The Giants.com crew reacts to the Week 2 thriller in the desert:
John Schmeelk: When the Giants went into this past offseason, they had certain objectives they were trying to meet as they tried to improve this team. Offensively, they were trying to make the team more explosive and capable of scoring points in bunches. The additions of Darren Waller, Jalin Hyatt, and Parris Campbell were meant to provide speed and big plays in the passing game. Those players were supposed to allow Daniel Jones to take the next step as a passer who could more consistently make big plays down the field.
Mission accomplished. The second half against the Cardinals was the fulfillment of that vision as Jones went 17 of 21 for 259 yards, two passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown. Waller was tied for the team lead in catches, and Hyatt led the team in receiving yards with the two biggest plays. The Giants had eight plays of 15 yards or more, all in the second half. It was also clear why bringing back Saquon Barkley was a part of the plan, as he broke tackles, evaded defenders and picked up tough yards for touchdowns throughout the half. He was essential to the victory.
Moving forward, it is now imperative for the Giants to show that type of offensive prowess throughout the game, and not just for 30 minutes. The 49ers and many of the remaining teams on the schedule are too good to spot them a half of football like the Giants did against Arizona. This team needs to be ready to play from the opening kickoff the rest of the season if they want to make the playoffs.
Dan Salomone: Everyone wanted to know one thing in Brian Daboll's postgame press conference: What the heck did he tell the team at halftime? I'll volunteer a guess. He wheeled in a projector and just rolled tape of the 2022 Alabama vs. Tennessee game, where Jalin Hyatt became a household name. Now Giants fans can enjoy him streaming into their living rooms.
As veteran tight end Darren Waller said from the winning locker room, you never know where or when a spark will come. Well, how about the first play of the second half? Hyatt, the Biletnikoff Award winner who dropped a pass on his only target in Week 1 as part of the Giants' 90-minute scoring drought to begin the season, took the top off the Arizona defense for a 58-yard gain. His first NFL catch sparked the greatest comeback in Giants history since 1949. His second reception – a 31-yarder in the fourth quarter – set up Isaiah Hodgins' game-tying touchdown.
"Definitely, last week I didn't do what I wanted to do personally," the third-round draft choice said. "I had a drop. Just the effort and everything I did in that game just wasn't there. With a new week, when I came into this game, I knew I had to change everything. My whole week of preparation was different. I actually was watching film 24-7, seeing who we're playing. Not only that, DJ (was) always standing in my corner, saying, 'We're going to get the ball to you, we're going to get the ball to you.' That's what he did, and I think that just goes back to our leadership."
View photos from the Giants' 31-28 comeback victory over the Cardinals in Glendale.


RB Saquon Barkley (26)

ILB Micah McFadden (41)

K Graham Gano (9)

DT DJ Davidson (98), DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches Sr (93)

K Graham Gano (9)

RB Saquon Barkley (26), C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)

TE Daniel Bellinger (82), RB Saquon Barkley (26)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

RB Saquon Barkley (26), TE Daniel Bellinger (82)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

RB Gary Brightwell (23), RB Saquon Barkley (26)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

P Jamie Gillan (6)

OL Marcus McKethan (60), C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)

OL Marcus McKethan (60), C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)

TE Darren Waller (12)

DL A'Shawn Robinson (91)

ILB Micah McFadden (41), ILB Bobby Okereke (58)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

RB Saquon Barkley (26), C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)

TE Darren Waller (12)

DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches Sr (93)

RB Saquon Barkley (26), C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)

WR Jalin Hyatt (13)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches Sr (93)

OL Joshua Ezeudu (75)


NT Dexter Lawrence II (97)

S Xavier McKinney (29)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

ILB Micah McFadden (41)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

ILB Carter Coughlin (52)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

DL A'Shawn Robinson (91), NT Dexter Lawrence II (97), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

P Jamie Gillan (6)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

OLB Boogie Basham (45)

DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches Sr (93), DT DJ Davidson (98)

WR Parris Campbell (0)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61), QB Daniel Jones (8), WR Darius Slayton (86), G Ben Bredeson (68)

C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61), QB Daniel Jones (8), WR Darius Slayton (86), G Ben Bredeson (68)

C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61), QB Daniel Jones (8), WR Darius Slayton (86), G Ben Bredeson (68)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18), TE Darren Waller (12)

.QB Daniel Jones (8), TE Darren Waller (12)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18), TE Darren Waller (12)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18), TE Darren Waller (12)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

RB Saquon Barkley (26), TE Darren Waller (12)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

TE Darren Waller (12)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

TE Darren Waller (12)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

WR Darius Slayton (86)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

CB Deonte Banks (25), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5), NT Dexter Lawrence II (97), ILB Micah McFadden (41)

WR Darius Slayton (86)

S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19), ILB Bobby Okereke (58)

S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19), ILB Bobby Okereke (58)

ILB Bobby Okereke (58)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

ILB Bobby Okereke (58), S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)

ILB Micah McFadden (41), RB Eric Gray (20), S Dane Belton (24)

ILB Bobby Okereke (58), S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

WR Jalin Hyatt (13)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

WR Jalin Hyatt (13)

ILB Bobby Okereke (58)

WR Jalin Hyatt (13)

WR Jalin Hyatt (13)

ILB Bobby Okereke (58), OLB Jihad Ward (55)

TE Darren Waller (12)

TE Darren Waller (12)

TE Darren Waller (12)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

TE Darren Waller (12)

S Jason Pinnock (27)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61), G Ben Bredeson (68)

DL Leonard Williams (99)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

DL Leonard Williams (99)

S Jason Pinnock (27), ILB Bobby Okereke (58)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

OLB Oshane Ximines (53)

DL Leonard Williams (99)

LS Casey Kreiter (59)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

LS Casey Kreiter (59), OLB Oshane Ximines (53)

S Xavier McKinney (29)

OL Joshua Ezeudu (75)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches Sr (93)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

TE Darren Waller (12)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

TE Darren Waller (12)

RB Taiwan Jones (36)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

S Xavier McKinney (29)

TE Darren Waller (12)

OLB Jihad Ward (55), CB Adoree' Jackson (22), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5), NT Dexter Lawrence II (97), DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches Sr (93), DL A'Shawn Robinson (91)

ILB Cam Brown (47)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

TE Darren Waller (12)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

P Jamie Gillan (6), OL Joshua Ezeudu (75)

TE Darren Waller (12)

TE Darren Waller (12)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

TE Darren Waller (12)

TE Darren Waller (12)

WR Darius Slayton (86)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

WR Darius Slayton (86)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

WR Darius Slayton (86)

WR Darius Slayton (86)

WR Darius Slayton (86)

ILB Bobby Okereke (58)

ILB Bobby Okereke (58)

ILB Bobby Okereke (58)

QB Daniel Jones (8)


TE Darren Waller (12), QB Daniel Jones (8)

TE Darren Waller (12), QB Daniel Jones (8)

WR Jalin Hyatt (13)

WR Jalin Hyatt (13)

WR Jalin Hyatt (13)

WR Jalin Hyatt (13)

P Jamie Gillan (6)

C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61), G Ben Bredeson (68), QB Daniel Jones (8)

WR Jalin Hyatt (13)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

WR Jalin Hyatt (13)

C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61), G Ben Bredeson (68), QB Daniel Jones (8)

P Jamie Gillan (6)

DL A'Shawn Robinson (91)

OL Joshua Ezeudu (75)

OL Joshua Ezeudu (75)

OL Joshua Ezeudu (75), K Graham Gano (9)

TE Darren Waller (12), WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

TE Darren Waller (12), WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

DL A'Shawn Robinson (91), DT DJ Davidson (98)

Brian Daboll Head Coach, QB Daniel Jones (8)

Brian Daboll Head Coach

Brian Daboll Head Coach, QB Daniel Jones (8)

Brian Daboll Head Coach

Brian Daboll Head Coach, QB Daniel Jones (8)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

TE Darren Waller (12), QB Daniel Jones (8)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

Brian Daboll Head Coach

QB Daniel Jones (8), TE Darren Waller (12)

Brian Daboll Head Coach

Brian Daboll Head Coach

K Graham Gano (9), Brian Daboll Head Coach

WR Sterling Shepard (3)

OLB Oshane Ximines (53), TE Darren Waller (12)


CB Deonte Banks (25)

OLB Oshane Ximines (53)

OLB Jihad Ward (55)

OLB Boogie Basham (45)

OLB Oshane Ximines (53)

DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches Sr (93)

RB Gary Brightwell (23)

RB Matt Breida (31)

TE Darren Waller (12)

QB Daniel Jones (8), RB Saquon Barkley (26)

S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)

Brian Daboll Head Coach

WR Sterling Shepard (3)

WR Parris Campbell (0)

ILB Bobby Okereke (58), S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19), ILB Micah McFadden (41)

ILB Bobby Okereke (58), S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19), ILB Micah McFadden (41)

RB Taiwan Jones (36)

WR Jalin Hyatt (13)

S Xavier McKinney (29), RB Taiwan Jones (36), S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

WR Sterling Shepard (3)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

S Xavier McKinney (29), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5), RB Saquon Barkley (26), ILB Cam Brown (47)


NT Dexter Lawrence II (97), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

CB Deonte Banks (25)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

NT Dexter Lawrence II (97), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

S Xavier McKinney (29), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5), RB Saquon Barkley (26)

G Ben Bredeson (68), C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61), G Ben Bredeson (68)

NT Dexter Lawrence II (97), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

S Xavier McKinney (29), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5), RB Saquon Barkley (26)

TE Darren Waller (12)

S Xavier McKinney (29), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5), RB Saquon Barkley (26)

S Xavier McKinney (29), ILB Bobby Okereke (58)

WR Sterling Shepard (3)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

WR Jalin Hyatt (13)

WR Parris Campbell (0)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

Brian Daboll Head Coach

WR Darius Slayton (86)

WR Parris Campbell (0)

WR Parris Campbell (0)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

OL Joshua Ezeudu (75)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

S Jason Pinnock (27)

QB Tyrod Taylor (2)

QB Tyrod Taylor (2)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

WR Jalin Hyatt (13)

WR Sterling Shepard (3)

WR Jalin Hyatt (13)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

WR Darius Slayton (86)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

WR Parris Campbell (0)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

RB Eric Gray (20)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux

QB Tyrod Taylor (2)

WR Jalin Hyatt (13)

WR Parris Campbell (0)

S Dane Belton (24)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux

S Dane Belton (24)

S Dane Belton (24)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

QB Daniel Jones (8), TE Darren Waller (12)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

QB Daniel Jones (8), TE Darren Waller (12)

QB Daniel Jones (8), WR Parris Campbell (0)

TE Darren Waller (12)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

WR Parris Campbell (0)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

WR Parris Campbell (0)

OL Evan Neal (73)

CB Adoree' Jackson (22)

CB Adoree' Jackson (22)

NT Dexter Lawrence II (97)

CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)

RB Taiwan Jones (36)

S Jason Pinnock (27)

S Bobby McCain (21)

S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)

OL Matt Peart (74)

S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)

S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)

CB Tre Hawkins III (37)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

K Graham Gano (9)

OLB Boogie Basham (45)

S Xavier McKinney (29)

S Xavier McKinney (29)

OLB Boogie Basham (45)

S Xavier McKinney (29)

OLB Oshane Ximines (53)

CB Deonte Banks (25)

ILB Micah McFadden (41)

CB Deonte Banks (25)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

TE Lawrence Cager (83)

RB Eric Gray (20)

TE Darren Waller (12)

TE Darren Waller (12)

ILB Cam Brown (47)

RB Gary Brightwell (23)

WR Dennis Houston (88)

CB Nick McCloud (44)

CB Nick McCloud (44)

NT Dexter Lawrence II (97)

DL Leonard Williams (99)

NT Dexter Lawrence II (97)

DL Leonard Williams (99)

WR Jalin Hyatt (13)

WR Parris Campbell (0)

WR Parris Campbell (0)

DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches Sr (93)

QB Tyrod Taylor (2)

ILB Carter Coughlin (52)

QB Tyrod Taylor (2)

OL Joshua Ezeudu (75)

OLB Jihad Ward (55)

CB Darnay Holmes (30)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

WR Sterling Shepard (3)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

WR Sterling Shepard (3)

CB Adoree' Jackson (22)

S Dane Belton (24)

WR Sterling Shepard (3)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

TE Lawrence Cager (83)

RB Saquon Barkley (26)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

RB Eric Gray (20)

ILB Bobby Okereke (58)

TE Darren Waller (12)

S Bobby McCain (21)

NT Dexter Lawrence II (97)

S Jason Pinnock (27)

WR Jalin Hyatt (13)

ILB Carter Coughlin (52)

QB Tyrod Taylor (2)

WR Parris Campbell (0)

QB Tyrod Taylor (2)

OLB Jihad Ward (55)

S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)

CB Tre Hawkins III (37)

S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)

DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches Sr (93)

DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches Sr (93)

RB Matt Breida (31)

DT DJ Davidson (98)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

K Graham Gano (9)

S Gervarrius Owens (39)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

TE Daniel Bellinger (82)

S Dane Belton (24)

P Jamie Gillan (6)

WR Sterling Shepard (3)

S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)

S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

ILB Cam Brown (47)

TE Lawrence Cager (83)


RB Gary Brightwell (23)

CB Nick McCloud (44)

K Graham Gano (9)

G Ben Bredeson (68), C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)

TE Darren Waller (12), WR Jalin Hyatt (13)

DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches Sr (93)

DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches Sr (93)

DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches Sr (93)

S Bobby McCain (21), RB Matt Breida (31)

OLB Boogie Basham (45)

DL Leonard Williams (99)

ILB Bobby Okereke (58)

DL Leonard Williams (99)

DL Leonard Williams (99)

CB Deonte Banks (25)

QB Tyrod Taylor (2)

OL Matt Peart (74)

QB Daniel Jones (8)

QB Tyrod Taylor (2)

Ben Burress, QB Daniel Jones (8)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)

NT Dexter Lawrence II (97)

WR Sterling Shepard (3)

NT Dexter Lawrence II (97)

WR Sterling Shepard (3)

LS Casey Kreiter (59), P Jamie Gillan (6)
Lance Medow: If there was the perfect embodiment of the phrase "a tale of two halves," it would be the Giants' performance in Sunday's comeback win over the Cardinals. Every single statistical category was on opposite ends of the spectrum between the first two quarters and final two periods, but if there's one area that proved to be the difference, it was explosive plays. New York recorded only three plays for 10 yards or more in the first half, but that number skyrocketed to 14 in the last two quarters. Without that noticeable differential, the Giants are unlikely to have overcome a 21-point deficit as you don't have the luxury of putting together lengthy drives involving a high volume of plays when you're down by three scores.
They had at least two plays of 10 yards or more on each of their five scoring drives in the second half, and three of those possessions involved less than 10 plays. Keep in mind, that's 14 first downs because of those game-changing chunks of yardage. Nine came through the air and five on the ground with Jalin Hyatt posting a pair of catches for 31-plus yards. No surprise, Big Blue scored touchdowns each time the latter occurred. While Hyatt stood out, it was a spread-the-wealth mentality as Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley, Darren Waller, Darius Slayton and Isaiah Hodgins all recorded at least one splash. Yes, the defense regrouped by forcing a pair of three-and-outs late, but what happened on offense is why the Giants managed a memorable comeback.
Matt Citak: Things did not look good for Daniel Jones and the offense when they went into the locker room at halftime down 20-0. The unit had gone six consecutive quarters without a point to start the season and could not get anything going. Jones was 9 of 16 for 62 yards and an interception, although the turnover hit off Saquon Barkley's hands and into the defender's arms for the second consecutive week. Jones also added just one rushing yard as the offense was stifled by the Cardinals.
I don't know what was said in the locker room at halftime, but boy did it light a fire underneath the Giants. Jones caught fire in the second half and completed 17 of 21 passes, good for a completion percentage of 81.0 percent, for 259 yards and two touchdowns. He also added eight rush attempts for 58 yards (7.3 yard per carry) and an additional touchdown on the ground. Jones was cool, calm and collected in the final two quarters as he drove the Giants down the field for points on all five of their second-half drives (four touchdowns, one field goal). The fifth-year quarterback was an impressive 13 of 15 passing for 229 yards off play-action in the second half, according to ESPN Stats and Info, which marked the most he's ever had in a game.
The 21-point comeback was the biggest deficit the Giants have ever overcome to win a game in the Super Bowl Era, and matched the largest comeback in franchise history (12/2/1945 vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 10/30/1949 vs. Chicago Cardinals). Jones made some individual history, too. In the second half, the 26-year-old threw for 250+ yards, ran for 50+ yards, threw multiple touchdown passes, rushed for a touchdown and had no turnovers. No other quarterback in NFL history has done all of that in the second half of a game. After a difficult start, Jones showed just why the Giants decided to invest in him this offseason.

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