New York Giants: 5 Surprising Stats from 2011

Every season, team, game and player comes with a measure of surprise—some more than others—every time they take the field. It's part of what makes the NFL so exciting, the uncertainty. 

So far this season the Giants have been one of the most surprising teams in all of the NFL. 

They sit at 6-2 and atop the NFC East. Coaches, fans and players alike have nothing to complain about as far as the record is concerned, and looking at their schedule in the preseason, many—myself included—would've picked them to be 6-2 at this point. 

However, those two losses would've come against the Patriots and Eagles, not the Redskins and Seahawks. 

This team is a bundle of surprises that is sure to entertain anytime it steps on the field. With that being the case, let's look at the five most-surprising statistics so far in 2011. 

Six Picks Not Pick Six

Eli INTs: 6

While the Eli loyalists might say otherwise, few thought Manning would ever solve the interception troubles that have plagued him over the years. 

It could be, and is frequently claimed, that last season's 25 interceptions were an amalgamation of reality, as passes were tipped off receivers' hands almost as often as they were caught. Unfortunately for Manning, that does not serve to explain his average of 18.8 interceptions in his first five full seasons (rookie year excluded). 

This season Manning has surprised all—even his supporters—with his consistently turnover-free play. 

Manning is on pace for 12 interceptions, a career low, even with his three-interception performance against Seattle in Week 4. 

Halfway through this year's schedule Manning has had four games without throwing an interception—the same amount he had all of last season. 

Interceptions on the Other End

INTs forced: 10

The Giants forced quite a few turnovers in 2010—forced fumbles. They led the league in that category (34), with Osi Umenyiora collecting 10 of his own.

Going into this season, the emphasis was still on forcing turnovers—something Perry Fewell has always preached. However, with Big Blue's leader in interceptions in 2010, Terrell Thomas (5), tearing his ACL in the preseason, it couldn't be anticipated they would do much in that department.

That assessment couldn't have been more wrong. 

So far this season six different defenders have picked off a pass, with Corey Webster and Aaron Ross both accounting for three of their own. The Giants are on pace for 20 INTs on the season, four more than last year with the Pro Bowler healthy. 

It has helped make up for the fact that they are well behind last year's pace in the forced fumbles department, with just 10 halfway through the year. 

Where Do They Find These Guys?

23 Rec., 395 yards, 3 TDs

To say Jake Ballard came out of nowhere would be completely unfair. 

I think he came from the Moon. 

Either that or the Giants simply have a knack for plucking clutch-performing, huge, goofy-looking tight ends that no one had any clue about. 

Kevin Boss took his payday in Oakland and the Giants moved on. Many fans were clamoring for Big Blue to sign a big name—the Giants chose to sit tight, and yet again look like geniuses.

Although not to me, because I predicted he would flop months ago.

Boss's numbers so far in Oakland: 8 Rec., 160 Yards, 1 TD. 

Ballard might have had a head start on his career before his game-winning touchdown catch against the Patriots. But don't forget the 45-yard reception in the Super Bowl against the very same team that helped to jump-start Boss' NFL success. 

The Long Arm of JPP

Sacks: 9.5

The Giants' vaunted pass rush looked to be weakening, as the team was in a contract dispute with its longtime star Osi Umenyiora. Shortly thereafter, its new face went down with multiple injuries and Justin Tuck would miss some significant time. 

You would not have been crazy to call the defensive line a potential problem for Big Blue, one of the few times in recent history this was the case. However, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise as Jason Pierre-Paul was able to get his shot—and he took plenty of them at the expense of opposing quarterbacks. 

Halfway through the season, the former South Florida Bull sits at third in the NFL with 9.5 sacks behind only Jared Allen (12.5) and Demarcus Ware (12). Not bad company to keep for the second-year player. 

He has also recorded a sack in five consecutive games while playing a limited number of snaps since Tuck's return to health. 

The Giants received a lot of flak for taking an inexperienced defensive lineman to bolster their already strong unit. They can now laugh their way to the bank, because they took their shot and unearthed a true pass-rushing machine. 

He's More Than Just a Preseason Hero

34 Rec., 588 yards, 4 TDs

I'll own up to my mistakes. 

Before the Giants played the Philadelphia Eagles, I wrote that I didn't believe Victor Cruz had what it takes to be a true NFL receiver. I said he was a preseason hero—no more, no less. 

I couldn't have been more wrong. 

Not only does Cruz have eye-popping numbers for a second-year player, he is now leading the Giants in receiving yards and touchdown receptions after Sunday's win without Hakeem Nicks. 

Another thing to remember here is that he's done this while only catching two passes for 17 yards over the first two weeks of the season. He also laid an egg in Buffalo, catching just two passes for 12 yards. 

Those three games aside, Cruz has proven to have consistency rarely seen from a young player. It is not uncommon to see big games from explosive athletes. It is also not uncommon to see them fizzle shortly thereafter. 

Cruz is doing no such thing and I don't think he plans to. 

In the games against Philadelphia, Arizona, Seattle, Miami and New England, Cruz averaged 111.8 yards and scored four touchdowns. 

Way Too Much Steve Weatherford

33 percent

Being able to convert on third-down opportunities is one of the keys to success in the NFL. 

So far this season, the Giants haven't been doing that. Well, they have, but a 33 percent success rate (35/103) isn't going to cut it. It is also a big reason as to why they are constantly in close games. It is impossible to put teams away if you can't sustain drives. 

For example, in the first half of the Patriots game Sunday, the Giants were 1-for-7 on third downs. They were bailed out on another by a Brandon Spikes encroachment penalty. The game was scoreless heading into halftime—imagine that. They finished the game an unattractive 4-of-14 in that regard. 

Let's take a look at six of the top teams' third-down numbers so far in 2011:

Packers	48/96	50.0
Saints	68/122	55.7
Steelers	61/118	51.7
Patriots	45/94	47.8
49ers	32/103	31.1
Giants	35/103	33.9

How about the last five Super Bowl winners:

2010	Packers	85/205	41.4
2009	Saints	88/197	44.6
2008	Steelers	92/224	41.0
2007	Giants	91/219	41.5
2006	Colts	105/187	56.1

As you can see, no team converting less than 40 percent of its third-down opportunities has won the Super Bowl in the past five years. The last team to do so was the Patriots in 2002. 

Maybe it's a coincidence, but I don't think so. The 49ers and the Giants are in the same boat as far as proving they should be in the conversation with the rest of the top teams. A good start for both would be to bump up those ugly third-down numbers.