New York Giants among most-penalized teams through three weeks - Giants Wire

The New York Giants are one of the NFL's most-penalized teams through three weeks, an early warning for a franchise that hired head coach John Harbaugh to bring order to the roster.

Green Bay leads the league with 32 accepted penalties for 276 yards. The Giants have 23 accepted flags, tied for 10th, but rank fourth in yardage at 222. Only the Packers, Arizona Cardinals (245) and New York Jets (234) have surrendered more.

Declined and offsetting penalties are not included in those totals.

The damage is split unevenly by unit. New York's offense has been called 13 times for 82 yards, nine of them before the snap, leaving the Giants behind the chains again and again. The defense has eight penalties for 115 yards. Special teams has two for 25.

The defense has fewer flags but a steeper cost, often on pass interference and 15-yard personal fouls that flip field position and extend drives.

Harbaugh was brought in to lead a disciplined team after more than a decade of building that reputation in Baltimore. Through three games, the Giants have not looked like one. Pre-snap mistakes on offense and costly fouls on defense have stalled their own possessions, given opponents extra opportunities, and undercut a 2-1 start.

Cleaning that up is now an obvious priority for the new staff.