Report Card: How we graded Giants in win over Cardinals - Giants Wire
The New York Giants defeated the Arizona Cardinals at MetLife Stadium on Sunday afternoon in thrilling fashion, 36-22, to take sole possession of first place in the NFC East for the first time in over a decade.
"Great locker room after the game, really fun to be a part of that," head coach John Harbaugh said postgame. "That’s what winning is. That’s what winning teams do. They find ways to win games. That’s why they’re winning teams and I’m proud of those guys for that."
The Giants averaged 5.2 yards per play, which is the league average. So why did it seem like they struggled most times? Quarterback Jameis Winston threw two interceptions, and the team averaged just 3.1 yards per rushing attempt. They made 17 first downs, 11 through the air. Winston was sacked four times, and Najee Harris lost a fumble.
On the plus side, Winston had three touchdown passes, and the Giants went 7-for-15 on third down. They made plays when they needed to. Malik Nabers, Malachi Fields, and Theo Johnson had touchdown catches.
The end of the game says it all: A goal-line stand with a game-clinching pick-6. That was the first time the Giants ended a game on an interception return for a touchdown in their history. Deonte Banks did that. He's playing like a first-round pick these days.
Rookie linebacker Arvell Reese was a man on fire. He batted down passes, even picking one off, and tackled everything in sight. His physical style and presence have the Giants and their fan base in awe.
Reese wasn't alone; the entire defense seemed in sync, allowing Arizona just 270 net yards and 4-for-12 on third downs. There were some lapses, too, but they stepped up when it counted.
Another strong outing for rookie kicker Dominic Zvada, who remained perfect with three more field goals (two from over 50 yards) and a PAT. Punter Jordan Stout is a weapon, landing two of his three punts inside the 20 and averaging 48.7 yards per attempt with a long of 51.
The kickoff coverage unit struggled, as did return man Braxton Berrios, who had two punt returns for -2 yards.
It matters. The Giants stuck to their guns. Head coach John Harbaugh was consistent. He stuck with Winston and did not cave to the fans who were calling for a quarterback change. He went with Bryan Hudson at center, citing the fact that starter John Michael Schmitz missed time this week due to the birth of a child. It seems like he might have been looking for an excuse to replace JMS and found one. It's hard to judge games in the rain, so the fact they won is the bottom line. Call it perseverance.
