ts The New York Giants have been a mediocre team for the first half of this season. There isn’t a way to defend it, they haven’t been the same Giants team that made the playoffs a year ago. While it has been disappointing so far, many games are to be played and the team can still make something out of this season. There are young players throughout the team and building towards a common goal can turn a season around. We saw it a year ago when the Lions started 1-6. All hope was lost, but the Lions stayed in the fight and finished the year 8-2.
Following that formula can yield tremendous results for the Giants, and their win against the Commanders on Sunday can be the start of that rebound. The Giants clearly went into that game with a mission. They came out hot and had the Commanders on the ropes early on. The pass rush was getting constant pressure on the quarterback and the offense was holding their own. Holding on in the second half, New York secured the victory over their rivals, moving their record to 2-5.
The next couple of weeks will be key for the Giants and their schedule plays very much into their hands. They play the Jets this week at Metlife Stadium. Then they go on the road to play the Raiders, Commanders, and Cowboys. Then they return home to play the Patriots and then after their bye, they play the Packers. Those are some winnable games for a team that needs to stack some good performances. The win against the Commanders was a big one where a lot of key pieces stepped up. There were three areas that proved vital and if they can lean into those in future weeks, the Giants could earn a spot in the playoffs.
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How the New York Giants Can Make the Playoffs
1. The Big Blue Blitz Has Arrived
There were some restless moments early this season when it came to the Giants pass rush. Having so much talent on the defensive line, guys like Leonard Williams, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Dexter Lawrence are all expected to produce. That wasn’t the case as through six games, the Giants only had five sacks total. That number is an embarrassment, especially when you consider all the money the team has invested in that defense.
The Giants heard the noise and produced a major bounce-back Sunday against the Commanders. They recorded five sacks in the first half, matching their season total. They ended up finishing the game with six sacks total, bringing their season total to 11. The Giants brought the blitz all day and Commanders quarterback Sam Howell couldn’t handle the pressure. He’s been bullied a lot this season, as he’s now been sacked 40 times so far on the year. If the Giants can replicate this performance in the following weeks, the playoffs could follow. However, it starts with the defensive line being able to create the pressure.
2. A Darren Waller Rebirth
When the Giants traded for Darren Waller back in March, Giants fans were over the moon as the team had secured a weapon at the position. While playing with the Raiders, Waller displayed his ability to get downfield and be a threat in the red zone. His big frame lends himself to being a big target and a lot of quarterback’s best friend. So far this season, it’s been a mixed bag. The Giants have struggled to get him the ball in key situations, which has hurt the offense. Before Sunday’s game, the team hadn’t scored an offensive touchdown in more than three games.
That changed in the second quarter of Sunday’s win, as Waller caught a 15-yard pass from Tyrod Taylor for a touchdown. It was also Waller’s first touchdown as a Giant, which must’ve felt good for the seven-year veteran. He also caught seven passes on the day and 98 receiving yards. It’s a day many have been waiting for and it finally happened. The team has a legitimate alpha at the tight end position and if they can find a way to get him the ball more in space, the offense will flourish. Waller still has a lot of tread on his tires and can be an impact player all over the field.
3. The Hyatt Regency Is Open And Comforting
For the past couple of seasons, the Giants have been very slow when it comes to their playmakers. They haven’t been able to create ample separation for the quarterback to make easy throws. Enter Jalin Hyatt. Winner of the Biletnikoff Trophy, which is given to the best receiver in college football, Hyatt was selected in the third round by the Giants. He was known for his speed and so far this season, he’s flashed that but hasn’t been targeted nearly enough.
Hyatt saw a small uptick in targets against the Commanders but also once again flashed his potential. He caught a third-down pass from Taylor for 33 yards, which moved the ball down the field after the team started with bad field position. Later in the game, Taylor threw up a beautiful 42-yard pass that Hyatt hauled in while getting his feet in bounds. There were some other instances throughout the game where the Giants would target Hyatt deep but they couldn’t connect. In the future, especially when Daniel Jones returns, they need to continue to feature Hyatt and get him targets. He’s a difference maker and when he’s on the field, the defense has to account for him. A deep passing threat is something the Giants have been missing and Hyatt brings that juice the team has been starving for.
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Main Photo: Vincent Carchietta – USA Today Sports
