Key Takeaways From Giants 24-20 Epic Win Over Ravens
The Giants pulled off a massive win over the Ravens to boost their winning streak to three games and put them at 5-1 in the season. The Giants, trailing past the first half of the game, stayed in it to land breaks towards the end propelling them to victory.
The Giants continued their Cinderella season Sunday as they upset the Ravens 24-20 in a game that saw New York trailing for 99% of it. All season long, the Giants have been a second half team and on Sunday they continued to show that fight late in the game. A Ravens fumbled snap that turned into an interception set the Giants up with prime field-position and Running Back Saquon Barkley finished the job with a touchdown. On the second play of the Ravens next series, rookie EDGE Rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux stripped the ball from Ravens Quarterback Lamar Jackson and the Giants fell on the ball giving the Giants the win.
It was an incredible performance from a young, feisty Giants team that nobody predicted would be where they are right now. It all starts with the leadership that Head Coach Brian Daboll has brought to the team. He’s introduced a winning mentality that has been severely lacking for the past five seasons. He’s getting the best out of a roster that is thin at the moment and is continuing to put his players in the best positions to succeed. Sunday’s win was an amazing comeback down ten in the fourth quarter and these three takeaways were what gave the Giants the edge.
1. Defense Comes Up Big When It Matters Most
This game was very personal to one member of the Giants coaching staff. Defensive Coordinator Wink Martindale was the Ravens defensive coordinator for four seasons. Prior to this season, he’s been with that organization since 2012 and faced his old team for the first time Sunday. You can see the players were playing with a different juice and the defense came alive especially late in the game.
Defensive Tackle Dexter Lawrence recorded another sack in the game bringing his sack total to four on the season. They struggled against the run as RB Kenyon Drake as he rushed 119 yards on only ten carries. Lamar Jackson also recorded 77 rushing yards on the day but when it came for the Ravens to run down the clock, they struggled. Big Blue haven’t had an interception all season long but on third down with three minutes left in the game, Cornerback Julian Love got one and took it back to the redzone.
After the Giants took the lead, the defense was tasked with making another stop to ice the game. Two plays into the drive, Kayvon Thibodeaux recorded his first career sack and stripped the ball in the process. Giants Defensive End Leonard Williams fell on top of the ball and the Giants ended up with the win. It was a nice win for Martindale as his group came up big for him.
2. Rookies Shine Bright And Make Big Plays
One of the major flaws of the past regime was the draft picks weren’t contributing early on and didn’t develop at a fast pace. In his first year as the General Manager, Joe Schoen promised to bring in players with a smart and tough mentality. The rookies showcased that smart and tough mindset in full force Sunday as they contributed in a big way.
As mentioned earlier, Kayvon Thibodeaux made one of the biggest plays of the game as his first career sack gave the ball which basically clinched the game for the G-Men. Rookie Wide Receiver Wan’Dale Robinson also got a first as he caught his first career touchdown pass in the second quarter. It was Robinson’s first game back since Week One as he’s been recovering from a knee injury he suffered against the Titans.
Rookie Right Tackle Evan Neal also played one his best games of the season Sunday as he didn’t look fazed against an impressive Ravens defensive front. Dane Belton, rookie safety out of Iowa, also contributed as he was third on the Giants in tackles and had a pass deflection. Joe Schoen has already shown to be an asset for the Giants and has transformed this roster in his first year.
Giants Gridiron Affiliate Trophy Smack
3. Offense Finds A Way To Respond To Ravens Points
The Giants offense is not a fancy thing to watch. They are currently lacking in weapons and are relying on an ailing Saquon Barkley and a bunch of young playmakers. However, they are finding a way to make it work. One of the most important things that led to the Giants beating the Ravens was the offense’s ability to answer the Ravens. In the second quarter when the Ravens went up 7-0, the Giants immediately went on a 10 play, 53 yard touchdown drive to tie the game back up.
Then later in the game, the Ravens went up 20-10 after a Mark Andrews touchdown catch. The Giants had to respond and they did just that. Quarterback Daniel Jones led a 12 play, 75 yard touchdown drive to shrink the deficit to three. Jones didn’t throw an interception for the third straight game and kept this offense level-headed when the Ravens scored. It takes a leader to calm down his teammates and execute at the highest level. Jones and the entire offense have done that all year showcasing that ability against the Ravens.
How 'bout them Giants !!!!!! pic.twitter.com/iPO3bmjmRX — New York Giants (@Giants) October 17, 2022
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