Sam Bradford, then playing for the Vikings, defeated Aaron Rodgers and Cam Newton in Weeks 2-3 of the 2016 season. It was the last time anyone took down the last two MVP quarterbacks in back-to-back games.
Daniel Jones has a chance to do it on Sunday.
After they came back against Rodgers and the Packers in London, Jones and the Giants face Lamar Jackson and Ravens (3-2) at home as the team tries to improve to 5-1 in the first year under coach Brian Daboll. Jackson won the MVP in 2019, and Rodgers took home the award in 2011, '14, and '20-21.
"Shout out to Lamar," said Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, who will face his former team this week at MetLife Stadium. "He gave me a shoutout, so I had to give a shoutout back to him. My relationship with Lamar, I love the guy. I think that it's another great challenge. We went from Aaron Rodgers, league MVP, to now we're going to Lamar Jackson, league MVP back in '19. I was with him when he did that, and he is an unbelievable player. For anybody that wants to say anything, that he's not, ok. Because he's unbelievable and he's playing at an MVP caliber right now like he was back in '19."
Here are three ways the Giants can defeat Jackson and the Ravens:
Defend every inch of the field
It takes all 11 players when you face Jackson, who has won all 12 of his career starts against NFC opponents by an average margin of 11 points. Jackson leads all quarterbacks with 374 rush yards in 2022, third-most by a quarterback in his first five games since 1950 (Michael Vick had 401 in 2006; Bobby Douglass had 409 in 1972). But he's a unicorn, as Carl Banks called him this week, because of his ability to run, pass, and improvise.
"You have to be cautious with everything with this guy," Daboll said. "The play is never over. He can be in one spot and quickly be in another spot. He can choose to pull up and throw it, run. I think it's going to take all 11 guys – the interior guys, the edge guys, the backers. He's a tough player, a tough quarterback to defend."
Ball security
Both defenses are enigmatic through five weeks. The Giants boast the No. 9 scoring defense and have allowed the fewest completions in the league this season. Yet, they are the last defense not to have an interception 2022, making up for it with the most fumble takeaways (six).
On the other side, Baltimore is part of a three-way tie with Buffalo and Pittsburgh for the lead in interceptions with eight. On the flip side, the Ravens have allowed the most pass yards in the NFL.
Finish
The Giants and Dolphins are the only winning teams to run at least 160 plays when trailing this season. Last week, the Giantsy trailed in the second quarter, 17-3, and at halftime, 20-10. The 14-point deficit was the largest they have overcome to win a game since Sept. 22, 2019, when they trailed by 18 points at Tampa Bay in Daniel Jones' first start and rallied for a 32-31 victory. It was the second time this season they rallied to win after being down by at least 10 at the half. The Giants won the season opener in Tennessee after trailing 13-0.
The Ravens, meanwhile, have run just 26 plays when trailing in 2022, the fewest in NFL. Their two losses have been on a Jaylen Waddle touchdown catch with 14 seconds remaining against Miami and a last-second field goal by Tyler Bass against Buffalo. The Ravens are the only team not to allow any points on their opponents' first possessions this season. If that trend continues, the Giants have proven they compete for all 60 minutes.
*On Sunday, October 16, the Giants will be celebrating Latino Heritage Month in partnership with Ford and supported by Dunkin' and PNC Private Bank. Fans will be welcomed with several plaza festivities, including: Sampling of Latin cuisine, live DJ, Latin style dance exhibition, Super Bowl trophy on display (weather permitting), and more. The festivities will be hosted by HOT 97's Laura Stylez and will take place on the plaza between MetLife and Verizon gates.
For more details, visit: Giants.com/Los-Gigantes
