On Sunday, the New York Giants didn’t leave MetLife Stadium with a loss. Instead, they left with a victory. The losing streak ended at nine, as the Giants won 36-20 against the Miami Dolphins.
For the first time since Week 4 against the Washington Redskins, the Giants got a victory. Since late September, the Giants were in the midst of some awful football and a lot of losing.
But for at least one Sunday, there was no talk of a losing streak, no talk of coaches and a general manager getting fired. Instead, it was all about a victory. A much-needed victory — one that many will remember for a long time because of everything that surrounded it.
Whose stock was up and down after the Giants victory on Sunday against the Dolphins?
Stock up: Eli Manning
Nobody cares that Manning threw three picks in this game. Nobody.
What people will care about were the two touchdown passes, the victory and what came with about a minute to go when he left the game to one of the loudest ovations in MetLife Stadium history.
Then leaving the field as the triumphant hero and everyone chanting his name. Whether he plays again in the final two games remains to be seen.
Today, it was all about Eli Manning and how he left as the historic hero for the Giants who is all but Hall of Fame bound.
Stock down: Nate Solder
If it didn’t cost the Giants $13 million in a dead cap hit to release Solder, it would make so much sense to cut him.
Solder is still struggling and it shows. Maybe he needs to move to right tackle after the season, and who knows if he is even up for that move.
Granted, he’s dealing with so much off the field and as a human being, he’s tougher than anyone could ever imagine. But the struggles are still there, and Solder still needs to put forth a professional effort as the left tackle.
Stock up: Saquon Barkley
While all eyes were on Eli Manning, Barkley really was the star of this game, as the Dolphins simply couldn’t stop him.
For the first time since Week 2, Barkley had over 100 yards rushing and for the first time since Week 7, he had a rushing touchdown. Actually, he had two of them.
Barkley definitely looks healthy and back to being the dominant force he was a year ago and early on before the ankle injury.
Stock down: Alec Ogletree
Earlier in the week. Ogletree “liked” Janoris Jenkins’ tweet about being relieved to get released by the Giants, which makes people wonder if Ogletree actually wants to be on the team or not.
With that said, his play on Sunday was atrocious. Missed tackles all over. Blown coverages. Ogletree ended the game with three tackles, which is even very low for him.
Ogletree has a $3.5 million dead cap hit after the season if he is released and given his play all season, his release makes way too much sense.
Stock up: Darius Slayton
Slayton’s stats might not jump out at you, but his reliability as a big-play threat should.
Slayton caught another touchdown pass on Sunday, his eighth, which leads all NFL rookies. He’s had three touchdown catches in the last two games.
Slayton was only supposed to be a fifth-round development pick for the Giants, but he has turned himself into possibly the premier weapon at wide receiver that this team might need.
Even with Golden Tate and Sterling Shepard, Slayton might be the one who becomes the Giants number one receiver of the future.
Stock down: Will Hernandez
It’s really shocking to see Hernandez struggle out there after such an impressive rookie performance and looking like someone who would anchor the line for years.
Maybe it’s a sophomore slump. Who knows. But Hernandez is struggling. Badly.
He’s missing blocks and he’s also missing on stunts too. And it’s becoming a frequent occurrence out there.
With that said, Hernandez is still young enough to get better and improve, and he definitely doesn’t seem like he’s Ereck Flowers in between the ears either. For the Giants sake, they’d hope his improvements on the field happen sooner rather than later.
