Giants-Packers snap counts: What can we learn?

The first thing you notice when you look at the snaps counts from Sunday’s 23-16 loss by the New York Giants to the Green Bay Packers is the number of plays run. The Packers ran 80 offensive plays to just 56 for the Giants, who, as they have in four of five games this season, ran fewer plays than their opponent.

The Giants’ time of possession of 23:22 was their second-lowest of the season; they held the ball for 23:17 in their season-opening victory in Dallas. Their 14 first downs were a season low.

Now, for some snap count notes.

Offense

Bobby Rainey played the most snaps of any of the Giants’ running back, 28. Orleans Darkwa and Paul Perkins each played 14 snaps.

Tight end Jerell Adams played 17 snaps. The rookie caught two passes.

Defense

Snap counts on this side of the ball are often more interesting, and the ones from Sunday are no exception.

The only Giants’ defenders to play all 80 snaps were safeties Landon Collins and Andrew Adams. Give Adams, in only his second NFL start and third active game, some credit for holding up nicely in the back of the defense.

The Giants tried to give defensive ends Olivier Vernon (72 snaps) and Jason Pierre-Paul (71) a bit more rest. Rookie Romeo Okwara played 15 snaps and Kerry Wynn played 10. Want to know what the Giants think of second-year defensive end Owa Odighizuwa? He played only six snaps, so that isn’t hard to figure out.

Give some props to cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie for gutting his way through 61 snaps with a groin injury. Eli Apple came into the game with a hamstring injury, gave up a touchdown pass, and exited after only seven snaps with a groin injury.

Linebacker Devon Kennard played the fewest snaps of any defensive starter. He was in on only 22 snaps (28 percent of the defensive plays).

Pro Football Focus grades

For those of you who have to have these, here they are:

Quarterback grade: Eli Manning, 34.8

Top offensive grades:

G Justin Pugh 77.8

G John Jerry, 76.6

TE Will Tye 76.6

WR Odell Beckham Jr. 75.6

HB Bobby Rainey 72.5

Top defensive grades:

LB Keenan Robinson, 89.1

CB Janoris Jenkins, 85.0

DT Jonathan Hankins, 73.1

CB Eli Apple, 68.7

CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, 65.6