What we learned from Giants’ 23-16 victory over Raiders
The New York Giants defeated the Las Vegas Raiders, 23-16, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Sunday.
Here is what we learned in Week 9.
Any given Sunday
Dustin Satloff/Getty Images
The old adage of “any given Sunday” was in full force this week as underdogs jumped up and bit some heavy favorites.
The Giants were one of four teams, along with Denver, Jacksonville and Kansas City, that entered Week 9 with a .500-or-below winning percentage and defeated a team that began the day in first place in their division.
It was the first time since December 18, 2011 that four teams with a .500-or-below record entering Week 9 or later defeated a division leader on the same day.
Finding a way to win
Sarah Stier/Getty Images
The Giants played solid situational football. They were out-gained, 403-235, and out-passed, 286-96. They also had eight fewer first downs (24-16) than the Raiders on Sunday but found a way to win.
On offense they converted six of 12 third-down attempts and on defense, kept the Raiders out of the end zone on five of six red zone trips.
The defense is stepping up
AP Photo/John Munson
Big Blue did not allow a second-half touchdown for the third consecutive game and is allowing opponents an average of 13 points per game over that span.
That is the best in the NFL over the last there games.
No Saquon, no problem
AP Photo/John Munson
Devontae Booker filled in for Saquon Barkley again on Sunday and led the Giants’ run-center offense with 21 carries for a career-high 99 yards. He also added 23 yards on three receptions.
When Booker was forced from the game in the fourth quarter to be checked for a concussion, fullback Eli Penny spelled him with an effective five-carry, 36-yard performance.
1
1
