by Sunday’s New York Giants-Philadelphia Eagles game, a 48-22 victory by the Eagles, is something both you and the Giants would like to forget. Alas, Giants players and coaches need to watch the movie today. You, my loyal readers of Big Blue View, must do penance and undergo the traditional “Kudos & Wet Willies” review.
Let’s get to the point.
Congratulations to…
Azeez Ojulari — The second-year linebacker has been a force in his two games since returning from injury. On Sunday, Ojulari had two sacks, two quarterback hits and two tackles for loss.
Ryder Anderson — Undrafted free agent rookie defensive lineman, elevated from the practice squad for the game, earned his first NFL sack. He also had one tackle for loss and one quarterback hit in 37 snaps.
Isaiah Hodgins – Bye week waiver request was sneakily good for the Giants. Against the Eagles he had four receptions for 38 yards. Hodgins had a touchdown catch and a two-point conversion reception.
Richie James — I said Sunday night that nearly all of James’ production (six of seven catches and all of his catch) came in the second half when the game was out of reach. However, seven tricks on nine targets is seven tricks on nine targets. It’s a good day. James had 61 receiving yards and a 19-yard touchdown catch. He retook the Giants wide catch lead with 38 receptions this season, three more than Darius Slayton.
The 38 receptions are a career high for James.
Wet Willies for…
Fabian Moreau — This was a second consecutive difficult game for Moreau. He hit two penalties that gave the Eagles first downs, one on a third down that ended up turning what should have been an Eagles field goal attempt into an eventual touchdown. Moreau played well in his first few weeks with the Giants. Perhaps Adoree ‘Jackson’s absence from the lineup is part of the reason, but his play has dropped significantly in recent weeks.
Special teams — Apologies to Elerson Smith, who blocked a punt, but other than that the Giants special teams game was atrocious Sunday.
Punter Jamie Gillan dropped a snap on punt and was penalized for an illegal kick, throwing the ball while down. This drove the ball to the Giants 33-yard line, and the Eagles scored a touchdown on their first play of the next game. Gillan otherwise had a good day, with three of six punts downed inside the 20-yard line, but there always seems to be something to complain about with wildly inconsistent Gillan.
The Giants allowed kickoff returns of 66 and 35 yards to Giants killer Boston Scott. They also allowed a 16-yard punt return.
While it was important, the Eagles constantly challenged Gary Brightwell to return kickoffs. He couldn’t, with three returns for 58 yards and a long return for 20 yards.
I always thought Special Teams Coordinator Thomas McGaughey was good at his job, but didn’t get any answers as the Giants’ special teams struggled one way or another most of the season.
Offensive line — The Giants have given up seven sacks, even though three of them came in the final six minutes and many of the starters were out of the game. However, quarterback Daniel Jones was sacked four times and hit nine more times before Tyrod Taylor took over. Jones was sacked twice in the Giants’ first five plays, and that set the tone for a day in which the Giants’ offensive line was overrun.
Rookie right tackle Evan Neal had an especially rough day. In its initial review, Pro Football Focus accused Neal of giving one sack and seven pressures. Andrew Thomas also surrendered a sack, only his second allowed this season.
Defense as a whole — The Giants gave up 48 points, the most since giving up 51 to the Los Angeles Rams in a 51-17 loss on November 5, 2017 to the Los Angeles Rams.
The Giants gave up 14 plays, 80 yards and 12 plays, 86 touchdown yards on Philadelphia’s first two possessions. They gave up a one-game 33-yard touchdown run. The Giants also gave up touchdown plays of 41 and 40 yards.
The Eagles ran for 253 yards on 31 carries, an absurd 8.2 yards per carry. Miles Sanders had 144 yards on 17 rushes. Jalen Hurts had 77 yards on just seven carries.
The Hurts and Eagles also pretty much did what they wanted through the air. Hurts completed 21 of 31 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns. The Giants managed four sacks, but perhaps that was the only bright spot.
Julian Love went for an interception on a 41-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith, only to have him snatch the ball in the air and come in for an easy score. Kayvon Thibodeaux managed to play 55 snaps and not get into the stats sheet.
The Eagles have a versatile and all-round offense. The Giants defense never really stood a chance.
