New York Giants Week 2 Report Card vs. Arizona Cardinals

The Giants fought back to top the Arizona Cardinals 31-28. Let's look at the grades.

Remember at the end of training camp how general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll were asked about the improvements made by the Giants and if they felt good about the direction the club was headed?

Both deferred with their answers, saying it would take a few weeks for that answer to present itself.

Well, we're two weeks into the 18-week 2023 season, and so far, this Giants team can best be described as a team that has beaten who they should beat (the Arizona Cardinals, albeit barely) and has lost to teams still regarded as better than them (Dallas Cowboys).

 More importantly, the Giants showed their mettle by not caving into adversity in what was a tale of two halves, the first half a continuation of the lifeless and lackluster showing from a week ago against the Cowboys and the second half, in which the Giants got their first win since they topped the Minnesota Vikings in last year's Wild Card round.

"Tonight was a good example of being resilient and playing the next play and focusing on the next series," Daboll said. "They did their job in the second half. I thought we did a good job on third down. Had some explosive, chunk plays. Made some timely stops at the end of the game. Made the game-winning field goal. So, we played much better and coached much better in the second half." 

Let's break down this week's grades.

Offense: B

Daniel Jones, playing behind a newly configured offensive line that saw Josh Ezeudu at left tackle and Marcus McKethan at right guard get their first NFL stating assignments couldn't get much going in the first half, completing nine of 16 passes for 62 yards while absorbing two sacks.

But then, in the second half, the Giants shifted gears on offense by opening up the playbook a bit more. All ten of the Giants' longest plays from scrimmage came in the second half, including the huge 58-yard pass completion to rookie Jalin Hyatt on the first play of the quarter, which pretty much sparked the turnaround for the sleeping Giants.

"I thought he finished strong," Daboll said of Jones. "Played a really good second half. We had a couple of things we could have improved on in the first half, (we) talked about those. But he is a resilient young man who went out there and played well along with, I’d say, a number of people.”

Daniel Jones is the 1st player in @Giants history with 250 Pass yards, 50 Rush yards, 2 Pass TD and a Rush TD in a GAME. He did this in the 2nd HALF. The only other player to do this in a half since 2000 was Michael Vick at Washington in 2010.#NFL

— Boomer Esiason (@7BOOMERESIASON) September 18, 2023

Jones is one of them, proving yet again that this team can win with him under center.

Defense: B-

''Twas a tale of two halves for the Giants defense, who played a sloppy, undisciplined style of football early on in the game that included three ill-timed penalties. The run defense continued its struggle--at the half, safety Jason Pinnock was the team's leading tackler with nine solo tackles (he finished as the team leader with 13, 10 solos). When a defensive back is your team tackle leader, that usually means far too many plays are getting through beyond the second level.

Speaking of tackles, there were quite a few missed early on that the players would no doubt like to have back. There were no sacks this week despite six quarterback hits, and it's probably fair to say that the front seven had a very quiet first half. But like the offense, the Giants defense clamped down when it mattered most, forcing three straight three-and-outs on Arizona's final possessions after they took a 28-21 lead in the fourth quarter.

Special Teams: B

Mr. Reliable--Graham Gano--hit all his PATs and the game-winning 34-yard field goal, his lone field goal attempt of the night. But the punting unit failed on its first two attempts to pin the Cardinals inside the ten despite punting from around mid-field twice.

Eric Gray did a good job securing the ball on a 14-yard punt return, his lone return of the night. He didn't have any opportunities on kickoffs, as all six were blasted into the end zone. Zero punt return yards for the Cardinals, a plus, and only one late-game kickoff return for 19 yards.

Coaching: B

The coaching staff deployed quite a bit of 12-personnel this week to help the newly configured offensive line. That often meant keeping in six to help with blocking, something they didn't do last week against the Cowboys (but should have). Head coach Brian Daboll, spotted by the television camera glancing at a play sheet in the second half, said he didn't call plays in the second half even though the play calling seemed different and more open.

"We always communicate," he said. "I always have a sheet with me. But (offensive coordinator) Mike (Kafka) did a fantastic job. I communicate with Mike, I communicate with T-Mac (Special Teams Coordinator Thomas McGaughey), and I communicate with (defensive coordinator) Wink (Martindale). So, the offensive staff did a great job. Moved the ball and scored points. Did their job.”

Also, credit Daboll for whatever he said to the team at halftime that woke them up and steered them through another potentially catastrophic weekend of football. The Giants probably won't be the 49ers, but who knows? Maybe their confidence level will be higher now that they proved they can climb out of a huge hole.

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