Grading the Giants’ win over the Commanders on Sunday:
Offense
If you saw this coming, raise your hand.
What a wild ride for Tommy DeVito, who earned his first NFL win in his second start, completing 18 of 26 passes for 246 yards and three touchdowns.
That is a passer rating of 137.7.
That is nuts. Sure, he ran his way into a bunch of the incredible nine sacks allowed but he held onto the ball.
DeVito’s toss to Saquon Barkley for a 24-yard TD was placed perfectly.
Barkley made a nice leaping catch on the sideline for a 21-yard gain on the first series.
He had minus-2 rushing yards until a 36-yard gain on the final play of the third quarter.
Barkley (14-83 rushing, 4-57 receiving, two TDs) played with great heart.
Darius Slayton had a 40-yard TD before exiting with an arm injury.
TE Daniel Bellinger (3-38) got involved. Going 5-for-14 on third downs was not great, but it was tolerable.
Grade: B
Defense
You force five turnovers, you get a gold star.
There were interceptions from Darnay Holmes and Nick McCloud and a game-sealing pick-six by Isaiah Simmons.
Dexter Lawrence, on one series in the second quarter, dropped Brian Robinson for a 2-yard gain and sacked Howell for an 8-yard loss.
On another series in the fourth quarter, he deflected a pass at the line and then hit Sam Howell’s arm on an interception.
Kayvon Thibodeaux had a run stop for a 1-yard loss on Brian Robinson and two of the team’s four sacks — plus a late penalty that nearly was costly.
Bobby Okereke (14 tackles) forced a fumble in the third quarter that was recovered by Micah McFadden. Xavier McKinney recovered a fumble.
Jason Pinnock dropped an interception in the second quarter.
Howell (31 of 45, 255 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs) was a mess.
WR Terry McLaurin (5-43) was held in check.
Grade: A
Special teams
Jamie Gillan did not do his job on his first punt, sending it into the end zone for a touchback.
Near the end of the first half, Gillan’s 36-yard punt handed the Commanders good field position.
Gillan did force a fair catch on the 8-yard line in the third quarter.
His final punt came at a critical time and went for 48 yards, with no return.
Holmes made a nice tackle on Jamison Crowder’s punt return of minus-3 yards.
Dane Belton forced a fumble on a kickoff return that was recovered by Gevarrius Owens to start the second half.
Randy Bullock hit a 36-yard field goal and had four touchbacks on kickoffs.
Grade: A
Coaching
The Giants came out throwing with DeVito — give credit to Brian Daboll for not being afraid to let the rookie air it out a bit.
Also give credit to offensive coordinator Mike Kafka for designing plays that freed up receivers for big plays down the field.
Wink Martindale had the Commanders’ number in the two-game season sweep.
The Giants had nine players on the field on a Washington field goal in the third quarter.
There are supposed to be nine, right?
Grade: B+
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