The New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots, 10-7, in the rain at MetLife on Sunday in a game that pitted the league’s two lowest-scoring teams against one another.
The low-scoring affair was not unexpected, to say the least, but Giant fans were thankful to come away with their second straight victory.
Here are three things we learned in Week 12.
Things are bad, but they could be worse
As bad as you think your team is sometimes, there’s always somebody worse.
In the Giants’ case this year, it seems hard to believe that there are teams performing at a lower level than them. New England, who they played on Sunday, is one of them.
The win was bittersweet for some fans hoping the Giants can land one of the top two draft spots come next April. They are now 4-8 and have slid down to the No. 6 overall position.
They could hop back up to No. 5 if the Chicago Bears win on Monday night.
Either way, it’s not looking as if they are content with losing and it’s also not looking like Drake Maye or Caleb Williams will be joining the Giants unless general manager Joe Schoen gives up a ton of draft capital.
Hyatt breaks out
Giants rookie wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, who has been clocked as the fastest player in the NFL this season, was finally featured in the passing game, grabbing five passes for 109 nine yards against New England.
Hyatt became the first Giant to record 100 or more receiving yards in a regular season game since last Nov. 20.
Hyatt made several big plays with catches of 22, 29, and 41 yards, which were the Giants’ three longest plays in the game.
As per the Giants, he is their first receiver with at least three 20-plus yard catches in a game since Kadarius Toney had four on Oct. 3, 2021, in New Orleans.
So, it can be done, folks. Big plays, that is…
Defense carrying the Giants
The Giants continue to force turnovers and now have a plus-5 turnover differential this season, the eighth-highest in the NFL.
On Sunday, Big Blue picked off three passes and lost one fumble for a plus-2 differential. The Giants have now picked off three passes in each of their two games. They haven’t done that since 2015.
Last week, against Washington, they were plus-6 with three picks and three three fumble recoveries.
Both Giant scoring drives on Sunday were spurred on by interceptions.
