New York Giants: Stop blaming the offense, it’s the defense

New York Giants, Eli Manning
Sep 15, 2019; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) walks off the field after failing to convert on third down against the Buffalo Bills during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Giants defense allowed Kirk Cousins to have his best game of the year. They allowed him to throw for over three hundred yards and two touchdowns. From missed tackles to pointless penalties by the defense, this offense is not the party to blame for this loss, it’s the defense.

Giants defense is one of the worst in the league

In total defense, the Giants are ranked the third-worst in the NFL. The only teams that have given up more yards per game are the winless Dolphins and Bengals. The Giants are averaging twenty-five points on defense (yes that includes the Redskin’s game) and this team is just not making plays to put the offense in the best position to win. Do you really expect a team with a rookie quarterback to put up close to thirty points a game? Because that’s what they need to do to win.

Injuries at the linebacker position

Ryan Connelly is out for the year with a torn ACL and going into Sunday’s game, the Giants starting linebackers were Markus Golden, Tae Davis, Alec Ogletree, and Lorenzo Carter. To make things worse, three out of the four starting linebackers were injured and did not play against the Vikings. Nate Stupar and David Mayo tried to step for the injured defense, and they failed miserably. The Vikings game plan was obvious after the first drive, attack the linebackers. Kirk Cousin’s did not do anything special during the game, in fact, most of his throws were screenplays, In routes, and slants. This exposed the Giants defense in the middle of the field and there was nothing they could do to stop it. If the Giants want to contain the middle of the field, they need their linebackers to get healthy before this season gets out of hand.

Is it the players or is it, Bettcher?

Right now, it is a combination of both. Bettcher is not calling the aggressive plays that made him famous in Arizona. He is playing it safe and maybe that is because of the players that he has. Besides, Jabrill Peppers and Dexter Lawrence, none of the players on the defense are making plays. Something has to change this season and in the offseason as well, whether it’s the players or Bettcher.