Inside the Giants' impressive turnover streak
The Giants defense forced four turnovers in Sunday's win over the Eagles, bringing their total on the season to 19. This ties them with the Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins for the sixth-most in the NFL.
One thing the Giants can say that none of the other four teams mentioned above can is that the defense has forced a turnover in every single game this season. In fact, Big Blue has at least one takeaway in 13 consecutive games dating back to last season, tying them with the Indianapolis Colts for the NFL's longest active streak. They are the only teams with a takeaway in every game this season.
The Giants have intercepted a pass in eight consecutive games, which is also the league's longest active streak. New England is second with picks in seven straight games. If the Giants get an interception Sunday in Miami, they will have their first nine-game streak since 2000.
Two players account for over half of the team's 19 turnovers. Second-year safety Xavier McKinney has a team-leading five interceptions on the season. This has him tied with Tennessee's Kevin Byard, Detroit's Amani Oruwariye, and Buffalo's Jordann Boyer for the third-most in the league. Not far behind is Pro Bowl cornerback James Bradberry, who has registered three interceptions this year, tied for the 10th-most in the NFL, to go with two fumble recoveries.
Safety Julian Love and linebacker Lorenzo Carter are the other two players to register multiple takeaways, with each player accounting for an interception and a fumble recovery.
Watch the videos below for a look at every single one of the Giants' 19 turnovers this season.
Giants not ruling anything out with Daniel Jones (neck)
Before the first of the Giants’ two walk-throughs yesterday, Joe Judge said Daniel Jones would have "really a normal Wednesday for him."
It wasn't completely customary because after injuring his neck in the victory against Philadelphia three days earlier, Jones was limited when he is usually a full participant.
But the big picture question is: will the Giants' quarterback have a normal Sunday when they face the Miami Dolphins in Hard Rock Stadium?
"We're not going to rule anything out right now," Judge said. "Daniel's going to be out here practicing with us today. We expect him to practice tomorrow and Friday, as well. We'll see what he can do. It's like any kind of injury coming out of the game, we'll just see how he does."
Jones, who confirmed the injury is a strained neck, was asked if there is "a chance" he will face the Dolphins.
"I think I'm going through the week preparing to play and getting myself ready to play, listening to the trainers and doctors," he said. "My job is to be ready to play, so I'll go through the week like I always do.
"There are a number of things the trainers and doctors want to see, but that's not really – my focus is to continue to improve and get better, and then put that in their hands come this weekend."
Jones said the injury is not limiting him physically on the field.
Several media reports said Jones was injured on the second play of the 13-7 victory against Philadelphia when he gained five yards on a run to the left side and was hit by safety Rodney McLeod. But Jones neither confirmed nor denied the timing.
"Which exact play or when it happened, I'm not sure," he said. "I woke up and it was sore. … I'm feeling much better today and expect I'll continue to feel better and better every day."
Logan Ryan ready to assume key role on defense
Logan Ryan’s COVID-provoked absence confirmed something about which he was already certain.
"Taking my 10 days off, it showed me how much I love football, how much I really missed it and really still want to be here for my teammates and still do it for years to come," Ryan said. "I was excited and encouraged and energized, obviously, sitting here doing a 15-minute press conference, 40 minutes after practice. I obviously really missed this and my role on this team."
Ryan returned to the practice field and will be in the lineup Sunday when the Giants face the Miami Dolphins in Hard Rock Stadium. He was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Nov. 19 after testing positive that week. At the time, the standout safety and team captain had started a team-long 24 consecutive games and led the Giants with 72 tackles (47 solo). Ryan regrets missing games against Tampa Bay and his friend and former teammate Tom Brady and last Sunday's 13-7 victory vs. against Philadelphia.
"I had them marked off," he said. "But when you play as long as I have (nine seasons), I have connections with every team."
"Mentally, it was the toughest part just not being there. I had hopes and thoughts and prayers that I could make it to both games. I thought it was a possibility and I packed my equipment for both. I did everything I could to try to get a negative test and I actually did, but it was just too close to game time. Trust me, I wanted to pull up in the parking lot with my uniform on and run in, right before kickoff, but the NFL doesn't allow it based on protocols and stuff like that. Very fortunate for me and my family that it wasn't too bad. But it is going around, I encourage people to treat it seriously and encourage people vaccinated or not, stay masked up and keep doing everything we can because it's still going around. Very fortunate though."
