SUNDAY
Raiders 16
GIANTS 23
FINAL
Is Jason Garrett Shedding the Sunglasses?
Better late than never, but Jason Garrett seems to finally have figured out that running to daylight is still a worthwhile endeavor.
Against Kansas City, Devontae Booker rushed 16 times and averaged 4.0 yards per attempt for 60 yards. But the rushing game versus the Chiefs started and ended there. Daniel Jones accounted for the only other five scrambles, and not so much as a single touch for Elijhaa Penny. Instead, the plan was for Jones to attempt 32 passes.
Let's be clear: the Raiders suck against the run. Las Vegas allowed the eighth-most ground yardage to date. But let us not forget the compromised state of the Giant offensive line. That being said, in the absence of Saquon Barkley, Devontae Booker set season-highs with 21 rushes for 99 yards and 4.7 yards per average. Elijhaa Penny rushed another five times for 35 yards and an average of 7.0 per attempt. Together, Booker and Penny rushed 26 times for 134 yards. It marks the most times this season Jason Garrett has called upon the backfield on non-receiving plays. Even if you subtract Booker's and Penny's respective long gains, they still joined in mustering 102 yards on 24 attempts for an average of 4.25 yards per attempt.
As such, the Giants were able to possess the ball for 30:11, which matters extraordinarily when you consider the Raiders mounted over 400 yards of offense. Las Vegas had 13 more plays from scrimmage than the Giants but could not survive three turnovers. Thus, the Raiders' opportunities were likewise limited by a lack of time. In the meantime, Daniel Jones managed a somewhat more conservative yet effective performance, connecting on 15 of just 20 attempts and one for a touchdown to Evan Engram.
Did the defense save the Giants' Big Blue posterior? You bet they did.
But if Jason Garrett tosses away the sunglasses and continues this new pursuit rushing the ball, the Giants will no doubt benefit.
One has to stick with it from the first through fourth quarter; rushing is a cumulative effect.
With discipline come results.
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