NY Giants: Reaction and PFF Takeaways From Week 1 (vs Titans)

[CarolinaLivin]

The Giants picked up a big victory on the road Sunday, defeating the Tennessee Titans 21-20 in a thrilling comeback win.

Brian Daboll's squad gained almost 400 yards of total offense, including a league-high 238 yards on the ground. On the flip side, Wink Martindale and the Big Blue defense held the Titans to just 93 rushing yards, including just 82 yards and an average of 3.9 yards per carry for Derrick Henry.

The Giants got some strong performances from players on both sides of the ball in the season opener.

Here are takeaways from Pro Football Focus, along with some expert reactions, from the Week 1 victory.

*Saquon Barkley had one of the strongest overall performances of his career on Sunday. He gained 194 total yards on 24 touches (18 carries, six receptions) and scored a touchdown and the game-winning two-point conversion. Barkley averaged 9.1 yards per carry, registered 123 yards after contact and had four runs of 10+ yards. Barkley earned a 74.8 overall grade from PFF.

*Barkley's dominance went beyond the box score. The fifth-year running back led the NFL with his 164 rushing yards, but he also finished with the highest rushing yards over expected at +88, according to Next Gen Stats. It was the second-highest RYOE of his career, and the most rushing yards in a season opener in franchise history. Barkley hit 21.1 miles per hour on one of his runs, which was the second-fastest of any player in the league in Week 1 and the fastest he's hit since 2019.

*The Giants back was named one of the Offensive Players of the Week by NBC Sports' Peter King in his weekly 'Football Morning in America' column.

*Andrew Thomas was one of the team's best players last season, and after one game, he's off to a similar start. The left tackle earned the highest grade on offense with his 79.9 overall grade. He received an 82.3 pass block grade after he surrendered just one total pressure on 31 pass block snaps and a 75.4 grade on 30 run block snaps, both of which were the best on the team.

*Thomas' overall grade ranked third among all offensive tackles, while his pass block grade was the sixth-highest at the position.

*The two veterans signed during free agency to start on the offensive line both graded well in pass protection. Right guard Mark Glowinski got a 70.2 pass block grade, while center Jon Feliciano was right behind him with a 70.1.

*Sterling Shepard had one of the plays of the game with his 65-yard touchdown catch, but the veteran wide receiver also made his presence felt in the run game. Shepard was on the field for 20 run plays and picked up a 71.4 run block grade. Rookie tight end Daniel Bellinger also graded well in protection as he recorded 71.3 pass block and 68.7 run block grades.

*Quarterback Daniel Jones completed 17 of 21 passes, good for an 81.0 completion percentage. The fourth-year quarterback registered a 115.9 passer rating, which was the fourth-highest of his career and the fourth-highest among all quarterbacks in Week 1.

*The offense overall did a great job of staying away from third down situations. 31.9 percent of the team's first and second down plays resulted in either a first down or a touchdown, which was the sixth-best mark in the NFL.
 

https://www.giants.com/news/saquon-barkley-daniel-jones-andrew-thomas-oshane-ximines-dexter-lawrence
 

https://www.bigblueview.com/platform/amp/2022/9/12/23349317/giants-titans-pff-grades-who-is-up-and-who-is-down

Offense

 

Defense

Edited September 16, 2022 by CarolinaLivin

[mrcompletely11]

Andrew Thomas has quietly turned around his career

[CarolinaLivin]

 

[Jackie Lee]

Sounds like we basically have to try the same game plan as last week, try to carve up their CB's. Their pass rush will be different than CLE, better interior pressure but the edge rushers are still a question mark. Could be average backups or could be Kayvon's first game starting if healthy. CMC is a totally different back than Henry so if they get creative with him and don't run him up the middle over and over again he might be able to do something

[TrevorLaurenceTime22]

3 hours ago, mrcompletely11 said:

Andrew Thomas has quietly turned around his career

It's almost like offensive linemen take time to develope... whodathunk

[*FreeFua*]

I hope Snow moves Burns over to Neal’s side quite a bit 

[ColumbusCounty]

All I got from reading that was a strong feeling we're going to have a repeat performance. Run defense will be a little improved but Saquon will still have over 100+ yards. I think Snow's scheme only works when the pressure is being heavy. But when it does work it's really efficient. 

With what we currently have on the roster, the ONLY way to combat us getting 200+ yards ran against us every week would be Offense. Score as much as possible as early as possible and control the TOP by a wide margin. Keep them off the field basically. 

I'm still amazed noone has scored a passing TD against us in the first quarter in 20+ games...including preseason. And only about 4 rushing TD's. If we could extend that trend even 50% into the 2nd, 3rd and 4th this would b an entirely diff convo. 

But It just so happens our D is currently running a gauntlet vs physical RBs. 

Chubb starts the bleeding.... then Saquon...then Kamara/Ingram...then James Conner... (one week rb bye week @ 49ers)...only to run into Fournette the next week. SO ...If week one is any indication we have a LONG road ahead. And that's just taking the first 6 weeks into account. 

Or maybe this whole run defense thing is being took outta proportion...maybe. But I can atleast say I saw adjustments on Offense... Defense not so much. 

[ColumbusCounty]

11 hours ago, Jackie Lee said:

Sounds like we basically have to try the same game plan as last week, try to carve up their CB's. Their pass rush will be different than CLE, better interior pressure but the edge rushers are still a question mark. Could be average backups or could be Kayvon's first game starting if healthy. CMC is a totally different back than Henry so if they get creative with him and don't run him up the middle over and over again he might be able to do something

Hell I'm just hoping they run him lol. That first half usuage was so horrible I thought it was trolling. 

From what I've seen in my Rhule experience...on Sunday the exact opposite will occur. 4:1 run:pass distribution. 

You can take that to the bank. Heavy McCaffrey usage. 

[Castavar]

I find it sad that Daboll has already showed more in his 1st game than Rhule has for 3 years.

[Jackie Lee]

1 hour ago, ColumbusCounty said:

Hell I'm just hoping they run him lol. That first half usuage was so horrible I thought it was trolling. 

From what I've seen in my Rhule experience...on Sunday the exact opposite will occur. 4:1 run:pass distribution. 

You can take that to the bank. Heavy McCaffrey usage. 

Yeah CMC straight up the middle 3 times in a row, right into that 900 pound 3 man front 

 

[Jackie Lee]

Anyone that wants a Giants film breakdown similar to the Panthers offensive breakdown, this is both sides of the ball and pretty thorough

Henry is a lot different than CMC, but I think running outside and maybe some two RB RPO's with CMC running a quick route could carve through some of these Defensive looks

[Snake]

This is not a popular opinion but by the numbers if we don't do better. This game could be a blowout and not the good kind. Joe Judge isn't around anymore and we couldn't even beat him. 

[Snake]

3 hours ago, Castavar said:

I find it sad that Daboll has already showed more in his 1st game than Rhule has for 3 years.

That's what happens when you have NFL experience. Our roster isn't terrible but our coaching is. 

[Gerry Green]

4 hours ago, Snake said:

That's what happens when you have NFL experience. Our roster isn't terrible but our coaching is. 

 

I was kinda hanging my hat on the fact that Rhule hired some established NFL coaches. I guess I'm going to have to hang on to that hat for a few more weeks to see how this plays out.