Fact or Fiction: Tyrone Tracy’s role; pace of pass rush

Dexter Lawrence is having the Giants’ best defensive season since Jason Pierre-Paul in 2011.

John Schmeelk: Fact – From an overall play perspective, I think Lawrence’s season is very similar to what he put on tape in 2022 and pre-hamstring injury in 2023. He is impossible to block solo and is one of the most unique weapons in the NFL. Since his sack numbers are more reflective of that dominance, I will cede this has been his best individual season. I don’t think any other player can boast a higher level of play since Jason Pierre Paul in 2011.

Dan Salomone: Fact – After taking a few seasons to get his footing in the NFL, it has been fun to watch his career explode before our eyes these past three seasons. He’s a fun-loving guy in one sense, but we’ve seen his killer instinct come out, especially this season. And you can see the effect he has on the entire defense.

Matt Citak: Fact – Dexter Lawrence is in his sixth NFL season, and yet he is somehow still getting better every time he steps onto the field. His seven sacks through six games are just a half-sack shy of the league-lead, an impressive feat for an interior defensive lineman given the fact that everyone else near the top of the leaderboard plays on the edge, while his 11 quarterback hits are tied for the third-most. The 26-year-old is firmly in the Defensive Player of the Year discussion, and rightfully so. While JPP’s 16.5 might be difficult to match, Lawrence is well on his way to double-digit sacks.

The 2024 Giants will break the franchise single-season sacks record of 68, set in 1985.

John Schmeelk: Fiction – The Giants are currently on pace for about 73 sacks, which gives them a chance to match their previous sack record, but I’m not sure they will get there. The Giants are now second in the league in sacks with 26 after the Broncos had six sacks against the Saints last night, giving them 28 on the season. But they only sit at ninth in pressure rate, according to Pro Football Focus, which is a more predictive stat of what’s to come. They are only four percent away from Seattle, which leads the league (and two percent short of Denver), so those numbers might change but right now I find it unlikely. The other side of the coin is that the Giants do lead the league in sacks per pass attempt, so their sack rate is nearly two percent higher than any other team in football. I think they’ll finish in the high 50s or low 60s, which should put them in the top 5 in the NFL.

Dan Salomone: Fact – With one more game on the schedule than the 1985 Giants, it is definitely in play. Keep in mind the NFL single-season record is 72, set by the 1984 Chicago Bears. The Giants are on pace for 73.

Matt Citak: Fact – Of course, the Giants’ 26 sacks are the most in the NFL and four more than any other team. It’s also their highest sack total through six games since 1985. But their success while rushing the passer goes beyond just their sack totals. According to EPSN analytics, the Giants also have a 48 percent pass rush win rate, the fifth-highest mark in the league. Even with Kayvon Thibodeaux sidelined last week, the Giants still got to Joe Burrow four times, with Azeez Ojulari leading the way with two sacks. The Giants’ defense, and more specifically the pass rush, was supposed to be the strength of the team heading into the season, and so far, they have lived up to the billing.