Pro Football Focus takeaways from Week 4 win over Saints
The Giants picked up their first win of the season on Sunday, defeating the New Orleans Saints in overtime at the Superdome, 27-21.
It was an impressive victory for Big Blue, who came back from an 11-point deficit with just seven minutes remaining in the game. The Giants ended up topping the Saints in total yards of offense, out-gaining New Orleans 485-405.
Sunday's game saw some strong performances from several different players on both sides of the ball. Here are the Pro Football Focus takeaways from the exciting Week 4 victory.
Daniel Jones had a career-day in his first game at the Superdome. The third-year quarterback threw for a career-best 402 yards and completed 70 percent of his passes with two touchdowns. He earned an elite 84.6 overall grade from PFF, including an 84.1 passing grade. Jones has now earned an 86.9 overall rating on the season from PFF, good for the fourth-highest grade among all quarterbacks, while his 88.0 passing grade is second behind only Tom Brady (91.5).
One contributing reason for Jones' success against the Saints was his time in the pocket. The offensive line did not allow a single sack in Week 4, and the top performer from the unit was left tackle Andrew Thomas. The second-year tackle earned the second-highest overall grade on the team with his 79.9, aided by a dominating 86.0 pass block grade. Through four weeks, Thomas has surrendered zero sacks, one hit and just six pressures. His 79.0 pass block grade on the season is the ninth-highest among all offensive tackles.
Matt Skura got his first start for the Giants in this game, filling in for the injured Ben Bredeson at left guard. Skura did well in pass protection, earning a 75.3 pass block grade. Will Hernandez also graded out well in the passing game with his 71.4 pass block grade.
The Giants made two wide receiver acquisitions during free agency this past offseason, and both enjoyed big games in Week 4. Going up against Marshon Lattimore and a talented Saints secondary, Kenny Golladay pulled in six receptions for a season-high 116 yards. The 116 receiving yards is the most among Giants' pass-catchers this season. He earned a 77.7 overall grade, including a 76.3 grade in the passing game. His 79.8 overall grade currently ranks 17th among all wide receivers.
John Ross made his Giants debut in Week 4 and got the team on the board with a 52-yard touchdown catch. He finished the game with three receptions for 77 yards and the score, and received a 76.4 overall grade. Ross was also impressive in the run game, as the analytics site gave him an 82.8 run block grade on seven running plays.
The Giants got a strong performance in pass protection from one of their key offensive playmakers too, as Saquon Barkley graded out at 83.7 on seven pass block snaps.
On the defensive side of the ball, Leonard Williams led the way with his 74.2 overall grade. Williams stepped up in the run game, earning a 73.8 run defense grade and a 73.8 tackling grade. Fellow defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence finished right behind him with a 71.3 overall grade. Lawrence picked up six tackles (four solo), one tackle for loss and one pass breakup on his way to receiving a 73.6 pass rush grade and 72.4 tackling grade.
Oshane Ximines also had a good performance with a 69.6 overall grade, 74.7 tackling grade and 68.1 run defense grade. He recorded four tackles (one solo) and a pass breakup.
Rookie corner Rodarius Williams played 17 snaps on defense against the Saints and earned a solid 68.6. His coverage grade of 68.3 was the second-highest on the team, trailing only James Bradberry's 70.1. Bradberry registered his second interception of the season.
Veteran Reggie Ragland received a 71.3 run defense grade, while Logan Ryan picked up a 71.7 grade in the run game. Ryan also got an elite 84.0 tackling grade after tying with Tae Crowder for a team-high nine tackles (four solo).
John Ross introduces himself to Giants fans
John Ross introduced himself to Giants fans by making one of the biggest plays of the young season. Now he hopes to contribute many more.
The first time the ridiculously fast receiver was targeted in his Giants debut, he sprinted down the seam and caught a 52-yard touchdown pass from Daniel Jones. Though he fumbled the ball and recovered it in the end zone, Ross was still credited with a touchdown reception.
"We kind of got what we were looking for," Ross said today. "D.J. put a great ball out there, and I just have to go get it. I thought that was pretty much it. It was a great call by the coaches, and I just wanted to make a play."
Ross demonstrated a different skillset when he caught two passes for 25 yards on the series in overtime that ended with Saquon Barkley's six-yard touchdown run and a 27-21 victory against the New Orleans Saints in the Caesars Superdome. The Giants trailed in the fourth quarter by 11 points.
"I feel like every facet of my game is important, because I have to continue to show why I should be in there for multiple reasons," Ross said. "I've always said this, I never want to be a one-trick pony. I think I went in yesterday, and the defense was kind of waving back, like 'get back'. I want to be more than that, so for me to go out there and make those two plays, it felt good. It felt good to put us in a different position and help continue moving the ball in different ways, and not just always down the field."
Saquon Barkley gives Victory Speech: 'Way to fight!'
Saquon Barkley had his best game of the 2021 season in Week 4. The fourth-year back took 13 carries for 52 yards (4.0 avg.) and a touchdown while adding five receptions for 74 yards and another score, topping 100 yards from scrimmage for the first time since the final game of the 2019 season.
Barkley spoke to the team from the locker room following the Giants' first win of the season. Listen to the star running back's victory speech in the video below.
Single Game Tickets
A limited number of Giants 2021 single game tickets are on sale now
