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New York Giants Week 6 Report Card: Better

Let's recap the grades for the New York Giants' 14-9 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Patricia Traina

New York Giants Week 6 Report Card: Better
New York Giants Week 6 Report Card: Better /
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Grading the New York Giants 14-9 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Offense: D

Going zero for five in the red zone and zero for three in goal-to-go isn't getting you a passing grade on offense. Nor is the inability to (twice) get one yard necessary for a score.

Tyrod Taylor's clock management blunder at the end of the first half, in which he audibled out of a passing play and went to a run on the 1-yard line only to come up short, was huge, as the Giants probably could have had at least three points there. And had they gotten those three points, they might have won this game since they wouldn't have had to go for six at the end. 

The Giants have gone 13 quarters without scoring an offense, the first NFL team without a first-half offensive touchdown in their first six games since 1998. No bueno, folks.

The good news? Saquon Barkley returned and made a difference, as the Bills now had to account for him, even if he wasn't at 100 percent (then again, who is at 100 percent this time of year?) And the offensive line looked a lot better as compared to recent weeks. Kudos to offensive lineman Justin Pugh for coming straight off the couch and taking every single snap, first at left guard and then at left tackle after Joshua Ezuedu (toe) left the game.

Defense: B+

The defense has been quietly improving recently, and this week's showing was perhaps their best yet. The team's two leading tacklers were their two inside linebackers, Bobby Okereke and Micah McFadden, who combined for 18 of the team's 56 tackles on the night. 

Okereke should be NFC Defensive Player of the Week--he was that good. But he won't get it because the offense didn't hold up its end of the deal. Still, he showed how the inside linebacker position should be played by making a lot of little plays sandwiched between being the catalyst on two of the Bills turnovers. 

Dexter Lawrence, Xavier McKinney, and Micah McFadden also had nice games that were arguably their best of the year. And Deonte Banks continues to play a solid brand of ball each passing week.

Special Teams: B

There are no problems whatsoever with the kicking of Graham Gano (three field goals and four touchbacks) or the punting of Jamie Gillan (50.5 average, 49.8 net). There was a problem with the penalties, including Cam Brown's holding infraction on the opening kickoff and Darnay Holmes's holding penalty that gave the Bills some extra yardage after New York had pinned them inside the 15.

Coaching: B

The offensive coaches simplified the blocking schemes to help the mash unit, that is, the offensive line work better together. And yes, the approach worked for the most part, as the Giants moved the ball and kept Tyrod Taylor from becoming a pinball. We also liked Wink Martindale's plan of attack, which seemed to allow the Giants to fly around the field much better. His decision to line Dexter Lawrence directly over smaller center Mitch Morse was also smart, as Lawerence could push the pocket.

That said, situational coaching and clock management--that play at the end of the first half should have never even been considered. Taylor took responsibility for the gaff, but why even open that door a crack to allow for an audible? There continues to be at least one communication breakdown per game from the sideline to the players, and it's somewhat alarming that it continues to happen at this point in the season.

 

 

 

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Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for over three decades for various media outlets. She is the host of the Locked On Giants podcast and the author of "The Big 50: New York Giants: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants" (Triumph Books, September 2020). View Patricia's full bio.

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