Snap Counts, Stats, And PFF Grades From The Giants’ Loss

The New York Giants managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles... And then gave it right back with sloppy play in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter.

On an unseasonably hot afternoon, the team played a combined 145 snaps on offense (69) and defense (76). This is the high-water mark for number of plays for the offense, but the Giants still couldn’t win the battle for time of possession.

Let’s take a look and see what we can learn from who played, how much, and the various stats compiled.

Offense

• For all the criticism of Eli Manning over the last year or so, he stepped up and showed that he is still a franchise quarterback. Manning completed 35 of 47 pass attempts (the third highest completion total of his career), good for 74.5 percent with a solid 7.8 yards per attempt. This is the second time this season he has completed more than 70 percent of his passes and he is completing a remarkable 73.5 percent on the season.

Eli also showed himself to be the Giants’ best offensive linemen, with a lightning-fast release time of 1.85 seconds on the game. His execution of an Oregon Ducks-esque “Ludacris Speed” offense largely took the Eagles’ dangerous pass rush out of the game.

Pro Football Focus gave Manning the third highest grade on the team with an 80.3, saying:

Manning played his best game this season as he was excellent throwing downfield. Although Manning gave the ball away on his only attempt that traveled more than 20 yards in the air, he completed all of his other nine attempts that traveled at least 10 yards from the line of scrimmage. Furthermore, the Giants quarterback helped the offensive line by releasing the ball in an average of 1.86 seconds from the snap.

• If Odell Beckham isn’t back to 100 percent yet, he is darn close. With the Giants needing to get the ball out quickly and desperately needing a spark on offense, he lead the Giants’ receivers with 13 targets (on 55 of 69 offensive snaps). Beckham’s nine catches were enough became the fastest receiver to 300 career catches, a doubly impressive accomplishment considering he’s only played one complete season. He successfully provided a spark for the team with a pair of touchdowns in less than two minutes.
• All of the Giants’ receivers were busy, with Sterling Shepard getting 10 targets making 7 catches for 133 yards and a touchdown, playing 68 of 69 offensive snaps. Brandon Marshall caught 8 of 11 targets for 66 yards, playing 65 of 69 snaps, effectively playing the “big possession” receiver the offense has lacked opposite Beckham.
• The Giants played 89 percent of their snaps in “11” personnel, with Evan Engram getting 57 of 69 snaps (83 percent). He was targeted seven times, making five catches for 45 yards. Free agent Rhett Ellison played just 20 snaps, and wasn’t targeted once.
• Paul Perkins is still the Giants’ “leading” rusher, getting 35 snaps, but he only ran on nine of them, picking up 22 yards. Orleans Darkwa got seven runs on 16 snaps, but also only picked up 22 yards, most of those coming on a single 20 yard run.
• Despite the Giants’ inability to run the ball, fullback Shane Smith did not play any snaps.

Defense

• Cornerback Janoris Jenkins was injured in the season opener, missing week two with ankle and hand injuries, and was considered a “game time decision” this week. He played, and was the Giants’ highest graded player according to PFF, with an 86.7.

The Giants star cornerback was impressive in coverage once again today, allowing very little through the air. Targeted six times in coverage, he allowed four receptions for just 38 yards. Showcasing his ability to make plays on the ball, both incompletions into his coverage came as a result of pass breakups.

• The defense played a somewhat ridiculous 76 total snaps, and only safety Landon Collins played all of them, finishing with 9 total tackles and a forced fumble (which lead to Beckham’s second touchdown).
• Fellow defensive backs, safety Darian Thompson and cornerback Eli Apple played 74 of 76 snaps, while the ever-impressive Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie played 61 and finished with a 79.1 grade from PFF.
• Rookie linebacker Calvin Munson started the game, but only played 23 total snaps. However, he received the team’s second highest grade with an 80.6. Fresh out of the concussion protocol, fellow LB Keenan Robinson played 53 snaps (70 percent), and got the teams’ fourth highest grade of 79.9.
• Olivier Vernon left the game with an ankle injury after 60 snaps, but finished with five tackles, a sack, and a tackle for a loss. Jason Pierre-Paul played seventy snaps, finishing with five tackles as well.
• Starting defensive tackles Damon Harrison and Dalvin Tomlinson played 44 and 45 snaps, respectively, while Jay Bromley played just 21 (28 percent), but notched two tackles and a sack.

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