Grading the Giants' Week 4 win over the Arizona Cardinals

OFFENSE

Three turnovers are way too many and the unit’s inability to put the game away when it had the ball with 4:47 remaining was an issue. Things started so poorly for them that there were boos in the second quarter. But on the few times when things hummed, Winston’s three TD passes, his third-and-20 conversion pass to Malachi Fields, man did they look sharp. More of that, please. Winston finished 18-for-29 for 250 yards and Malik Nabers had his best game since his return from the knee injury (6 catches for 112 yards and a TD).

Grade: C

DEFENSE

Closing out a game with a goal-line stand and for the second week in a row with an interception deep in their own territory (this time by Deonte Banks) was a heck of a way to cap this far-from perfect effort. Early on it felt like Jeremiyah Love was going to run over and through them all day long. But they found their footing, got some critical takeaways, finally put pressure on the quarterback thanks to an increase in blitzing in the second half, and came up huge when it counted. Abdul Carter didn’t get a sack but had three QB hits and Arvell Reese continues to grow, leading the team with nine tackles.

Grade: B

SPECIAL TEAMS

One of the sequences of the game that might go overlooked was the punt by Jordan Stout that was downed at the 3 with 6:00 remaining (and punctuated by him with a golf swing celly). That flipped the field and the Giants started their next possession at the 50 which led to Dominic Zvada’s 52-yard field goal with 2:11 left that gave the Giants a 6-point lead. Zvada has been impeccable and had FGs of 39 and 50 to go with the 52 yarder (not to mention the 34 yarder that was nullified by the Cardinals holding call that led to a five-point swing). Charlie Jones, seeing his first action for the Giants in place of the injured Braxton Berrios (foot), had a big 23-yard punt return.

Grade: A

COACHING

Good job by defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson cranking up the blitzes, especially in the second half, as the team tries to find its identity in a post-Brian Burns world. Matt Nagy called a strong game for the offense and never lost faith in Jameis Winston despite some very clear reasons to early on. But it’s John Harbaugh who has turned around the mindset of the entire organization. He even got a challenge correct on a key first down spot. Now, about that decision to go for two so early in the game . . . 

Grade: B+

By Tom Rock

tom.rock@newsday.com@TomRock_Newsday

Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.