New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys: Full Report Card Grades for New York
As the fourth quarter began to tick down, it looked like the New York Giants were going to experience some deja vu.
Fortunately for the organization, the universe had other plans.
Due to converting in key moments and a huge mental lapse, the Giants were able to escape "Jerry World" with a win, as they defeated the Dallas Cowboys in a nail-biting 20-19 game.
This was the first time the Giants have defeated the Cowboys on opening night in team history, as Big Blue lost the first eight contests.
A huge part of the game was to see if the $200 million retooled defense could live up to its paychecks, and for the most part, it did. The defensive line held its own against the Cowboys' league-best O-Line, as it forced the Dak Prescott-led offense to take three field goals. While the young quarterback did have a good showing, the defense was able to come up when things mattered most.
And when the ball was put into Eli Manning's hands, he, too, succeeded. Looking fully comfortable in the uptempo offense, the signal-caller led the charge with three touchdown passes and just one interception. The trio of Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard and Victor Cruz were all difference-makers, while Rashad Jennings and Shane Vereen complemented the aerial attack with a strong ground game.
In may be September, but it's report card time! Let's break down each position and see how the Giants graded out in their Week 1 victory.
Quarterbacks
1 of 8
Ever since Ben McAdoo made his way from Green Bay to New York, Eli has been a revitalized quarterback as he's put together some of his best seasons in the uptempo offensive scheme.
Efficiency is key; that's exactly what he was in Week 1.
Although he struggled at times, Manning impressed as he went 19-of-28, including three touchdowns—one to Larry Donnell, one to Shepard and one to Cruz. In what is now expected from him, Eli managed the game like his older brother, Peyton, making numerous changes at the line of scrimmage in an effort to work around the Cowboys defense.
Eli's lone blip of the evening came during the first possession of the second half. While Shepard appeared to run the wrong route, Eli didn't help his cause as he floated the ball right to Brandon Carr, resulting in his first pick of the season.
Despite the interception, Eli worked the fast-paced attack to near-perfection. If the Giants want to make noise this season, their franchise signal-caller will be leading the pack. And if Sunday was any indication, Giants fans should be excited for 2016.
Grade: B+
Running Backs
2 of 8
With a struggling blocking scheme, not many knew what the running game was going to look like against the Cowboys. The Giants running backs didn't get the memo, however, as both Jennings and Vereen had strong performances on the ground.
Shedding the running back-by-committee motto from last season, Coach McAdoo opted for a two-headed monster, and the game plan worked out.
Working as the lead back, Jennings was able to work around the offensive line's blocking woes, shedding tackles en route to 18 rushes for a 75-yard game. When he needed a breather, Vereen picked up where he left off, as he totaled 38 yards on eight attempts while also hauling in three catches for 23 yards.
Although neither back found the end zone, both Jennings and Vereen performed admirably in Dallas. And by the way McAdoo appeared to be committed to the ground game, expect both men to have significant roles this year.
Grade: A-
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
3 of 8
Giants fans dreamed of Beckham, Cruz and Shepard lining up together on game days. After Week 1, it looks like the threesome may be as good as advertised.
All three men played a huge part in the offensive game plan. In what is no surprise, Beckham led the way with a team-high four receptions for 73 yards, with his longest coming in at 45 yards. Shepard, the team's second-round pick, looked like he was still playing in Oklahoma as he hauled in three catches for 43 yards while also making a highlight-reel catch for his first career touchdown.
The story of the night, however, was Cruz, as he played in his first regular-season game in 700 days. Tied with Beckham with four grabs (34 yards), the veteran receiver also scored what ended up being the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter.
While Larry Donnell snagged the first touchdown of the contest, his false-start penalty, blocking woes and inability to separate from cornerbacks had McAdoo none too pleased. Will Tye was quiet on Sunday, catching just three balls for 16 yards.
Grade: A
Offensive Line
4 of 8
The Giants had plenty of question marks as this season neared, but none were bigger than the play of the offensive line. Unfortunately, those questions will continue.
The bright spots of the O-line came from both guard positions, as John Jerry and Justin Pugh had strong games. While both men received penalties, the running game was performed best when running inside of the tackle marks and behind Jerry and Pugh.
While Weston Richburg came into 2016 as an emerging top-tier linemen, he had a subpar Week 1. He didn't cause any penalties or got anyone hurt, but the center did get beat at times, something that wasn't expected.
Unfortunately, Ereck Flowers—the Giants' first-round pick from a year ago—continued to struggle mightily against speedy defensive ends. If you weren't paying close attention, you would think he wasn't bad. But by the way he was getting beat on a nearly regular basis, it's obvious improvement is needed, and his growth will be imperative moving forward. On the other side, Marshall Newhouse had a quiet afternoon, and that's a good sign for someone who's been prone to penalties and quarterback pressures.
As a whole, the unit wasn't bad. But the Cowboys D-line pressured Manning, and it's ranked toward the bottom of the league.
Grade: C+
Defensive Line
5 of 8
For the Giants' front office, it was obvious the defensive line needed an upgrade. Once a strength, the lack of pass rush hurt the team just a season ago. Because of the struggles, Jerry Reese and company invested millions of dollars into the unit.
And by the looks of Sunday, the money was well spent.
Both Jason Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon earned big bucks before the season began and proved they'll do more than go after the quarterback. Vernon was especially dominant, as he held his own against premier left tackle Tyron Smith while being a menace against the Cowboys running game.
But the ends weren't the only ones who were effective.
On paper, Damon Harrison and Jonathan Hankins were the definition of run-stuffers. They brought that to real life, as the duo helped stop rookie phenom Ezekiel Elliott, as he ran for just 51 yards on just 20 carries. Like Vernon, Harrison definitely stood out, as he was all over the field despite his 350-pound body.
The defense's success will rely on the D-line's shoulders. If Week 1 was any indication, it's going to live up to the bill.
Grade: A
Linebackers
6 of 8
If one position had to be awarded most inconsistent, that honor would belong to the linebacking corps. Unfortunately, it doesn't come as much of a surprise.
Newly named captain Jonathan Casillas lived up to his leadership role, as he led the way with 10 total tackles. The weak-side linebacker was all over the field against the Cowboys, as he would stuff the run on one play and drop back into coverage on the next.
Kelvin Sheppard, who took over the starting middle linebacker role from the recently cut Jasper Brinkley, looked lost on Sunday. Oftentimes he was found out of position while looking uncomfortable as the middle man.
Most disappointing, however, was the play of Devon Kennard. While many have high expectations for the third-year linebacker, the former USC product didn't make much of an impact on the field, and that showed in his box score (three total tackles).
The trio—along with Keenan Robinson, who played in nickel situations—needs to be more consistent for the team to succeed. While the linebacker play wasn't poor, the organization surely hopes a more collective effort will come about by Week 2.
Grade: C+
Defensive Backs
7 of 8
Like the defensive line, the front office invested a lot of money into the secondary—a unit that gave up the most passing yards in NFL history just a year ago. The Giants brought in cornerback Janoris Jenkins on a lucrative contract, signed veteran Leon Hall and spent two of their first three draft selections on defensive backs (Eli Apple, Darian Thompson).
Fortunately, this investment paid off as well.
While the Cowboys succeeded in the short passing game, that could be attributed to scheme instead of play. Hall did a strong job in the middle of the field, while Jenkins and Apple held their own on the outside, all the while showing a willingness to contribute in run defense.
When speaking of cornerbacks, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was the clear star. Playing both inside and out, he shut down elite receiver Dez Bryant (one catch, eight yards) and prevented Terrance Williams from running out of bounds, which ended up winning the game.
As for the safeties, Steve Spagnolo's trio of young gunners paid off, as Thompson, Landon Collins and Nat Berhe all contributed. While Collins struggled in coverage, his six tackles were the second most for Big Blue. Thompson looked like a natural in coverage, while Nat Berhe lived up to his "heat seeking missile" nickname.
Grade: B+
Special Teams
8 of 8
It was a relatively quiet evening for the Giants' special teams unit. More often than not, that proves to be a good thing.
Dwayne Harris combined for just three returns (two kickoffs, one punt) and had an average of 23 and 17 yards, respectively. Brad Wing's leg received a workout, as he punted the ball five times, with his longest kick going 60 yards. Both coverage units were strong, as Cowboys return man Lucky Whitehead was met with blue jerseys every time he had the ball.
The lone blip on the box score came from Randy Bullock, as he missed one of his three extra-point attempts. It'll be interesting to see if the Giants hold on to Bullock or bring Josh Brown back, who will return by Week 2 after being suspended for domestic violence.
Grade: B
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