Six weeks into the season, the New York Giants sit alone atop the NFC East with a 4-2 record. Let's take a look at how they got there and what lies ahead …
What Went Right
Even after losing Steve Smith in free agency and Domenik Hixon to injury, the Giants' passing game has managed to flourish thanks so solid play from Eli Manning, the continued production of Hakeem Nicks and the emergence of Victor Cruz. The Giants' passing attack ranks third in the league with 8.52 yards per pass play. After leading the league in interceptions last season, Manning has thrown only five thus far and is one of three quarterbacks, along with Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, with a quarterback rating above 100.0 for the season so far. Nicks, meanwhile, ranks seventh in the league with 508 yards receiving.
Defensively, the Giants have also overcome plenty of injuries and returned to form, especially on the defensive line. The Giants rank third in the league in defensive sack rate with a sack on 9.77 percent of opposing pass plays (though they actually rank third in the division, as the Eagles and Redskins hold the top two spots). They're led by Osi Umenyiora, who has 5.0 sacks, and second-year players Jason Pierre-Paul; more on him later.
What Went Wrong
The most glaring issue for the Giants until this point in the season has been the array of injuries they've sustained. Five players are already on injured reserve, two potential starters, a second-round pick and a nickel cornerback among them. Meanwhile, first-round pick Prince Amukamara has still yet to suit up because of a fractured bone in his foot – though he is close to a return.
The Giants' offensive staple under Tom Coughlin has been the running game, and while they've still leaned on the ground attack, it hasn't been very productive thus far. The team's 3.48 yards-per-carry average ranks 31st in the league. Perhaps the finger can be pointed at the offensive line, since the Giants also rank 22nd in the sacks allowed per pass. Other than that, not much has gone wrong for the Giants, except for a Week 5 letdown at home against the Seattle Seahawks.
Breakout Player
In his second season, Jason Pierre-Paul has quickly established himself as one of the premier pass rushers in the league. He has 7.5 sacks through six games (second in the league) to go along with four pass knockdowns. The 6-foot-5, 278-pound athletic marvel has multiple sacks in half his games. The South Florida product has quickly taken the baton as the next great Giants pass rusher, succeeding the likes of Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck.
Rookie Report
With defensive tackle Marvin Austin out for the year and cornerback Prince Amukamara, the team's first-round pick, yet to suit up, the Giants have yet to get a single snap from either of their first two picks. But that doesn't mean the Giants haven't gotten any contributions from first-year players. In fact, they still have 10 rookies on the active roster, most of who contribute on special teams. Sixth-round linebacker Jacquain Williams has been a revelation for an inexperienced player. Plus, Amukamara will be a welcome sight for the secondary when he gets back on the field over the next week or two.
Second-Half Outlook
While the Giants hold a slim lead atop what is a congested division, they will have their work cut out for them if they're to carry the first-place mantle into the playoffs. The Giants' schedule for the rest of the season is difficult – their opponents have a combined record of 32-24, good for a .574 winning percentage. No other team in the NFC East faces a schedule the rest of the way that features teams with a winning percentage above .500. The Giants' schedule gets particularly menacing beginning in Week 9, when they face a six-game stretch of at New England, at San Francisco, home against the Eagles, at New Orleans, home against the Packers and at Dallas.
