The Giants.com crew is presented with four statements and must decide whether they are Fact or Fiction.
The Giants' defense will finish the season ranked first in sacks.
John Schmeelk: Fiction – The Giants do not play with enough leads to sustain their league-leading pace. Their rush defense will also lead to opponents attempting fewer passes, which should limit sack opportunities. They have one more sack than the Broncos, who have 35. Four other teams are within six sacks of the Giants and two (the Chargers with 31 and Vikings with 30) have only played nine games. The Giants will finish in the top five, just not in the top spot.
Dan Salomone: Fact – Leading through 10 weeks is a pretty large sample size. While they are no longer on pace to break the 1985 Giants' franchise record of 68 – the 2024 team is on track for 61 – there's no reason to think they can't finish the season on top of the NFL this year.
Matt Citak: Fiction – The pass rush has been the biggest bright spot of the defense this season, but after a torrid start, the unit has slowed down in recent weeks. Playing from behind has contributed to that. Meanwhile, the defense is allowing a league-high 5.3 yards per carry. Both of these factors put opponents in less obvious passing situations, which in turn makes it more difficult for the Giants to continue their early season sack pace. While I still believe the Giants will be among the league-leaders in sacks, I don't know if they will finish No. 1.
The Giants will have two players with double-digit sacks for the first time since Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora in 2010.
John Schmeelk: Fact – They might have three. Dexter Larence is just one sack away from double digits, leaving little doubt he will get there. With the way Brian Burns is playing, he is only four away from 10 and there's no reason to think he won't be able to get there. Burns has been consistently impactful this season. Whether Azeez Ojulari, currently with six, will get there depends on when Kayvon Thibodeaux may get back, which could limit his playing time. I feel very good about two getting there.
Dan Salomone: Fact – It has happened seven times in franchise history since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.
1985: Leonard Marshall (15.5), Lawrence Taylor (13), George Martin (10)
1986: Lawrence Taylor (20.5), Leonard Marshall (12)
1997: Michael Strahan (14), Robert Harris (10)
1998: Michael Strahan (15), Chad Bratzke (11)
2005: Osi Umenyiora (14.5), Michael Strahan (11.5)
2007: Osi Umenyiora (13), Justin Tuck (10)
2010: Justin Tuck (11.5), Osi Umenyiora (11.5)
…
2024 (through 10 games): Dexter Lawrence (9.0), Brian Burns (6.0), Azeez Ojulari (6.0)
Matt Citak: Fact – Dexter Lawrence needs just one sack to reach double digits for the first time in his career, which seems likely to happen over the final seven weeks of the season. As for the second player to hit 10 sacks, it will probably come down to Brian Burns and Azeez Ojulari. Kayvon Thibodeaux is nearing a return, which means Ojulari's playing time is going to take a hit. That leaves Burns, who picked up his sixth sack of the year against the Panthers but could have had an even bigger day. Burns tied a career-high with seven pressures on Sunday, including four pressures under 2.5 seconds, according to Next Gen Stats. Four sacks in the final seven games is within reach if the talented edge rusher can stay healthy.
Rookie RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. will finish the season as the team leader in yards from scrimmage.
John Schmeelk: Fact – The Giants have run the ball fairly consistently over the past few weeks and Tyrone Tracy Jr. has been a big part of that. He is rattling off chunk plays on a consistent basis and has become the bell cow for the Giants. He will learn from the two mistakes last week that led to an interception and fumble and continue to be a focal point of the offense. After a fast start, Nabers has slowed a bit. While his volume of catches and targets is still high, we are seeing fewer explosive plays for now. Tracy just beats him out.
Dan Salomone: Fact – Tracy has four games of 100+ scrimmage yards in his six games as the primary back. Not bad for a converted wide receiver taken in the fifth round.
Matt Citak: Fact – Despite being used sparingly throughout the first four weeks of the season, Tracy currently has 57 more yards from scrimmage than anyone else on the team heading into the bye. Even when the offense has struggled at times this year, the run game has continued to perform well.
Rookie WR Malik Nabers will have the third 100-catch season in Giants history.
John Schmeelk: Fact – Nabers needs to average just six receptions per game the rest of the way to get to 100. In his eight games this season, he is averaging over 7.5 catches. Since returning from injury, he is averaging 6.5 catches per game, so I think he will get there. As a bonus, I also think Nabers will get to 1,000 receiving yards. Malik Nabers is averaging just about 75 receiving yards per games in his eight appearances this year. He has 607 receiving yards, which means he needs to net out 393 in his final seven games to reach 1,000. It means he only needs to average 56 yards receiving per game the rest of the way.
Dan Salomone: Fact – It's pretty incredible to think it has happened only twice in the previous 99 seasons. Steve Smith has the franchise record of 107 receptions in 2009, and Odell Beckham Jr. is second with 101 in 2016. Nabers joins the club in the franchise's 100th campaign.
Matt Citak: Fact – With seven games remaining, Nabers needs 39 more receptions to reach the 100-catch mark. This comes out to just over 5.5 receptions per game. The Buccaneers, Saints, Ravens, Falcons, and Colts, five of the Giants' six remaining matchups, all find themselves in the top 10 for most passing yards allowed per game this season. It could be a big end to the season for the No. 6 overall pick.
View photos of the Giants' 2024 rookie class in their first NFL season.
WR Malik Nabers (1)
New York Giants safety Tyler Nubin (31)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
New York Giants linebacker Darius Muasau (53)
New York Giants defensive tackle Elijah Chatman (94)
New York Giants place kicker Jude McAtamney (99)
New York Giants guard Jake Kubas (63)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
WR Malik Nabers (1), RB Tyrone Tracy (29)
DT Elijah Chatman (94)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
DT Elijah Chatman (94)
RB Tyrone Tracy (29)
RB Tyrone Tracy (29)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
RB Tyrone Tracy (29)
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
K Jude McAtamney (99)
RB Tyrone Tracy (29)
OLB Brian Burns (0), DT Elijah Chatman (94)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
RB Tyrone Tracy (29)
RB Tyrone Tracy (29)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
RB Tyrone Tracy (29)
RB Dante Miller (25)
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
DT Elijah Chatman (94)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
RB Tyrone Tracy (29)
DT Elijah Chatman (94)
DT Elijah Chatman (94), DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
DT Elijah Chatman (94)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
RB Dante Miller (25)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
RB Dante Miller (25)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
K Jude McAtamney (99)
DT Elijah Chatman (94)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
RB Tyrone Tracy (29)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
K Jude McAtamney (99)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
G Jake Kubas (63)
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
CB Dru Phillips (22), S Tyler Nubin (31)
New York Giants guard Jake Kubas (63)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
New York Giants safety Tyler Nubin (31)
New York Giants running back Dante Miller (25)
New York Giants guard Jake Kubas (63)
New York Giants place kicker Jude McAtamney (99)
New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)
New York Giants guard Jake Kubas (63)
New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)
New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84)
New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)
New York Giants place kicker Jude McAtamney (99)
New York Giants running back Dante Miller (25)
New York Giants running back Dante Miller (25)
New York Giants running back Dante Miller (25)
New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)
New York Giants linebacker Darius Muasau (53)
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84)
New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)
New York Giants safety Tyler Nubin (31)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)
New York Giants safety Tyler Nubin (31)
RB Tyrone Tracy (29)
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84)
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84)
New York Giants safety Jason Pinnock (27),New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)
![New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)]](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album_2x/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/svlxsa7cidc7hxhwdm8v.jpg)
New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)]
New York Giants defensive tackle Elijah Chatman (94)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84)
New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)
New York Giants safety Tyler Nubin (31)
New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
New York Giants safety Tyler Nubin (31)
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84)
New York Giants defensive tackle Elijah Chatman (94)
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84), touchdown
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84), touchdown
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84), touchdown
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)
New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84)
New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
New York Giants linebacker Darius Muasau (53)
New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)
New York Giants safety Tyler Nubin (31)
New York Giants safety Tyler Nubin (31)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84)
New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)
K Jude McAtamney (99)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)
New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
RB Tyrone Tracy (29)
New York Giants defensive tackle Elijah Chatman (94)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
K Jude McAtamney (99)
New York Giants linebacker Darius Muasau (53)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
RB Darius Muasau (53)
New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)
New York Giants safety Tyler Nubin (31)
DT Elijah Chatman (94)
New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)
New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22)
RB Tyrone Tracy (29)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5), DT Elijah Chatman (94)
RB Tyrone Tracy (29)
New York Giants defensive tackle Elijah Chatman (94),New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5), New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)
New York Giants defensive tackle Elijah Chatman (94)
New York Giants defensive tackle Elijah Chatman (94),New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5), New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)
New York Giants defensive tackle Elijah Chatman (94)
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson
WR Malik Nabers (1), RB Tyrone Tracy (29)
LB Darius Muasau (53)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)
New York Giants linebacker Darius Muasau (53)
New York Giants linebacker Darius Muasau (53)
New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
New York Giants safety Tyler Nubin (31)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
CB Dru Phillips (22), S Tyler Nubin (31)
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (84)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58), CB Dru Phillips (22), CB Adoree' Jackson (21)
New York Giants linebacker Darius Muasau (53)
Giants 100th season book on sale now
"New York Football Giants: The People, The Moments, The Traditions" is available now exclusively at the Giants online shop. The book explores the team's greatest players, unforgettable games and stories that have defined the franchise for the last century.
