Giants' Points per Drive Nearly Triple Against Arizona After Weeks 2-3; Washington Allows Red-Zone TDs on 12 of 15 Trips
The Giants went from 0.86 offensive points per drive in Weeks 2 and 3 to 2.50 against Arizona, still below what the Cardinals allowed their other opponents. Washington's defense has allowed 2.65 points per drive, 28th in the league.
The Giants scored 30 offensive points on 12 drives against Arizona on Oct. 4, 2.50 points per drive. In the two games before that, against the Rams and Titans, they scored 18 offensive points on 21 drives, or 0.86 per drive. Arizona's defense had allowed 2.70 points per drive in its other three games.
The Giants have scored fewer points per drive than the opposing defense allowed in its other games in all three games Jameis Winston has played. The Rams allowed 2.19 points per drive in their games against other teams, and the Giants scored 0.60 against them. Tennessee allowed 2.29, and the Giants scored 1.09. In Week 1, with Jaxson Dart at quarterback, the Giants scored 4.00 points per drive against a Dallas defense that allowed 2.63 to everyone else.
These figures come from GiantsGator's count of every drive in the league through Week 4, using nflverse play-by-play. A drive is any possession with at least one snap. Points are offensive points only, so Deonte Banks' 98-yard interception return is not included.
| Week | Opponent | QB | Drives | Points | Pts/drive | Opponent's other games | Red-zone TD-trips |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas | Dart | 7 | 28 | 4.00 | 2.63 | 4-4 |
| 2 | at Los Angeles Rams | Dart/Winston | 10 | 6 | 0.60 | 2.19 | 0-2 |
| 3 | Tennessee | Winston | 11 | 12 | 1.09 | 2.29 | 0-2 |
| 4 | Arizona | Winston | 12 | 30 | 2.50 | 2.70 | 2-3 |
| 5 | at Washington | — | — | — | — | 2.65* | 12-15 allowed |
The red zone
Winston went into the Arizona game with touchdowns on none of four red-zone trips as the Giants' quarterback, with three field goals and an interception. Against Arizona, the Giants scored touchdowns on two of three. League-wide, offenses score touchdowns on 60.2% of red-zone trips, as the NFL's drive charts flag them.
The first trip, in the first quarter, ended in a 39-yard field goal by kicker Dominic Zvada. The first touchdown was a 12-yard pass to wide receiver Malachi Fields on third-and-4 in the second quarter, and the two-point try failed. The second came in the third quarter. Zvada made a 34-yard field goal on fourth-and-8 from the Arizona 16, but a defensive holding penalty wiped it out and gave the Giants a first down at the 11. Two snaps later, Winston threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to tight end Theo Johnson.
The Giants' third touchdown did not come on a red-zone trip. That drive started at the Arizona 26 after an interception by linebacker Arvell Reese, and Malik Nabers scored on a 25-yard catch two snaps later.
Through four games, the Giants have scored touchdowns on six of 11 red-zone trips (54.5%), tied for 18th in the league. Dart's drives produced touchdowns on all four of his trips, and Winston's on two of seven. Zvada is nine of nine on field goals, all on Winston drives.
Field position
The Giants' average drive started at their own 37.3-yard line against Arizona. In Weeks 2 and 3 it was their own 32.3, and in Week 1 their own 25.3. The league average is a team's own 30.6.
Field position accounts for only part of the Week 4 change. League-wide, drives score at different rates depending on where they start:
- 1.43 points from a team's own 20 or worse
- 2.00 from its 21 to 30
- 2.27 from its 31 to midfield
- 3.82 from the opponent's side of the field
At those rates, a league-average offense would have scored about 28 points from the 12 starting spots against Arizona; the Giants scored 30 offensive points. From the Weeks 2 and 3 starting spots, a league-average offense would have scored about 44; the Giants scored 18.
None of the eight Winston drives that started at the Giants' 20 or worse produced points.
| QB | Drives | Pts/drive | TD drives | FG drives | Punts | Turnovers | Red-zone TD-trips | Three-and-out rate | Avg. start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dart | 8 | 3.50 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4-4 | 0% | Own 25.9 |
| Winston | 32 | 1.50 | 3 | 9 | 14 | 4 | 2-7 | 21.9% | Own 34.3 |
| NFL average | — | 2.11 | — | — | — | — | 60.2% | 19.5% | Own 30.6 |
Turnovers
The Giants have eight takeaways and five giveaways. Their offense scored 17 points on drives after takeaways, and Banks added his return touchdown. All 10 points opponents have scored after Giants turnovers came against Arizona. Arizona kicked a field goal before halftime after Winston's first interception, and it scored the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter after his second. Arizona got no points after the Giants' fourth-quarter fumble.
Washington
Washington's defense has allowed 122 offensive points on 46 drives, or 2.65 per drive. That ranks 28th, about even with Arizona's 2.64 through four games (27th). The Commanders have allowed touchdowns on 12 of 15 red-zone trips, or 80%; only Detroit and Green Bay have allowed a higher rate. Washington's opponents have started their drives at their own 33.6-yard line on average, three yards better than the league average.
| Defense | Pts/drive allowed | Rank | Red-zone TD-trips allowed | Red-zone rank | Avg. opp. start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 2.64 | 27th | 9-13 (69.2%) | 25th | Own 31.6 |
| Washington | 2.65 | 28th | 12-15 (80.0%) | 30th | Own 33.6 |
| NFL average | 2.11 | — | 60.2% | — | Own 30.6 |
The Giants (3-1) play at Washington at 1 p.m. ET Sunday on Fox.