Five Things We Learned From The Giants’ 32-31 Victory Over The Jets

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants still have some questions to answer before their season-opening game against the Dallas Cowboys next month. Let’s look at what we learned about the Giants from Saturday’s 32-31 preseason victory over the New York Jets.

There Is A Right Guard Competition

John Jerry came out of the game after a rough first series, which coach Ben McAdoo said had been the plan entering the night. Brett Jones came on, and the offense got better. D.J. Fluker also got some reps with the first-team offensive line.

McAdoo wasn’t naming anyone the starter on Saturday night.

“We’re going to go back, we’re going to look at the film and when we get to the first regular season game we’re going to put the best group out there that we feel can help us win,” he said.

Mike Nugent Might Be Old, But ...

Trying to earn a 13th NFL season, 35-year-old Mike Nugent showed he can still go deep. Nugent hit field goals of 50 and 54 yards on Saturday night, and put one of his kickoffs out of the back of the end zone. Nugent hasn’t made a field goal from 54 yards in a regular-season game since 2013. The Nugent-Aldrick Rosas competition for the placekicking job is turning into quite the slugfest. It seems a pretty good bet that both guys end up kicking in the NFL this season.

Who’s No. 2? We Still Don’t Know

This is a “what we learned” column, but we really didn’t learn much of anything new about the competition for the backup quarterback job. Josh Johnson went 4-of-6 for 67 yards, most of it coming on a spectacular catch by Travis Rudolph. Geno Smith went 5-of-10 for 51 yards. Neither really helped, nor hurt, their chances of making the roster.

JPP Is Ready To Go

Jason Pierre-Paul had a tackle for a safety, a sack, a pass defensed and two tackles for loss in his half of work Saturday night. Yeah, JPP is ready for the season.

Travis Rudolph Made His Mark

Undrafted free agents often have to do something spectacular to make a 53-man roster. Wide receiver Travis Rudolph staked his claim to a roster spot Saturday night with three catches for 81 yards, including a spectacular 57-yard catch-and-run on a throw from Josh Johnson.

“I thought he did some good things. I thought there were some contested balls that he should have come down with, but I thought that he made the most of his opportunity,” McAdoo said. “He had a chance to shine and took advantage of it.”

Etc. ...

• Brandon Marshall and Sheldon Richardson might not get along (yes, that’s an understatement). He appears to have some friends with the Jets, though. He spent lots of time before the game catching up with Jets personnel.
• Odell Beckham Jr. was not on the sidelines because “We thought it was best for Odell to go get treatment and not be standing out there,” McAdoo said. Of the reports Beckham had gone for cell treatment on his ankle, McAdoo said “I don’t know what cell treatment is and I don’t know where he’d go to get it.”
• It has nothing to do with the Giants, but Jets second-year quarterback Christian Hackenberg really isn’t good. He went 12-of-21 for 126 yards and threw a late-game touchdown pass, but he also threw two Pick 6’s. He certainly doesn’t look like an NFL quarterback.