Keys to Victory: Giants look to pick up win in Cleveland

The New York Giants (0-2) take on the Cleveland Browns (1-1) in their first inter-conference matchup of the season. The two teams have split their last two meetings, with the visitors winning each time. This week, the Giants will look to extend that pattern in their first regular-season game in Cleveland since 2016.

Here are three ways they can do that:

Tackle & get off the field

Week 2 was full of statistical abnormalities. The Giants became the first team in NFL history to lose a regulation game despite scoring three touchdowns and allowing none. The only other game that met those thresholds was played on Nov. 5, 1989, when the Vikings defeated the Rams, 23-21, in overtime. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, teams that score at least three touchdowns and allow none are now 1,295-2.

The Commanders made six trips inside the Giants’ 20-yard line but scored only seven field goals by Austin Seibert, including the game-winner as time expired. Washington dominated the time of possession, 37:32 to 22:28, as the team ran for 215 yards on 35 carries and converted seven of 14 third downs.

From players to coaches, the Giants were candid about their point of emphasis this week.

“Bad tackling and penalties,” defensive co-captain Dexter Lawrence said.

“Defensively we’ve got to do a better job tackling,” said Bobby Okereke, another captain. “We need to shore up our run fits. And just have more discipline doing our job. Talking about me specifically, kind of three quarters doing your job, a quarter trying to do someone else’s job, trying to make a play and that trickles down. I think everybody just needs to focus on doing their job.”

“Tackling showed up,” defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said. “Missed some tackles, even on the scramble plays. We had guys in opportunities to make plays on those to get off the field on third down. And tackling showed up. … We’ve got to reduce (missed tackles). They’re going to happen from time to time. But making sure those missed tackles end up being two to five additional yards instead of 10-plus. Just continue to work. There’s good in there. They ran the ball 35 times. So, there’s some good snaps in there. We’ve got to eliminate the explosive runs.”

O-line takes another step forward

The lineup of Andrew Thomas, Jon Runyan, John Michael Schmitz, Greg Van Roten, and Jermaine Eluemunor has remained the same for every offensive snap through two weeks. The cohesion showed itself in Week 2 when the Giants ran for 5.9 yards per carry and scored three total touchdowns. But Cleveland will be a big test.

Led by 2023 NFL Assistant Coach of the Year Jim Schwartz, the Browns led the league last season in total defense, passing defense, third down percentage, and first downs allowed. The team’s 270.2 net yards allowed per game were the fewest in the NFL since the 2014 Seahawks (267.1) and the fewest by a Browns team since 1957. The Browns set a franchise record for sacks in a season with 48. Cleveland also led the league by forcing 112 punts, the third-most forced by an NFL team since 1970.

Of course, defensive end Myles Garrett, cornerback Denzel Ward, and linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah were a big part of that. While all three appear on this week’s injury report, the Giants’ offensive line will look to take the next step in their development against an elite defense.

“I feel good about the progress that we’ve made over the first two games,” Thomas said. “But to be named a great offensive line or a good offensive line, you have to do it consistently. We’re just approaching this week as another opportunity to get better, protect (quarterback) DJ (Daniel Jones), and open up run lanes.”

Play complementary football

Kicker Graham Gano, who entered last Sunday with a groin issue, injured his hamstring on the opening kickoff and did not return. The Giants went on to miss an extra point and were unsuccessful on both of their two-point conversion attempts.

The Giants subsequently placed Gano on injured reserve and signed veteran Greg Joseph, whom fans know well. Joseph spent three seasons with Minnesota and set the franchise record with a 61-yard field goal as time expired in a 27-24 victory over the Giants on Dec. 24, 2022.

Joseph, who made his NFL debut with the Browns in 2018, is 11 of 12 on field goal attempts at Cleveland’s Huntington Bank Field and 9 of 12 on extra points. The Giants also have rookie Jude McAtamney on their practice squad, and special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial said they are competing for the job on Sunday.

“It’s going be good competition,” Ghobrial said. “Obviously, what Greg brings to the table is a veteran guy that’s kicked in multiple stadiums and that has had a good percentage throughout his career. And Jude has shown a very promising preseason and has obviously done a good job in the offseason and training camp and all his opportunities in practice. So, we’ll have a better idea of who becomes our kicker on Sunday as we get closer to that day.”

Stats to impress your fellow football fans

The Browns have allowed 220.8 total yards per game at home since 2023, the fewest in the NFL.

Browns defense since 2023 home vs. road:

• PPG Allowed – 15.8 home, 27.8 road
• Total YPG Allowed – 220.8 home, 330.3 road
• Pass YPG Allowed – 130.0 home, 206.6 road
• Rush YPG Allowed – 90.8 home, 123.8 road

Malik Nabers’ 193 receiving yds are the most by a top 10 pick through his first two career games in the common draft era (since 1967).

On third down, Nabers has been targeted six times, resulting in six catches for 115 yards (19.2-yard average), five first downs, four plays of 25 yards or more, and his first NFL score.

At 21 years and 49 days old, Nabers became the youngest player in NFL history with at least 10 receptions, 100 receiving yards, and a touchdown catch in a game.

Giants safety Tyler Nubin and cornerback Dru Phillips are the only pair of rookie teammates each with at least 10 tackles this season.