The New York Giants have a massive problem on their offensive line. Currently, the Giants’ offensive line looks like a sandwich composed of two beautiful King’s Hawaiin buns holding together three layers of rotten meats and cheeses. The buns are Big Blue’s young, talented offensive tackles bookending the offensive line which currently features three woefully underperforming interior offensive linemen, or, in other words, three layers of rotten meats and cheeses. As Big Blue prepares for a crucial Week 14 matchup with the 10-1 Philadelphia Eagles, they need their interior front line to step it up.
New York Giants interior offensive line needs to step up in Week 14
In wake of the Giants’ disappointing Week 13 tie with the Commanders and their excellent defensive front, Big Blue is preparing to face a front line that is arguably even better than Washington’s in Week 14. The Philadelphia Eagles are the best team in the NFL right now and their defense is a big reason why. Philadelphia has a menacing defensive front that is sure to stir up some serious trouble for the New York Giants’ offensive line.
The Giants suffered through poor performances from all three of their interior offensive linemen in Week 13. Right guard Mark Glowinski let up 2 sacks and 3 pressures in the tie against Washinton. Left guard Nick Gates gave up 2 pressures, and 2 hurries and committed 1 penalty. Center Jon Feliciano played a clean game in pass protection, giving up 0 pressures and 0 sacks, but his 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty sticks out like a sore thumb as it had fierce and damning repercussions on the outcome of the game for the Giants.
On the season, the Giants’ active interior offensive linemen have surrendered a combined 64 pressures and 10 sacks. Glowinski alone has accounted for 27 of those pressures and 5 of those sacks and is now preparing to face off against a fierce defensive line featuring Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave, Brandon Graham, and Josh Sweat. If the Giants want to upset Philly, Glowinski cannot turn in another multi-sack and multi-pressure performance.
Jon Feliciano has given up the second-most pressures this year, surrendering 18 in 11 games played. At left guard, Nick Gates and Joshua Ezeudu have surrendered 4 pressures in 5 games and 15 pressures in 9 games, respectfully.
The Philadelphia Eagles’ defense has totaled an absurd 42 sacks through the first 13 weeks of the season (2nd-best in the NFL). Inversely, Big Blue has surrendered a lofty total of 37 sacks on the season (fifth-most in the NFL). After being sacked four times in Week 13, Daniel Jones is hoping to see an improved performance out of his offensive line as he prepares to take on the Eagles’ high-flying defense.
Week 14 will be critical for the New York Giants. At 7-4-1, the Giants are just barely in the playoff picture. Big Blue has picked up just one win in their last five contests. An upset victory over the Eagles in Week 14 is exactly what the Giants need to turn their season around and right the ship toward the postseason. But this team will go as far as its offensive line allows it to.
Andrew Thomas has been a stud for the Giants this year. Evan Neal struggled early on but has begun to hit his stride. Now, it’s time for the interior offensive linemen to step up to the plate and elevate to the performance level of Andrew Thomas, or at least Evan Neal.
The road to the playoffs will be rocky for the New York Giants, especially considering the record of their divisional opponents. But a solid win over the Eagles on Sunday will go a long way toward achieving that first playoff berth since the 2016 season.