Giants report card: Pat Shurmur finally delivers

Grading the Giants after their 32-31 win Sunday over the Buccaneers in Week 3.

Offense

What can you say about Daniel Jones? The kid took a licking and kept on ticking. Lost two fumbles and at times held the ball too long in the pocket. Other than that, whoa. He completed 23 of 36 passes for 336 yards and two TDs. No interceptions. He led his team in rushing (4-28) and ran for two TDs, including the winner. TE Evan Engram (6-113) played as if he was shot out of a cannon and his 75-yard catch-and-run got things rolling in the second half. Line play was on and off. Jones was sacked five times and there was nowhere for Saquon Barkley (8-10) to run before he got hurt. Return of Sterling Shepard (7-100, 1 TD) was big.

Grade: B-plus.

Defense

CB Janoris Jenkins correctly pointed out last week it is impossible to cover a receiver for 8 to 10 seconds. Jackrabbit barely covered the Bucs’ top target, Mike Evans (8-190 3 TDs), who thoroughly abused Jenkins. The 44-yarder in the waning seconds should have led to the winning field goal for the Bucs. What a beating Jenkins took. After a dismal 28-point first half, only three points allowed in the second half. Two sacks for Markus Golden and one apiece for rookies Dexter Lawrence and Oshane Ximines. Even rookie CB DeAndre Baker was improved. Another rookie, LB Ryan Connelly, got his first career interception. Maybe something to build on.

Grade: C.

Special Teams

Dexter Lawrence got his hands up to block an extra point in the first quarter. Great coverage by Antonio Hamilton — we’ve heard this before — on a 50-yard punt by Riley Dixon for a return of minus-2 yards. Aldrick Rosas kicked a 36-yard field goal. Maybe this group cast a spell on the Bucs’ Matt Gay on his 34-yard field goal to win it that sailed wide right.

Grade: A.

Coaching

Pat Shurmur has made a living working with young quarterbacks and boy, oh boy, was Daniel Jones ever ready for this. Shurmur gave Jones an aggressive game plan, didn’t he? Did not like Shurmur’s challenge that cost his team a time out in the second half. Whatever defensive coordinator James Bettcher said to his player at halftime worked, because it was like night and day, from terrible to terrific.

Grade: B-minus.

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