A review of Sunday's Giants' 29-20 win over the Seahawks:
offense
The word “efficient” comes to mind.
They had 24 first downs for 420 total yards and had a huge advantage in time of possession (37:22-22:38).
Daniel Jones entered the game and completed 23 of 34 passes for 257 yards and touchdown strikes to Wan'Dale Robinson (6-36) and Darius Slayton (8-122). .
Slayton played the role of Malik Nabors almost perfectly.
Rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. had a memorable first start in the NFL, rushing 18 times for 129 yards and averaging 7.9 yards.
Eric Gray's fumble near the goal line was indescribably bad, resulting in a 14-point swing.
Robinson had two costly drops.
Rookie tight end Theo Johnson (5-48)'s contributions in the passing game were a welcome sight.
The line defended Jones very well and the lack of penalties in the noise was exemplary. Jones ran smart and tough.
Grade: B+
defense
Dexter Lawrence was a force to be reckoned with, sacking Geno Smith three times.
There were seven total sacks, with DJ Davidson getting two of them.
CB Deonte Banks hung on against a healthy DK Metcalf (4-55) and forced a Metcalf fumble that was recovered by Tyler Nubin.
Brian Burns made a big fourth down sack in a crucial moment.
Smith (28-of-40, 284 yards, 1 TD) was as dangerous as ever, but occasionally got pressured.
They did a great job against the run — Kenneth Walker III (5-19) did nothing — and the 102 yards allowed on the ground were dominated by Smith's 72-yard scramble.
They did a great job holding Seattle to 3-of-11 on third down.
Grade: A
special teams
Isaiah Simmons stepped up and blocked Jason Myers' 47-yard field goal attempt to tie the game in the final minute, the play that truly ended the game.
Bryce Ford-Wheaton picked up the loose ball and sprinted 60 yards with Brock for a TD to end the game.
Jamie Gillan completed the first quarter with a 46-yard punt with no return, and in the fourth he hit a spectacular 59-yarder to drive the Seahawks to their own 5-yard line.
Greg Joseph is well established.
He was 3-for-3 from the field, all within 40 yards.
Grade: A
coaching
Brian Daboll didn't have Nabors or Devin Singletary, but he deftly improved his offensive game plan by utilizing screen passes and involving more players than usual.
I would have liked to have seen Jones sneak the QB with a 4-incher rather than a handoff to Gray.
Kudos to special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial for waiting to unleash a blocked punt play until it was needed most.
Shane Bowen gave Smith some heat and found a way to stop the run.
Grade: A
