All Is Not Lost: 3 Reasons for Optimism After Giants Week 1 Loss

There’s no sugarcoating the New York Giants’ Week 1 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Falling 28-6 in front of the home fans, watching Sam Darnold walk off a victor – who barely broke a sweat – was an indictment in itself.

The players were booed off the field and the ensuing days haven’t been much easier. But Week 1 can be a mirage of sorts, and there are still 16 games to make up ground and goodwill.

New York isn’t without reasons for optimism, particularly from unexpected sources, even after such a catastrophic loss.

The offensive line looked adequate.

Yes, quarterback Daniel Jones was sacked five times. The Giants, though, don’t have to worry about the offensive line like they have in years past.

Right guard Greg Van Roten struggled, but much of the line was better than anticipated. Jermaine Eluemumor looked like a legitimate starter, holding up in both facets of the game. He was clearly the second-best performer up front. Jon Runyan Jr. was adequate and center John Michael Schmitz Jr. flashed technical improvements in the run game.

As expected, tackle Andrew Thomas returns to prominence. Him returning to 2022 form will be important in compensating for others’ struggles. He looked good, and he seems to have fewer miscues to make up for – an encouraging sign given the difficulty of facing Brian Flores’ aggressive defense.

Wan’Dale Robinson can handle volume, and Brian Daboll isn’t afraid to give it to him.

On the surface, Robinson’s day wasn’t great. He was targeted 12 times and found only six receptions and 44 yards. He generated -12.9 expected points added per play.

But most of Robinson’s missed opportunities were predictably on his quarterback. Pressure caused Jones to underthrow Robinson on a deeper target over the middle of the field. In the red zone, he missed high, hoping to get a throw out against a free rusher.

What was more encouraging was Robinson’s proclivity to find soft spots against zone coverage and how willing Daboll was to give him priority looks.

On multiple occasions, Robinson lined up in the backfield, only to motion into a de facto bunch formation for an easy middle of the field completion. His versatility was encouraging, and it seems Daboll trusts him with being more than a glorified gadget receiver. A dozen targets in Week 1 says Jones feels the same way.

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Deonte Banks is stepping up against the run.

Perhaps the biggest indictment of general manager Joe Schoen’s tenure is a lack of success in Round 1. Nabers aside, he is yet to find a proven quality starter, and Banks’ struggles on the boundary were troubling in 2023.

His chops in coverage didn’t stand out in Week 1. As an elite athlete, New York will give him time to iron out wrinkles against top competition. But after faring poorly against the run as a rookie, Banks may have taken a significant step in Week 1.

The second-year corner flashed in the form of a hard hit and a tackle for loss in the red zone. He was physical and willing to get his hands dirty – a separating factor for corners in today’s game.

There is work to be done, but providing value against the run is an easy way to boost his value in the immediate while his refinement improves in Year 2.