The New York Giants came out victorious in a thrilling Week 17 matchup with the Dallas Cowboys. Both teams were fighting for a spot in the playoffs, however, neither one was able to accomplish that goal. The two teams still fought hard until the end, knowing that their playoff hopes were on the line.
In the end, the Giants’ defense prevailed and helped secure the win for the Giants. There were excellent performances across the board on New York’s defensive unit, but none greater than that of defensive lineman Leonard Williams.
Leonard Williams stats and highlights
New York Giants defensive lineman Leonard Williams had a phenomenal performance to end the 2020 NFL regular season. This was a career-year for Leo, but his Week 17 performance was the icing on the cake. The Dallas Cowboys struggled to contain Williams all game as he went on to play one of the best games of his career.
In Week 17, Leonard Williams went off for a three-sack performance. He totaled a season-high seven combined tackles to go along with his career-single-game-high three sacks, five quarterback hits, and six pressures. This was Leonard’s second multi-sack performance of the season, his first being the team’s clutch win over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 13. Leonard Williams won NFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 13, and now, he has done it again.
Leonard Williams was named the NFC’s Week 17 Defensive Player of the Week for his incredible performance against the Cowboys. This was his second time winning the award this season. Williams came up big down the stretch for the Giants, even pressuring Dallas quarterback Andy Dalton on the Cowboys’ final offensive play, leading to a game-sealing interception.
Leonard Williams was elite this season. He posted a career-high 11.5 sacks, his first time ever cracking double-digits. The Giants went into the 2020 offseason in need of a premier pass-rusher. It seems as though they already had one on their roster, they just needed to pair him with Patrick Graham and let him break out. Now, a free agent once again, Leonard Williams is in line for a huge payday as the centerpiece of the New York Giants’ defense.