The New York Giants upset the Washington Commanders, 31-19, at FedEx Field on Sunday afternoon in Landover, Maryland, improving their record to 3-8 on the season.
The Giants won on the backs of their defense, which recorded five of the team’s six turnovers, running back Saquon Barkley and rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito.
The win is proof the Giants aren’t tanking and that they” continue putting their best foot forward this year.
Whose stock is up and whose is down after the Week 11 win? Let’s take a look.
Stock up: Tommy DeVito
You can say whatever you want about the nine sacks and some of the really ugly throws, but the bottom line is this: Tommy DeVito put up nearly 250 yards and three touchdowns without turning the ball over in a Week 11 victory.
That’s it. That’s all that matters. He was far from perfect but he got the job done and made a little Giants history along the way.
Stock down: Justin Pugh
It feels bad to be critical of Justin Pugh given that his veteran presence has helped stabilize an offensive line that was completely incapable of functioning earlier this year. There’s still very bad but just not quite as futile.
Still, Pugh played an awful game on Sunday, as did his counterpart at guard, Ben Bredeson.
It seems almost wild to say this given how poorly he started the season, but maybe it’s time to go back to Mark Glowinski.
Stock up: Kayvon Thibodeaux
Bust? Nope. Linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux is anything but that as he logged two tackles for a loss, three QB hits and 2.0 sacks on Sunday, giving him 10.5 sacks on the season.
With six games left to play, Thibs could realistically reach or surpass 15 sacks on the year, which would tie him for the sixth-most in Giants history and the most since Jason Pierre-Paul recorded 16.5 in 2011.
Another wildly unexpected stat? With 10.5 sacks, Thibs becomes the first-ever edge rusher on a Wink Martindale defense to record double-digit sacks in a single season.
Stock down: Thomas McGaughey
Thomas McGaughey once appeared to have the inside track to a head coaching job, but now he’s on a path to unemployment.
Although Sunday’s special teams performance largely went off without a hitch, there was one negative moment that truly stood out. It was a glaring issue and one that has plagued the Giants at several points so far this season.
Midway through the third quarter, while nursing a 14-9 lead, the Giants lined up to potentially block a Commanders field goal. The only problem? They had just nine players — yes, nine — on the field.
How does that happen? More importantly, how does it continue to happen?
Stock up: Saquon Barkley
Cha-ching.
The Giants offense has been nonfunctional all season and opposing teams are loading up to stop running back Saquon Barkley knowing he’s their only true threat. The problem? No one can seem to stop him.
While DeVito certainly deserves praise for his Week 11 performance, it simply doesn’t happen without the dynamic Barkley.
Barkley gained 83 yards on the ground, averaging 5.9 yards per carry, while hauling in four receptions for 57 additional yards and two very impressive touchdowns. Two of his catches (the first touchdown and an early first down on third-and-long) were wide receiver-worthy.
How can the Giants afford not to pay Barkley at this point?
Stock down: Jason Pinnock
Safety Jason Pinnock wasn’t horrible by any stretch on Sunday but there was certainly one play he’d like to have back. Rather than describing it, you can just watch it.
How…. Just how. pic.twitter.com/O9tu3I1grT
— Alex Wilson (@AlexWilsonESM) November 19, 2023
Bruh.
