Giants Suddenly Have a Juggernaut Defense That Could Power Deep Playoff Run

When the 2016 NFL free-agency period opened, the refrain surrounding the New York Giants had become familiar: They could be a playoff team with even an average defense.

We said that repeatedly while watching the Giants field the sixth-ranked scoring offense in 2015 (26.2 points per game). Then we all said it again during the draft and once more in the preseason after moves were made and a revamped unit took shape.

Now, the Giants are 10-4 and two games away from reaching the playoffs, and the chatter about their defense is still constant. But this time, the words are positive. No, they're glowing.

The Giants have turned those murmurs of concern into mounting weekly buzz about a season that could extend deep into January. And their latest win—a 17-6 victory over the Detroit Lions—was perhaps the most convincing display of newfound defensive muscle.

The Lions had their chances to do more than score single-digit points for the first time in 2016. Those opportunities included three red-zone trips. The results of their deep drives? Two turnovers and a field goal.

That's what propelled the Giants to a 10th win, pushing them further toward a wild-card berth. Defense has defined a team once thought to be rooted in offense. Now, the focus and narrative of conversations about the Giants have shifted abruptly, which will happen during a stretch of winning eight out of nine games while allowing an average of only 15.8 points.

Opponent	Points allowed
vs. Ravens	23
@ Rams	10
vs. Eagles	23
vs. Bengals	20
vs. Bears	16
@ Browns	13
@ Steelers	24
vs. Cowboys	7
vs. Lions	6
Average	15.8

The Giants' stiffness when backed up in their own territory was highlighted Sunday by a leaping, fingertip interception in the end zone from cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie with just over two minutes remaining. He elevated to meet a throw intended for Lions wide receiver Anquan Boldin and sealed the win. It was only Matthew Stafford's eighth interception of 2016.

The Lions quarterback has become known as the bringer of cardiac pain after leading a record-setting eight fourth-quarter comebacks. Snuffing out his flame was just one of many recent signs showing how far the Giants defense has come.

The others? How about entering Week 15 ranked second in takeaways and sacks over the team's last seven games, according to an in-game graphic shown by the Fox Sports broadcast. And how about allowing only one chunk play of note against the Lions.

Stafford hooked up with wide receiver Golden Tate in the second quarter for a 67-yard gain. The sting of that play was brief for two reasons: Lions running back Zach Zenner fumbled at the goal line one snap later, and on Stafford's other 38 attempts, he averaged just 5.4 passing yards.

That's how much the Giants hovered and then erased passing windows, especially during key moments. Other standout plays were a red-zone sack by defensive end Olivier Vernon on third down—which forced a field goal and preserved a lead in the third quarter—and cornerback Eli Apple making this touchdown-saving swat that would've tied the game and possibly swung the momentum in the Lions' favor early in the second quarter:

Seth Wenig/Associated Press

The Giants have shown an ability to consistently produce game-changing defensive plays. They come in many forms—whether it's key contributions like that aforementioned deflection from a rookie cornerback or safety Landon Collins and his five interceptions in 2016.

Even more of the clutch plays have come from Vernon, who's recorded 7.5 sacks over his last seven games. And from defensive tackle Damon Harrison, who came into Week 15 leading all interior defensive linemen with 62 tackles, according to Pro Football Focus, and who is now the backbone of a fourth-ranked run defense. The Giants solidified that status by giving up just 43 rushing yards to Lions running backs.

The common link between all of those names is that they're either young players in at most their sophomore seasons or the results of free-agency quests to plug many gushing leaks. Toss in cornerback Janoris Jenkins and his 17 passes defensed, and the Giants have all the defensive elements to play deep into the frostiest part of the playoffs.

The turnaround has been swift, as the Giants have reached a new tier over their past two games, allowing only 13 combined points to the Lions and Dallas Cowboys. With that, a unit thought of only as a liability not long ago has instead become a source of team identity.

That is still an odd thought for a team that employs wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. It's a thought that comes to mind even after a game when Giants quarterback Eli Manning didn't throw his first incompletion until the two-minute, 10-second mark of the second quarter. And it's a thought that comes to mind even after a dormant Giants running game sprung to life for 114 yards against the Lions.

That all indicates something larger may be taking place. Gradually, the Giants are becoming not just a playoff team, but also a title-contending squad.