By Jeff Knapp
This Sunday at 1 PM, the 0-2 Atlanta Falcons travel to Metlife Stadium to take on the 0-2 New York Giants. The Giants are not only coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Washington Football Team, but now they are facing the league’s 32nd ranked defense and the team that has given up the most points so far in this early season and 3rd lowest-scoring offense in the league.
The Giants are rightfully favored to win this week and hopefully not drop to 0-3, which in most divisions would mean they are playing spoiler and getting ready for next season, but they are in the NFC East, so anything is possible.
The Falcons still have Matty Ice, but he isn’t the same player he once was, but he does have weapons around him like Calvin Ridley, Rookie TE Kyle Pitts, and RB Cordarrlle Patterson, who is off to a pretty decent start with what he’s working with (136 total yards and 2TDs)
This week, the Giants come in with the idea that they can score some point, with last week’s outing against the WFT. Sterling Shepard has been the team’s MVP through 2 games with 207 receiving yards, and I know I’m jinxing myself, but he hasn’t thrown an interception this season and only one but costly fumble. He has thrown for 516 yards, 2TDs, and has run for 122 yards and two touchdowns.
The keys to a win this week and the rest of the season are getting Kenny Golladay more involved than his seven receptions and getting Saquon Barkley going. He needs bigger holes to run, but he needs to create something from nothing he has done in the past. If he can give the Giants a 2nd and three instead of a 2nd and 9, that would be amazing and open up all options.
DC Patrick Graham could have some faith in Adoree Jackson and Xavier McKinney in blitz situations and put Jabrill Pepper on the field for more snaps. I wanted him out of Michigan; we traded for him; let’s use him. Upfront Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams need to step up on pressuring the QB, especially this week against an immobile QB like Matt Ryan. They have combined for only four tackles, zero sacks, and only pressured the QB 20% of the time on dropbacks, which is 24th in the league.
Jason Garrett needs to open things up for Daniel Jones. Utilize his arm. When throwing for 15+ yards, Daniel Jones is 14 of 18 through 2 games.
Good Luck to the Giants, and our thoughts are with Nick Gates, who may have suffered a career-ending leg injury.
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