Grading the Giants’ 27-22 comeback win over the Packers on Sunday in London:
Offense
The stats lie. Daniel Jones was 21 of 27 for 217 yards, no touchdowns or interceptions, and in some ways, this was his finest moment. He was operating on a not fully healed sprained left ankle and did not have his usual burst but ran 10 times for 37 yards. He was a leader in every sense, surrounded by backups galore. Saquon Barkley (13-70 rushing, 3-36 receiving) left with a shoulder issue, returned and immediately had a 40-yard burst. His game-winning touchdown came as a Wildcat QB. Wide receiver Darius Slayton, (6-79) where have you been? He was dusted off and produced. Rookie tight end Daniel Bellinger scored on a 2-yard run off an option. Contributions from Marcus Johnson, David Sills, Richie James and Chris Myarick. Jones was sacked only one time.
Grade: B+
Saquon Barkley (26) celebrates with Giants teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Packers in London on Oct. 9, 2022. Shaun Brooks/Action Plus/ShutterstockDefense
Allowing 20 points in the first half was not shocking. Pitching a shutout against Aaron Rodgers (25 of 39, 222 yards, 2 TDs) was shocking. Key third-quarter sack from Dexter Lawrence pushed the Packers out of field-goal range. Late fourth-quarter sack by Oshane Ximines sealed the deal. Key deflection by highly active Kayvon Thibodeaux. Xavier McKinney was called for a 33-yard pass interference penalty for mugging tight end Robert Tonyan in the second quarter. McKinney came back on a late blitz to deflect a Rodgers pass down the stretch. Big coverage plays by Nick McCloud and Fabian Moreau and Justin Layne. Really? Jihad Ward slammed wide receiver Romeo Doubs down for a 1-yard loss on a screen pass in the first quarter.
Grade: A
Giants corner Fabian Moreau (37) defends Packers receiver Allen Lazard in the second half in London on Oct. 9, 2022. USA TODAY SportsSpecial teams
Mr. Reliable Graham Gano nailed field goals from 48 and 37 yards. Jamie Gillan, a native of Scotland, averaged 50 yards on his two punts. Chris Myarick forced a fumble on the punt coverage team though the ball was recovered by the Packers. Gary Brightwell averaged only 18.7 yards on his three kickoff returns. The ball off a Packers punt hit Jason Pinnock, but the Giants got a break when the loose ball went out of bounds.
Grade: B
Giants head coach Brian Daboll (r.) meets with Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers after the Giants’ 27-22 win in London on Oct. 9, 2022. APCoaching
High-quality on all fronts. Brian Daboll refuses to allow injuries or adversity to affect his team. How he is doing this is hard to fathom, but he is. That was some play call by offensive coordinator Mike Kafka on the end-around that resulted in the Bellinger TD run. The use of the Wildcat formation is also ingenious. Wink Martindale shut out one of the great quarterbacks of this generation in the final 30 minutes with a bunch of no-names subbing for injured starters. The blitz he called that sprung McKinney was typical of the calculated risks Martindale takes time and again.
Grade: A+
