Giants’ offensive collapse vs. Eagles proves Vikings had been proper to fireplace Ed Donatell

Final Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings misplaced to the New York Giants 31-24 within the Wild Card spherical of the NFC Playoffs. Second-year quarterback Daniel Jones loved among the finest video games of his younger profession, racking up 301 passing yards, two touchdowns and a 114.1 passer ranking. The Giants racked up the second-most factors that they had in a recreation this 12 months and the third-most whole yards (431).

4 days later, the Vikings fired defensive coordinator Ed Donatell after only one season with the group.

There have been loads of authentic causes for Donatell to be relieved of his duties. The Vikings protection ranked twenty eighth in factors allowed and twenty seventh in DVOA—and with probably the most seasoned defensive rosters within the NFL.

However, for a lot of, final week’s Wild Card recreation wasn’t about how unhealthy the Vikings had been. It was, as an alternative, extra about Jones’ breakout recreation and New York lastly discovering their groove on offense. With a robust protection to enhance, the Giants had been instantly wanting like a sneaky-good group that would doubtlessly make a run.

The Philadelphia Eagles put an finish to that narrative in a rush. Throughout Saturday night time’s Divisional Spherical matchup with the Giants, the Eagles proved that the Giants offense hadn’t made any actual noticeable strides. Their success within the Wild Card spherical was virtually all because of the horrible Vikings protection they confronted.

The Giants had been completely obliterated by the Eagles to the tune of a 38-7 blowout. Jones and the Giants offense had been shut out of the primary half and managed simply 227 yards for your complete recreation— simply 2 yards above their season low. Daniel Jones completed with a season-low 53.8 passer ranking, was sacked 5 occasions, and threw his seventh interception of the season.

In different phrases, after practically setting season highs in each yards and factors final week, the Giants set a brand new low for factors scored and had been 3 yards away from hitting all-time low in yardage.

However the Giants’ offensive efficiency in opposition to the Eagles was far nearer to their norm for the 2022 season. New York averaged simply 21.5 factors per recreation this 12 months and Jones crossed over 300 passing yards in simply three video games this season—two of which had been in opposition to the Vikings.

Positive, the Eagles deserve a ton of credit score for his or her efficiency on Saturday. They do have among the finest defenses within the league, rating eighth in factors allowed and sixth in DVOA. However it’s way more telling that this Giants offense that regarded utterly misplaced on Saturday in opposition to the Eagles didn’t even should punt the ball till late within the third quarter in opposition to the Vikings.

There’s a chasm between the Eagles and Vikings defenses, and whereas the offense was capable of carry Minnesota to the playoffs, the group’s Achilles heal was ultimately uncovered—and so they proceed to be uncovered even after being eradicated from the playoffs.