After winning three in a row, the New York Giants dropped in a big way against the New Orleans Saints. It’s the same story it’s been all season with losses: an offense that doesn’t understand what it’s supposed to do, a nonexistent pass rush, and a lackluster defense.
This week, the Giants head to Philadelphia to face the Eagles.
They have to face the Eagles twice in three weeks with a game against the Rams in between. The Giants don’t have much to play for except pride at this point, but the Eagles have lost their last three games so there’s a smidgen of hope.
It won’t be easy, but there are six keys to a Giants gifting their fans a victory on Christmas Day.
Protect Tommy DeVito
Last week, Tommy DeVito was sacked seven times for 57 yards, an average of over eight yards per sack. This absolutely cannot happen against the Eagles. The Saints are an average team, the Eagles are much better despite losing their last three.
The offensive line has to remember how to function as a cohesive unit where everyone is on the same page. They should be re-watching film from the Packers game to witness what happens when they work together. They can function at a higher level, and this week they need to prove it by protecting DeVito.
Efficient communication
The biggest reason there is dysfunction on the field is a lack of efficient communication. The players don’t understand the assignment, or they are confused about which assignment they have been given. The coaches have to be on the same page in order for the players to be on the same page. It starts at the top with Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll.
Efficient communication means players understand their assignment on any given play, thereby allowing them to play efficiently and run the correct assignment. Miscommunication against a team like the Eagles could wind up catastrophic for the Giants.
Air it out
The Eagles have the fourth-worst passing defense in the NFL. They’ve allowed 30 passing touchdowns and 255 yards per game through the air. Their rush defense is much more stingy, ranking seventh in the NFL. They’ve allowed only nine rushing touchdowns and average 94.4 rushing yards per game.
The Giants will always need to use Saquon Barkley, there still has to be a ground game. But the focus should be through the air this week.
Mind the tush push
Everyone knows it’s coming at some point.
Short-yardage plays happen every game. The Giants are well aware of this, so this key isn’t about stopping the tush push, it’s about not getting hurt. That play can be dangerous for those in the middle of the field. You never know how players are going to fall and what joint they might twist while doing it.
Don’t ignore the tush push, but don’t sacrifice an injury to try and stop a play that’s all but guaranteed to succeed.
Be ready for anything
The Eagles’ offense is pretty balanced between run and pass plays. A.J. Brown is second in the NFL in receiving yards with 1,314 and D’Andre Swift is fifth in the NFL with 896 rush yards. This offense is capable of running a lot of different plays effectively with Jalen Hurts at the helm. The defense must be prepared for anything and everything against the Eagles this week.
Get after Hurts
Jalen Hurts is an elite quarterback, but that does not mean he’s infallible. He ranks 11th in the NFL in passing yards, but he also ranks fourth in interceptions with 12 and he’s fumbled the ball five times while rushing.
The Eagles are ninth-worst in sacks allowed on Hurts — he’s been taken down 33 times. The proof is in the pudding. Get after Hurts, put pressure on that offensive line, and force them to make a mistake.
One mistake is all it takes to change the momentum of a game and turn the tide.
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