The New York Giants defense so far this season has just not been good. The Giants’ defense is giving up an average of 27.8 points per game which is the eighth-worst in the NFL. This comes as a surprise after the Giants’ defense last season was the best aspect of the team.
The defense made the additions of Adoree Jackson, Austin Jackson, and Azeez Ojulari, the defense still struggled. All three of these players have made solid impacts on the team, but the defense seems to have lost a step.
Rush Defense
The Giants rush defense is slowly getting beat up on, affecting the rest of the team. Teams are attempting the seventh-most rushing attempts while allowing the sixth-most yards in the NFL.
Despite that, they have not bent. They have only allowed on play over 20+ and 40+ yards all season. A lot of small short runs have killed the rushing defense. The defense is allowing the fourth-highest yards per carry at 4.7.
This puts the defense in a lot of tough possessions in just about every drive. A team can rush for nearly five yards every first or second down, which puts an opposing offense in a manageable third down almost every time.
As the game goes along, and the Giants’ defense is on the field more and more, the more tired they get, making them stay on the field longer.
Pass Defense
The Giants pass defense was expected to be the most improved defensive unit, but it has not made the improvements fans hoped for. A lot goes into the pass defense struggles, with the defense being on the field a long time while the Giants are not generating much pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Despite the Giants facing the 14th most passing attempts, they are allowing the 11th most yards. The most significant stat that stands out is that the Giants allow the heights completion percentage against the league at 74%.
Like with the run game, the Giants are just not allowing big plays but getting carved up underneath. They have only allowed 18 plays 20+ yards and three plays 40+ years, putting the middle of the pack in the NFL.
Overall issues
The Giants’ defense has just been on the field way too much. The Giants defense is on the field for an average of 3:17 minutes per drive, as well as an average of seven players per drive. The Giants defense is the second-highest in the NFL in those two stats.
On top of that, the Giants defense has allowed 32 third-down conversions, which is the fifth-most in the NFL. The defense is just on the field too long, and even though they don’t give up big plays, they get diced up every game.
Phot0: GMenHQ/Al Bello | Credit: Getty Images
