Fact or Fiction: Historic sack numbers; Malik Nabers’ impact

The Giants will have at least four sacks for the fifth consecutive game.

John Schmeelk: Fiction – As the Giants keep compiling more sacks, their pressure rate each week is actually going up, showing there is a better chance that their sack rate continues along its league-leading pace. The Commanders have allowed 18 sacks, which is tied for 12th fewest. Five of those 18, however, came against the Giants in Week 2. The Commanders haven’t allowed more than three sacks in any other game this year. Jayden Daniels has more answers in the offense than he did in Week 2. Combine the advancement in what Kliff Kingsbury is calling with Daniels’ mobility and I don’t think the Giants get him down in the backfield more than three times.

Dan Salomone: Fact – They have done so in six of their eight games so far. Logic would say they might slow down at some point, but they keep answering the bell. The Giants got to Jayden Daniels five times in the rookie’s second career start. If the Giants can do this, they would become the fifth team in the past 20 seasons with at least four sacks in five consecutive games, joining the 2022 Philadelphia Eagles, 2015 Denver Broncos, 2014 Buffalo Bills, and 2008 Dallas Cowboys.

Matt Citak: Fiction – The Giants’ pass rush has been on fire this season with a league-leading 35 sacks. While I expect them to apply plenty of pressure on Jayden Daniels, I’m not sure they’ll reach four sacks. The Giants got to Daniels for five sacks in Week 2, but the rookie quarterback has not been sacked more than three times in any other game this season. Daniels has also scrambled a league-high 14 times when blitzed this season, which shows the rookie quarterback won’t hesitate to tuck the ball and run if he starts to feel pressure, which likely will hurt the Giants’ chances of reaching four sacks.

Containing Jayden Daniels on the ground is the top priority for the Giants’ defense.

John Schmeelk: Fiction – I’m not sure Daniels is going to be limited in his desire to run with his rib injury, but even if he slides more often than not, he can still beat teams on the ground. Given the issues the Giants had in containing the quarterback run game against Seattle and Cincinnati, it will be a priority but not the top one. The Giants have not been able to contain the traditional run game the last two weeks, and Brian Robinson is a similar back to Najee Harris last week. The Commanders want to run the ball first and foremost, so slowing down Robinson on early downs will be their top priority.

Dan Salomone: Fact – Nothing is more disheartening to a defense – or a pass rush in particular – than getting pressure on a quarterback only to have him escape and make a big play. And for special ones like Daniels, that big play can be a run or pass after extending the down.

Matt Citak: Fact – Just look at the last stat I included in the previous prompt. Once he begins to feel pressure, Daniels will take off as a runner, something he has had plenty of success doing so far this season. The rookie quarterback is averaging a whopping 53.0 rushing yards per game, 5.7 yards per rush attempt, and has four touchdowns on the ground alone. Daniels leads the Commanders with 13 rushes of 10 or more yards on just 74 total attempts, meaning he gains 10+ yards on the ground on 17.6 percent of his runs. Slowing down the No. 2 overall pick on the ground has to be the top priority for Shane Bowen’s defense.