Giants-Washington tale of the tape
The Giants wrap up the season with another divisional matchup against the Washington Football Team at MetLife Stadium this Sunday.
The offensive struggles continued for the Giants last week. Big Blue gained 151 total yards in a 29-3 loss to the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Over the past three weeks, the Giants have scored just 19 total points, while failing to top 200 total yards in each of the last two games.
Washington has been one of the streakiest teams in the NFL this season. After splitting the first four games, Ron Rivera's team lost four consecutive weeks leading up to their Week 9 bye. Washington then won four straight to its their record to 6-6, before losing another four in a row to drop to 6-10. They fell short against the Philadelphia Eagles last week, 20-16.
Washington emerged victorious in the first meeting between the two clubs back in Week 2, defeating the Giants 30-29.
Here are notes and stats on players from both team's ahead of the season finale.
*QB Jake Fromm will most likely get his second career start for the Giants on Sunday.
*QB Taylor Heinicke passed for 247 yards last week. Set career-highs in completions (34) & pass yards (336) & had 2 TDs vs. INT for 99.5 rating in Week 2 meeting. Has 2+ TD passes & 100+ rating in 2 of his past 3 road starts.
*RB Saquon Barkley had season-high atts. (21) & rush yards (102) in Week 17, his 12th-career game with 100+ rush yards. Has 656 scrimmage yards (164 per game) & 3 TDs (2 rush, 1 rec.) in 4 career games vs. Was. Has 50+ scrimmage yards in 18 of his 19 career home games. RB Devontae Booker rushed for 46 yards last week. Has 60+ scrimmage yards in 4 of his past 5 at home. Has 835 scrimmage yards & needs 43 for new career-high (877 in 2016).
*RB Antonio Gibson has career-high 1,180 scrimmage yards (891 rush, 289 rec.) in 2021. Is 1 of 3 NFC RBs (Aaron Jones & Alvin Kamara) with 1,000+ scrimmage yards & 9+ scrimmage TDs in each of past 2 seasons. Aims for his 4th in row vs. NYG with 50+ scrimmage yards. Rookie RB Jaret Patterson had career-high 5 receptions for career-high 98 scrimmage yards (57 rush, 41 rec.) & 2nd-career rush TD last week.
*TE Evan Engram had 5 catches for 48 yards & rec. TD in his last game vs. Was. (11/8/20). Is 1 of 3 TEs (Travis Kelce & George Kittle) with 40+ receptions in each of past 5 seasons. WR Darius Slayton had 54 rec. yards & TD catch in Week 2 meeting. Had rec. TD in last home meeting.
*WR Terry McLaurin led team with 7 catches & 61 rec. yards in Week 17. Needs 40 rec. yards for 2nd-straight 1,000-yard season. Had 11 receptions for 107 yards & rec. TD in Week 2 meeting. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. NYG with 100+ rec. yards & TD catch & aims for his 5th in row vs. NYG with 7+ receptions. WR Cam Sims had season-high 4 catches last week. Had rec. TD in last road meeting.
*LB Lorenzo Carter aims for his 4th in row with sack. LB Azeez Ojulari ranks 3rd among rookies with 8 sacks & 4th with 8 TFL. Had sack in Week 2 meeting. CB James Bradberry had career-high 4th INT of season last week. Had INT in Week 2 meeting. Aims for his 5th in row with PD. Since 2016, is 1 of 2 (Darius Slay) with 80+ PD (82) & is only player with 10+ PD in each of past 6 seasons. LB Tae Crowder had 2nd-career INT last week. Has career-high 118 tackles in 2021. DB Logan Ryan aims for his 3rd in row with PD. Is only DB with 8+ PD in each of past 7 seasons.
*LB Cole Holcomb led team with 11 tackles & had PD last week. Has career-high 131 tackles & aims for his 4th in row on road with 10+ tackles. DT Jonathan Allen has 5+ tackles in 3 of his past 4. Has career-high 8.5 sacks in 2021. Had 3 TFL & 2 sacks in Week 2 meeting. S Kamren Curl had season-high 10 tackles last week & has career-high 95 tackles in 2021. Aims for his 4th in row with 8+ tackles.
View photos from the all-time series between the New York Giants and the Washington Commanders.
Notebook: Coordinators speak; C Billy Price returns
Patrick Graham will be the first to concede the Giants' defense hasn't played as well as expected this season after an outstanding 2020.
He will also be the first to take responsibility for that.
"It starts with me," Graham, the team's defensive coordinator, said yesterday in his final weekly meeting of the season with reporters. "I don't think I did a good enough job. Obviously, when you don't get the wins that you wanted, you've got to do a better job. It starts with me. I've got a lot of stuff to reflect on this offseason to try to get it right – not to try, to get it right. I've got a list of stuff over by my desk on my righthand side of stuff I've got to get fixed. Behind my back, we use dry erase boards that slide, so that backboard has a lot of the stuff that I'm getting on myself about. It starts there."
Safety Logan Ryan said Graham shouldn't assume the burden for the defensive shortcomings.
"I think the players need to execute the plays that are being called," Ryan said. "Just because something doesn't go right on a play doesn't mean its Patrick Graham's fault. Sometimes it's the players fault and it means that you shoulder that part of the game because we're playing the game and he allows some of us to be free as well and use some of our expertise and some of our knowledge and skillset and let those guys play free. That's what Pat allows us to do. So, it's our job to make those plays when we are and when we don't, you just chalk it up to a good play on offense and you keep going.
The Giants are 4-12 as they prepare to host the 6-10 Washington Football Team in the season finale Sunday in MetLife Stadium.
Head to Head: Giants DL Leonard Williams vs. Washington G Brandon Scherff
Super Bowl champion Shaun O'Hara and John Schmeelk break down the matchup between Giants DL Leonard Williams and Washington G Brandon Scherff ahead of Sunday's season finale at MetLife Stadium.
Giants App
Download the Giants' official app for iPhone, iPad and Android devices