Giants Defensive Grades: Linebackers Dominate in Win Over Eagles

Arvell Reese may have been one of the biggest stories of the New York Giants’ 19-11 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, but he wasn’t the only Giants defender to carry Big Blue to its first win at Lincoln Financial Field since 2013.

The Giants held quarterback Joe Milton and the banged-up Eagles offense to just 220 total yards Sunday. Here are the Giants defensive game grades from their second straight win.

Giants Defensive Game Grades

Defensive line: B+

In their final game before the trade deadline, the Giants D-line was dominant. D.J. Reader had a sack and had two tackles for loss, and much-maligned defensive end Darius Alexander logged a game-sealing sack on the final play of the game.

Former Giants running back Saquon Barkley, who set the tone with a 65-yard touchdown run on the first play of the Giants’ 38-20 loss at the Linc last year, had just 22 rushing yards on 13 carries.

The Eagles offensive line has struggled since they traded center Cam Jurgens and right tackle Lane Johnson retired, but the Giants’ defensive line was excellent Sunday.

Outside linebackers: B-

Kayvon Thibodeaux set the edge and harassed Milton throughout the game. Abdul Carter, once again, had a quiet afternoon, posting just one tackle, but Dawaune Smoot had a sack on the Eagles’ final drive that cost them both one yard and about 20 seconds on the clock.

Inside linebackers: A+

The inside linebackers were a a huge reason why the Giants won. Reese had the game of his life, posting 12 tackles (10 solo) and three sacks while also forcing a fumble. He became the first rookie in at least 27 years to produce that stat line.

But Micah McFadden was nearly as dominant. He recovered the fumble that Reese forced and finished with nine tackles (five solo) and a sack of his own.

Reese continued his march toward NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, and McFadden continued to prove he is a starter in Tremaine Edmunds’ absence.

Cornerbacks: B-

A 30-yard pass interference penalty on Deonte Banks was the Eagles’ biggest play of the game and helped set up Barkley’s 3-yard touchdown run that put the Eagles ahead 8-6.

But Banks and Greg Newsome II were otherwise solid, since Milton completed only one pass of 20 or more yards. Newsome had six tackles and one pass defended, and nickelback Dru Phillips had four tackles.

Safeties: A-

Dallas Goedert has been a Giants killer throughout his career but was held to five catches for 50 yards, thanks to the team effort of the Giants’ safeties.

Ar’Darius Washington had two of the Giants’ four passes defended. Jevon Holland had four tackles, two for loss.

Their effort may not seem like much, but Milton has a cannon for an arm and surely was looking for Goedert on deep crosses and Hollywood Brown on home-run shots. The Giants safeties did their job.