The New York Giants have had a rough go of the 2019 season thus far. They’ve benched their veteran quarterback, lost their star running back, seen their defense get depleted due to injury and more.
It’s the complete opposite of what the New England Patriots have dealt with, save for the Antonio Brown situation. The Patriots have the top ranked defense in the league and the 12th ranked offense.
The Giants have already been written off for this game by almost everyone, but here are four keys to a Big Blue win on Thursday:
Put pressure on Tom Brady
Brady is currently ranked seventh among quarterbacks this season, tied with Russell Wilson. At 42 years old, Brady can’t take hits like he used to, which is why the Patriots have a solid line in front of him.
Brady has only been sacked seven times this year, one of the lowest among active quarterbacks. And he isn’t one to make a lot of mistakes, but the more pressure the Giants can put on him, the more likely he is to make one (as we’ve seen so many times in the past).
Brady has thrown 10 touchdown passes and has a QBR of 99.4, completing over 63% of his passes. He’s always been accurate, he’s always been able to make plays and he’s never looked like the sixth round draft pick he was. He’s one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game, but that does not make him infallible. Put pressure on him. Force him to make faster decisions. Force him to make bad decisions that lead to turnovers. That’s how you beat Tom Brady.
Protect Daniel Jones
Daniel Jones has been hit 25 times in three games, including 13 hits by Tampa Bay alone. He’s been sacked nine times, including four for a loss of 35 yards against the Vikings.
Jones is young, but he cannot continue to take that kind of a beating and still run the Giants offense effectively. It’s the same reason Eli Manning hasn’t fared well over the last several years, why the team opted to go ahead and bench him in favor of Jones. Taking that kind of a beating every single week impacts your mentality as much as your physical health. It changes how you think, how you approach the game, and usually not for the better.
The line has got to do a better job of making sure that Jones is protected and, equally as important, Jones has to make sure he’s making good and fast decisions to ensure his own protection. The line can only do so much. He has to take responsibility for the rest.
Score touchdowns, not field goals
Let’s be real, no one expects the Giants to come away with a win on the scoreboard. The Patriots are always one of the top teams in the league and this year is no different, although they’ve been relatively quiet since cutting Antonio Brown.
New England’s defense is stout, sitting at the top of the league. They allow just 6.8 points per game and have had a mere 34 points scored on them all season. Granted, the only team they’ve faced to this point that’s worth anything is the Buffalo Bills, with their other wins coming over the Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets and Washington Redskins.
They Patriots haven’t been tested yet, so the key here is to keep it close. The Patriots have momentum going into this game since they are 5-0, so keeping the game close would be considered a win for the Giants.
Play flawless, fundamental football
While this is a key to winning any game, it is especially important against the Patriots. Bill Belichick prides himself on his team playing flawlessly, so generally the only way to beat them is to also play a flawless game. Not just in regards to turnovers and mistakes, but playing fundamentally sound football.
Run precise routes, whether on the ground or in the air. Make good decisions when play calling and making coverage decisions. Blown coverage against the Patriots will lead to a big play in their favor almost every time. Be smart, but don’t overthink things. Stick to what you know and don’t make silly mistakes.
It’s easy to be intimidated by the Patriots, who have been a powerhouse in the NFL for years — something that isn’t going to change until one or both Brady and Belichick retire. Playing fundamental football will be huge in keeping the game within reach.
