The New York Giants had a lot of hype coming into the 2023 season. Coming off a season where they made the playoffs for the first time since 2016, hopes were high. They went out in the offseason and got a lot faster with the additions of Darren Waller, Jalin Hyatt, and Isaiah Simmons. They also got younger in the secondary, drafting Deonte Banks in the first round and Tre Hawkins in the sixth. Both Giants players have competed well in camp and started for the team in Week 1. They even locked in quarterback Daniel Jones for the foreseeable future with a monster contract extension and worked things out with running back Saquon Barkley to complete his return to the team.
All things were looking up for the Giants, and then Week 1 happened. The Cowboys walked into MetLife Stadium and destroyed the Giants 40-0. There were little to no bright spots on the side of New York. Everything didn’t work and the team showed that they still aren’t close to the elites of the NFC.
However, the worst thing a team can do is overreact to Week 1. It’s a long season where highs and lows happen. It’s whether or not you pick yourself up after those lows. That makes a great team and the Giants have a chance to do that in Week 2 against the Cardinals in Arizona. For them to do that, they need these three players to improve mightily from a week ago.
3 Giants Players That Need to Step Up in Week 2
1. Daniel Jones
When Daniel Jones signed his four-year, $160 million extension with the Giants in March, he raised the level of expectations for his play for the remainder of that contract. He played well a year ago, correcting the turnover problem that had plagued him his whole career. Now he had to take his game to a new level this season and based on what we saw in Week 1, that wasn’t the case at all.
There are a lot of excuses that can be thrown to defend Daniel Jones. His offensive line couldn’t protect him at all and he barely had any time to throw the ball. The conditions weren’t ideal throughout the game and his star left tackle was battling through a hamstring injury. All of this may be true, but quarterbacks who earn the money that Daniel Jones received are supposed to elevate the Giants players around them. He certainly wasn’t doing that Sunday night, as he was missing throws and opportunities to different receivers.
On Sunday against the Cardinals, Jones will have little to no excuses for his performance. He is facing a Cardinals team that is projected to be one of the worst in the entire league. They are playing indoors so the conditions will be perfect and he will hopefully be afforded the time to throw the ball after a week of rest. Jones has to elevate his play to be a player who can rise above, not settle in. Sunday against the Cardinals has almost turned into a must-win for the Giants, and a must-win for Daniel Jones as well.
Cowboys sacked Giants QB Daniel Jones seven times in Sunday's 40-0 win. Micah Parsons was on the field for five of them. Here's a look at the attention Parsons drew on those sacks, beginning with his own. He often isolated others, and they seized chances. pic.twitter.com/r2B0tSGFRZ
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) September 11, 2023
2. Kayvon Thibodeaux
Last season on Sunday Night Football against the Commanders, EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux was an absolute beast. He had 12 total tackles, nine of which were solo tackles. He also had three tackles for loss and a sack that resulted in a fumble which Thibodeaux picked up returning it for a touchdown. Primetime did seem to be in love with Thibodeux but on Sunday, it certainly didn’t seem to be the case.
He was an absolute non-factor against the Cowboys, only garnering four tackles and only one of those were solo tackles. He failed to apply consistent pressure on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, which made Prescott’s night a lot easier. For the Giants to win football games, players like Thibodeaux has to make an impact. For him to not show up on Sunday night was disappointing to see and when the Giants travel to Arizona in Week 2, Thibodeaux has to be the difference maker the team has always seen him as.
3. Isaiah Hodgins
The breakout star for the Giants a season ago was wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins. He signed with the team in the middle of the season and instantly became a factor in the offense. In eight games with New York in 2022, Hodgins had 33 receptions for 351 yards and four touchdowns. He was one of the most important players in the Giants late run toward the playoffs and even caught a touchdown pass in the playoffs against the Vikings. Big things were ahead for Hodgins and he was slotted in as a starting weapon for the team coming into Week 1.
Just like a lot of his teammates on Sunday Night, his performance was disappointing. He only had one catch for 24 yards and during the play, he fumbled the ball. Not something you want to see coming out of the gates and certainly for Hodgins, he couldn’t have been happy with his performance. He has to be that weapon the Giants need him to be against the Cardinals. Especially in the red zone, look for Hodgins to make an impact against a young Cardinals defense.
Main Photo: Vincent Carchietta – USA Today Sports
