Grading the Giants’ 13-7 win over the Eagles at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
Offense
Yay, team! There were 264 total yards, 3 of 12 third-down conversions, no pass completion of more than 20 yards and only one touchdown. This is losing production most every day but this one. Best thing this group accomplished: No turnovers. Daniel Jones (19 of 30, 202 yards) was up and down and he did not fool the Eagles at all as a runner (9-30). Saquon Barkley bounced a run outside for 32 yards, showing some of his old burst, but did little else (13-40). False start by LG Matt Skura was costly on the fourth-quarter series that ended with a field goal. Nice grab on the turf for TE Chris Myarick for his first NFL reception — and first NFL touchdown. All that talk about targeting Kenny Golladay resulted in only three catches for 50 yards.
Grade: D
Defense
Now you’re talking. Four takeaways, including three interceptions — Darnay Holmes, Tae Crowder and Xavier McKinney — showed Jalen Hurts (14 of 31, 129 yards) needs plenty of work as a passer. Tremendous stand in the closing seconds of the first half, ended with Crowder’s interception. Eagles ran for 208 yards — Hurts had 77 on eight runs — and averaged 6.3 yards per attempt. But the only touchdown came from Boston Scott (who else?) on a 1-yard run to start the fourth quarter. Austin Johnson and Julian Love combined for the only sack of Hurts — it came on third down to force a punt. Rookie CB Aaron Robinson had a quarterback hit off a second-quarter blitz and is steadily becoming a factor. Dexter Lawrence forced a key late fumble that Love recovered.
Grade: A+
Special Teams
Graham Gano hit from 35 and 39 yards but pushed a 51-yard field goal attempt wide right in the second quarter. Pharoh Cooper eluded two would-be tacklers on a 10-yard punt return in the first quarter. Riley Dixon’s 33-yard punt in the second quarter rolled out of bounds on the Eagles 7-yard line. Dixon, though, hit a bad punt — only 38 yards with an 8-yard return — with 1:19 remaining to put the Eagles on their 41-yard line. Love had a good tackle of Jalen Reagor on a punt return of only 3 yards in the third quarter.
Grade: B-
Coaching
The big change from Jason Garrett to Freddie Kitchens at offensive coordinator added a few wrinkles but the same old problems remain. Most games, 13 points gets you beat. The communication between Kitchens and Jones seemed to run smoothly. Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham was masterful at running players on and off the field and finding the favorable matchups to take the ball away from Hurts. Joe Judge was ultraconservative on the final offensive series and the Eagles got the ball back with 71 seconds remaining.
Grade: B