New York Giants vs. Washington Redskins: Full Report Card Grades for New York
This one is going on the refrigerator, right next to Eli's tee-ball picture.
The New York Giants (2-2) graded out well in this report card, after destroying the Washington Redskins (1-3) to the tune of 45-14 on Thursday Night Football.
The Giants are clicking at every level, and that means each positional unit is executing on an individual basis.
Read on to see how each unit fared in this Week 4 report card.
Quarterback
1 of 10
Eli Manning followed up his effective Week 3 performance with another efficient outing on Thursday night.
The precision of Ben McAdoo's offense was illustrated by Eli Manning's 300 passing yards—on the dot!
Manning completed 28 of 39 attempts (71.9 percent), bringing his season-long completion percentage up to 65.
Manning has formed a chemistry with starting tight end Larry Donnell. Manning especially liked Donnell in the red zone, where the two connected for three scores.
The tight ends, in general, were a favorite target of Manning. In addition to Donnell's three touchdowns, Manning also found his No. 2 tight end, Daniel Fells, for a score.
I wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it myself, but Manning even scored a rushing touchdown. The Giants were in total control with him at the helm.
Manning's only blemish was an interception. It should have been a touchdown to Rueben Randle, but a well-timed Redskins strike set the ball sailing into the hands of an awaiting defender.
Bum luck.
Still, it's an interesting change to see Manning relying on skill—rather than luck—to win games for a change.
Grade: A
Running Back
2 of 10
The running backs weren't relied upon too heavily until late in the game. When the decision was already in hand, the Giants were able to run out the clock with a punishing ground game.
Rashad Jennings started the game. He was only asked to do the bare minimum, finishing the game with 13 carries for 55 yards (4.2 YPC). This, after Jennings carried 34 times against the Texans only four days prior.
Andre Williams got into the game when the Giants had a healthy lead. The rookie ended up finishing as the team's leading rusher, collecting 66 yards on 15 carries (4.4 YPC). He also scored a goal-line touchdown, presumably the first of many.
Even Peyton Hillis took some handoffs, mostly from backup QB Ryan Nassib. Hillis' night ended with eight tough carries for 31 yards (3.9 YPC).
Although no single back stood out as extraordinary, the unit as a whole accounted for 153 yards on the ground, plus a touchdown.
The only deductions I've made are for Williams and Jennings' dropped passes. The latter would have been a sure touchdown, if handled.
Grade: A-
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
3 of 10
It's appropriate to start with the tight ends this week.
Larry Donnell continues to be the Giants' most impressive pass-catcher. Of his seven catches, three were for touchdowns from inside the 6-yard line, and two more were for crucial, drive-extending first downs.
Daniel Fells got into the mix behind him, catching a two-yard touchdown pass of his own. That's a third consecutive game with a touchdown catch for Fells.
Victor Cruz had his second straight 100-yard game. Minus a touchdown catch, Cruz's six-catch, 108-yard production looked an awful lot like his five-catch, 107-yard output in Week 3. Consistency.
Rueben Randle led the way with eight catches. He gained 89 yards, mostly as a possession receiver. Yet he failed to retain possession on the team's only turnover of the game. It was a debatable call but also a catch Randle must complete.
Preston Parker is making himself at home in Jerrel Jernigan's old role. The No. 3 receiver entertained five targets, hauling in three for 29 yards.
The poor marks are for dropped passes. Cruz dropped another this week; Randle's resulted in a interception. A couple of them fell on the shoulders of the running backs, but this unit must cut down on drops.
Grade: A-
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Offensive Line
4 of 10
The offensive line has come together somewhat miraculously over the last two weeks.
The Giants gained 449 yards of total offense. The offensive line was at the root of New York's success.
The linemen kept Manning upright the entire game. The Redskins barely laid a hand on the Giants passer, aside from one sack for a loss of five yards.
They also bowled over the Redskins' defensive front for the Giants backs to average 4.1 yards on the ground.
Weston Richburg is one of the more impressive performers along the O-line, mostly because of how much the rookie isn't noticeable in the lineup.
In fact, no single lineman really stands out among this unit. That's not a bad thing. It's a sign that the unit is performing as one cohesive force.
Grade: A
Defensive Line
5 of 10
The Giants pass rush is back, as evidenced by two more sacks.
The first one was a throwback takedown by veteran Mathias Kiwanuka (four tackles). The ninth-year defensive end also managed to knock the ball free from Kirk Cousins' grasp. Defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins was there to fall on it.
The second didn't come until much later, courtesy of Damontre Moore (four tackles). He got a nice jump on the snap to beat the right tackle around the edge.
Jason Pierre-Paul was in Cousins' face all game but didn't come away with a sack. He led the defensive linemen in tackles with seven.
The defensive tackles were quiet. Markus Kuhn led the way this week with only three tackles. Johnathan Hankins and Mike Patterson each nabbed one. Jenkins was shut out.
In all, the Giants only relinquished 86 yards on the ground. The only time the D-line let the runner get loose was on a 20-yard burst from Alfred Morris early in the second quarter.
Grade: A
Linebackers
6 of 10
The linebackers saw their fair share of action Thursday night, defending the majority of Kirk Cousins' completed passes.
Jacquian Williams had the busiest night. The weak-side linebacker was pressed in pass coverage, running down nine Redskins runners.
Jameel McClain and Mark Herzlich split the middle/strong-side linebacker duties. They combined for 10 tackles, with each 'backer picking up five.
The linebackers were tasked with defending a lot of underneath passes. For the most part, they kept everything in front of them. Roy Helu was the only Redskin to beat them with consistency, taking five catches for 78 yards.
Grade: B+
Secondary
7 of 10
The Giants secondary looked more like the Redskins receiving corps in the second half, intercepting Kirk Cousins in the final two quarters seemingly at will.
Prince Amukamara sparked the spree, picking off Cousins with 8:05 left in the third quarter. His return set the offense up one yard outside the red zone.
Quintin Demps got under Cousins' very next pass attempt. That turnover led directly to Daniel Fells' touchdown.
Trumaine McBride was next, intercepting a pass and returning it all the way back to Washington's 22-yard line. In addition to his pick, McBride also stripped Logan Paulsen of possession. Who knew the loss of Walter Thurmond III would look so good for the Giants' turnover differential?
The last defensive back to get in the action was Antrel Rolle, who put a fourth-quarter exclamation point on the divisional affair.
The most impressive of all the D-backs was the only one without an interception. Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie limited his former teammate, DeSean Jackson, to one catch for nine yards.
Grade: A
Special Teams
8 of 10
I can't say enough about punter Steve Weatherford's performance again this week. Still playing on a hurt ankle, Weatherford landed three of his five punts inside the 20-yard line.
Josh Brown remained perfect on the season, hitting a 29-yarder just before halftime.
The Giants were so dominant on offense and defense that special teams didn't play a large role on Thursday night. When the special teamers were called upon, however, they delivered.
Grade: A
Coaching
9 of 10
The coaching staff has not only found a winning formula, but it has created a point-piling, turnover-crazed squad bent on victory.
Offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo deserves a ton of credit. His unit has come a long way in only a couple of weeks. Against the Redskins, the New York offense looked like one of the NFL's premier platoons.
Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell has revitalized the Giants pass rush, mixing his talent on the line well. His ball-hawking secondary might be the driving force behind the entire team.
Perhaps the most impressive accomplishment of all is head coach Tom Coughlin's ability to keep his team together after an 0-2 start. Coughlin's Giants have defied all comparisons to last year's 0-6 start, now riding a two-game winning streak into Week 5.
Grade: A
Overall
10 of 10
| Position | Grade |
| QB | A |
| RB | A- |
| WR/TE | A- |
| OL | A |
| DL | A |
| LB | B+ |
| DB | A |
| ST | A |
| Coach | A |
Kevin Boilard writes about the New York Giants at Bleacher Report.
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