Daniel Jones and the New York Giants had a game to remember, erasing a massive deficit to defeat the Arizona Cardinals by a score of 31-28. The first and second halves couldn’t have been more different. The Giants were lifeless in the first half, getting gashed through the air and ground. On offense, they couldn’t sustain a drive offensively. The Giants had no answers or responses to Josh Dobbs and the feisty Cardinals in the first half as they tried to avoid a 0-2 start of their own.
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Daniel Jones Powers Ridiculous Week 2 Comeback
The Giants debuted new starters on their offensive line with left tackle Joshua Ezeudu and right guard Marcus McKethan. Andrew Thomas was not available with a hamstring injury and veteran Mark Glowinski was benched after a dismal performance in Week 1. The unit played well and gave quarterback Daniel Jones plenty of time to throw the football, despite the shutout in the first half. The defense wasn’t inspiring in their own right.
The unit let Josh Dobbs shred them through the air with ease. On the ground, the defense had no answer for stopping the run, as running back James Conner finished with 106 yards and a score. Edge Rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux failed to appear on the stat sheet and has yet to make any impact through two games. Thibodeaux must be more productive for the Giants to be more consistent on defense. The Giants were down 20-0 at halftime. Then the second half started.
The Hero the New York Giants Needed
The story of the second half was the emergence of quarterback Daniel Jones. The team adjusted and responded outscoring the Cardinals, 31-7. Jones was able to operate a more vertical offense featuring rookie third-rounder Jalin Hyatt and tight end Darren Waller. The defense, however, continued to struggle early in the third quarter allowing another easy touchdown. The offense continued to get chunk plays behind the arm of Jones and began to chip away at the deficit. Jones finished the day with 380 total yards and three touchdowns. The defense turned it around and began shutting down the run game and forcing punts from the Cardinals.
Jalin’s first NFL catch is exactly what you expected!
Let’s go @jalinhyatt ‼️#NFLVols pic.twitter.com/zNTPhr6Ul9
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) September 17, 2023
Daniel Jones put the team on his back in the second half, escaping pressure and gaining chunk yards with his legs. The coaching staff deserves a lot of credit for making adjustments and opening up the offense. The Giants milked the clock and took the lead with a game-winning 34-yard field goal. The exhilarating comeback turned grim when Saquon Barkley injured his ankle in the second-to-last play. He limped off the field and X-rays are currently pending. His availability for this Thursday night remains uncertain. The undefeated San Francisco awaits their arrival this Thursday. The Giants need all the healthy bodies and need their playmakers to step up after an inconsistent week two victory.
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Main Photo: Joe Camporeale – USA Today Sports
