3 Things the Giants Can Do to Secure a Playoff Spot

1.Run the ball

Head Coach Joe Judge has made it very clear he wants to run the ball. With arguably the best running back in the league, it would be foolish of the Giants not to utilize Saquon Barkley to the best of their ability. After an injury shortened his sophomore season, Barkely is ready to bounce back and dominate just like he did his rookie year. The Giants also drafted offensive linemen Andrew Thomas (Round 1, Pick 4), Matt Peart (Round 3, Pick 99), and Shane Lemieux (Round 5, Pick 150). These strong additions to a previously weak offensive line show promise and would be crucial in helping Saquon dominate in his third NFL season, propelling the Giants to a spot in the playoffs. 

2.Minimize Turnovers

Last year, in his rookie season, Daniel Jones fumbled twelve times in eight games. That number is way too high. Daniel Jones as well as the Giants organization, have acknowledged that that problem needs fixing. Granted, it’s not all Jones’ is fault. He was the one fumbling, but the offensive line also proved to be weak and ineffective as Jones was sacked 38 times last season. Along with his twelve fumbles, Jones also threw six interceptions, and while that number is relatively low, there definitely is still room for improvement. It should also be noted that Jones fumbled the ball DOUBLE the amount of times he threw an interception. Jones needs to work on his ball control for the team to have a shot at making the playoffs.

3.Utilize Young Talent

While Saquon Barkley is the best offensive player on the team, it’s important to remember that the Giants have a lot of young talent on both sides of the ball. Last year’s breakout wide receiver Darius Slayton is carrying momentum from his strong end to 2019 into the start of the 2020 season. In addition to that, Sterling Shepard can pose a real threat to opposing corners if he stays healthy. Not to mention Sophomore quarterback Daniel Jones will have more of an opportunity to shine on the field and step up in the locker room now that Eli Manning is out of the picture. It’s hard to remember that safety Jabrill Peppers is only 24 years old, and with rookie safety Xavier McKinney coming into the mix, it seems like it will be very hard for opposing offenses to pick up big gains.

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