out of their comfort zone they became easier to defend. Also the underrated field position battle finally seemed to be helped out by Wing.
Broncos averaged over 125 yards per game running the ball before the game, they were held to under 50.
All true, but this was the first game they got to play with a LEAD all season, you win as a team.
This was more of a TEAM win than anything.
The offense was able move the ball and score early. That was huge for a road game in a tough stadium against a tough D with no WRs playing.
The Defense was able to keep the Broncos off the score board and stop their running game.
The special Teams was able to kick some long Field Goals and not do anything stupid.
This was more of a TEAM win than one side or the other propelling the team.
to run the ball more . Were not gonna win a ton of games with the weapons we have now unless we can continue to be able to run the ball and the turnovers keep coming . Engram will get
much more attention now and the WR's need to step it up .
I think they need to use Perkins on some 3rd downs as a receiver and see if he can replace Vereen . No sense in letting him rot on the bench . Agree with Eric you kinda cross your fingers with Darkwa . I think we still need a quality back someone to hit the HR and has power to take a
FT role .
but the defense looked like their old selves
They had practice squad guys playing WR vs the no fly zone.
The OL pushed around Denver's front and ran the ball extremely well. Better than Dallas or anyone else fared so far this year. Pass pro was very solid -- Von Miller made what, one play?
Eli and the passing game moved the ball enough to chew clock and keep the defense honest.
They didn't score 30, but they coached and played a very good game. They played with an 80s Giants identity, and they'll be in every game going forward if they can maintain that level of play.
Do you feel like they've had one on offense for the past 4 5 games? Hell the past season and a half, outside of chuck it to Beckham and hope he takes it to the house?
The Giants ran the ball extremely well, controlled the clock, made a few key passes, and played great defense. That's an identity.
In my opinion, the short drive where we got the ball from our 1 to our 30 (or whatever) was huge. It doesn't look like anything in the stats, but it was huge for time and for field position.
Wouldn't kill you to give the offense a little credit.
That's not to say I disagree with the point that if the defense played this well the team would be 4-2 or 5-1 because they would. If JPP played the way he did last night they'd have at least 1 more win. Part of them playing better likely also related to playing from ahead instead of from behind all game. Both units played their cleanest game of the season and that combination complimented each other's success. The offense's improvement from the Dallas game without OBJ to last night was glaring though, and I consider that the most noteworthy development.
Wouldn't kill you to give the offense a little credit.
Exactly. By the responses today you would have thought we lost 17-10.
They had practice squad guys playing WR vs the no fly zone.
The OL pushed around Denver's front and ran the ball extremely well. Better than Dallas or anyone else fared so far this year. Pass pro was very solid -- Von Miller made what, one play?
Eli and the passing game moved the ball enough to chew clock and keep the defense honest.
They didn't score 30, but they coached and played a very good game. They played with an 80s Giants identity, and they'll be in every game going forward if they can maintain that level of play.
So you expect all future opponents to NOT be up for the Giants?
Whateve they did last night, they did with WRs off the street, new playcaller and reshuffled o-line.
Not bad.
For the most part, offensive line won the physical battle which is the first time this has happened in a long time. The offense (narrowly) won time of possession and played exactly the kind of game it needed, considering the WR situation. One of the key plays, imo, was the first down run on third down in the series after the goal line stand. Not taking anything away from the great team defense last night but Semien is the least of the QBs we've faced and so far. I think he has to play with the lead to be effective and he never had that opportunity. I don't think you can underestimate the importance of the offensive line not getting blown up.
Fwiw, I thought Robinson played well last night in coverage.
Giants D played well but they were going against a much less formidable unit.
Considering the circumstances, the opponent, and our roster, we literally did everything right last night and won by 13. What else is there to say?
Yup the Broncos are better off with Kapernick. Same with Green Bay
We ran the ball effectively, had some big pops. And limited their run game.
While we love drafting the shiney parts such as WR, last night shows you how you can win games in the NFL.
Again, my biggest fear is Flowers. Improving? Enough? Are we settling at a important position such as LT?
That was one game, though - coming off a bye week at home, against a wounded animal, likely a game they didn't take too seriously given the lopsidedness of the matchup (Denver's strong D vs our banged up WR corps and OL gang that can't shoot straight).
If they do it a few more times, then I'll call the marching band.
I think not being consumed by playing calling allowed Mac to have greater perspective of the overall flow of the game. The D on occasions has been left out to dry by going for it on 4th and giving up short fields.
In previous matchups plenty of points were left on the field and Defense aready gassed from offense playing hurry up and not getting time to recover in between possessions, only to come back out to defend a short field.
Taking the field goals and punting had as much to do with this win as offensive and defensive.
Yes but I would add that swapping production as you say, means the D has more in the 4th quarter instead of being worn down by the time the 4th quarter hits.
A case of how you can lie with statistics in football .....
That game was like the Twilight Zone. They allowed 454 yards to the sorryass Browns and no more than 371 yards in any other game! 310 passing yards to Derek freaking Anderson. Only two passers threw for more than 245 yards on that defense, and the other one was Kurt Warner and the SB-bound Cardinals.
Also, special teams. Wing had his best game of the season and was consistently driving the Broncos back to where they were not starting off with great field position.
That's not to say I disagree with the point that if the defense played this well the team would be 4-2 or 5-1 because they would. If JPP played the way he did last night they'd have at least 1 more win. Part of them playing better likely also related to playing from ahead instead of from behind all game. Both units played their cleanest game of the season and that combination complimented each other's success. The offense's improvement from the Dallas game without OBJ to last night was glaring though, and I consider that the most noteworthy development.
this is spot on. and also Denver's doesn't have a real TE threat. agree that the D played better, but I'm not sure they took the leap a lot of folks thought they did. no doubt getting the lead early helped. but also got the sort of breaks they haven't been getting this season. think of the play where simien had charles wide open in the flat and just didn't get the ball there.