LAS VEGAS — When it is stickiest for opposing offenses, the Giants defense greases the skids for its own demise.
Third-and-long is supposed to be a big advantage for a defense but the Giants are usually at their worst when the situation is supposed to be to their liking.
They were dismal in last week’s 16-13 loss to the Vikings and they carry an abominable track record, as far as making a stop when a stop is needed, into Sunday’s game against the equally dismal Raiders.
The Vikings in the first quarter converted first downs on third-and-11 and third-and-12, both on J.J. McCarthy passes to Justin Jefferson.
In the second quarter, a McCarthy pass to Jefferson gained 14 yards on third-and-15, setting up a successful fourth-down conversion.
In the fourth quarter, backup quarterback Max Brosmer hit Jefferson for 21 yards on third-and-17.
Having Jefferson as a target is a great resource— something the Giants have lacked ever since Malik Nabers went down in Week 4 to a torn ACL — but this failing on defense is a season-long trend.
The Giants are 21st in the league on third down, allowing conversions 41 percent of the time and far too many of those conversions are of the third-and-long variety. On fourth down, it is even worse.
The Giants allow fourth-down conversions 73.3 percent of the time, tied with the Jets for 30th in the league.
“Yeah, I think third and long, that’s definitely a time where you want to get off the field, and we felt like we were in good calls and in a good position,’’ cornerback Paulson Adebo said of last week’s difficulties. “It just comes down to executing a couple kinds of plays that we just have to make on the back end, whether it’s tackling or just executing, to stop those long, third down conversions.’’
The Raiders went against conventional thinking as to the value of running backs when they selected Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 pick in the 2025 draft.
Jeanty is closing out his rookie year with 828 yards, averaging only 3.7 yards per attempt.
He is the third rookie in NFL history with at least 50 receptions, five rushing touchdowns and five receiving touchdowns.
The other two to achieve this are Alvin Kamara and Hall of Famer Charley Taylor.
“He’s incredibly tough to tackle,’’ interim defensive coordinator Charlie Bullen said of Jeanty. “He’s ridiculous, and we’ve made a point of emphasis of that this week, just how it’s going to take all 11 to the ball the entire game. Just him breaking tackles and how difficult it is to tackle him is what stands out on the tape for sure.’’
This is unprecedented!
This game will be the first time in NFL history two teams will meet with matching nine-game losing streaks, all from the same season, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
