3 Takeaways from Giants' Week 10 Win vs. Texans
The New York Giants got back in the win column with Sunday's 24-16 victory over the Houston Texans.
New York had two weeks to sit on a loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but the Week 10 win helps get the Giants back on track for a playoff run.
Houston, of course, wasn't the most daunting of opponents. It came in with a 1-6-1 record with a victory over the inconsistent Jacksonville Jaguars as their highlight of the season.
However, the Texans did have extra time to prepare after last playing on Thursday night, and they showed a lot of fight against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 9.
New York never trailed on Sunday and exploded in the second half to emerge with a convincing victory. The Giants, now sitting at 7-2, have been one of the NFL's biggest surprises in 2022 and appear destined for a postseason appearance.
Here are our three biggest takeaways from New York's Week 10 win over the Texans.
Saquon Barkley Should Be an MVP Candidate
There is no question that Giants star running back Saquon Barkley is back to 100 percent this season.
The 25-year-old came into Week 10 with 779 rushing yards, 189 receiving yards and five touchdowns. New York will soon have a tough decision to make on his future, though, as he's scheduled to be a free agent in 2023.
According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, the Giants discussed an extension with Barkley during the Week 9 bye.
"The team did have extension talks with Barkley, sources say, as the former No. 2 overall pick wants to be compensated as one of the highest paid backs in football," they noted. "The team made a good run at it."
Barkley's near future should include consideration for the NFL's Most Valuable Player award. He has been New York's offensive centerpiece all season, and he put the Giants on his back again on Sunday.
The Penn State product finished with 35 carries for 152 yards and a touchdown. He almost single-handedly wore down the Texans defense and allowed New York to pull away with 17 second-half points.
Barkley won't win what has become a quarterback award, of course. However, it's hard to argue that many players have been more valuable to their respective teams than Barkley has been.
Darius Slayton Is a Difference-Maker
While Barkley was the offensive star on Sunday, the Giants also got a strong performance from Daniel Jones (13-of-17 for 197 yards, 2 TDs). But wideout Darius Slayton had a lot to do with the quarterback's success.
Slayton caught three catches, including a 54-yard touchdown pass. He finished with 95 receiving yards, his best production of the season.
Early in 2022, it had appeared the 25-year-old might not even be a regular contributor. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, New York received trade inquiries about him during the offseason. He saw little playing time over the first few weeks.
Slayton didn't play in Week 1 and saw just 18 offensive snaps over the following two weeks, according to Pro Football Reference. Over the last few weeks, however, he has reemerged as a key contributor. He had 58 yards and a touchdown in Week 7 and 66 yards in Week 8.
On Sunday, the Auburn product looked a lot like the budding star who topped 700 yards in each of his first two seasons while also scoring 11 touchdowns in that span. That's huge because New York has been plagued by injuries and inconsistent play at receiver all season.
The Giants are a team that lacks a go-to target aside from Barkley, but Slayton is proving he can still be a difference-maker.
Giants' Defensive Front Can Be a Problem for Future Playoff Opponents
This wasn't a game won entirely on offense, and the Giants' defensive front deserves a lot of credit. It didn't shut down rookie running back Dameon Pierce, who averaged 5.5 yards per carry, but it smothered quarterback Davis Mills all game.
The Texans signal-caller finished 22-of-37 for 319 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He was sacked four times and was frequently under pressure. He was hit 12 times, with five of those coming from defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.
Lawrence also had a sack, while fellow DT Leonard Williams finished with a half-sack, a forced fumble and nine tackles—a lot for a down lineman. His fourth-quarter strip of Pierce in the red zone helped maintain a 21-10 lead.
Defensive end Jihad Ward logged a sack, while rookie pass-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux had four tackles with two solo stops.
The Giants held Houston to just 3-of-10 on third down.
New York's defensive front has shown flashes all season, and it has the potential to be special. It's certainly going to be a problem for opponents in the playoffs, assuming the Giants don't collapse and miss them.
When a team can generate pressure with its front four, it opens up options in coverage. While the Giants don't have an elite defense—it came in ranked 17th in yards allowed—they have a seasoned coordinator in Don "Wink" Martindale and enough talent up front to hang with the best that the NFC has to offer.