The New York Giants’ defense, typically not known for aggressive blitzing, switched up their game plan and it paid off dramatically.
“They switched up the game plan,” Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson said after a grueling day at Huntington Bank Field, where the Giants overwhelmed him with pressure.
The Giants recorded eight sacks and hit Watson 17 times, leading to a frustrating 21-15 victory and eliciting boos from Browns fans.
Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen is usually inclined to rely on his front four for pressure rather than heavy blitz packages. However, after the Browns initially double-teamed edge rushers Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux, Bowen adjusted by applying pressure up the middle, where Dexter Lawrence was already making an impact.
“We knew there would be opportunities to get home because he’s a dynamic player,” Burns noted. “We just focused on staying relentless in our rush.”
Lawrence led the defensive effort with two sacks, and a total of nine players contributed to the eight sacks overall.
Watson struggled to adapt, often holding onto the ball too long and appearing unaware of the oncoming rush.
In a critical moment late in the second quarter, Burns executed a strip-sack on left tackle Dawand Jones, with rookie Elijah Chatman recovering the fumble. This turnover resulted in a Giants touchdown just before halftime.
Chatman, an undrafted rookie from SMU, made his mark by recording his first NFL sack in the first quarter.
“It’s instinct when you’re coming around the edge,” Burns explained about his strip-sack. “I felt he was getting ready to throw and aimed for his arm to knock the ball loose.”
Despite being listed as questionable due to a groin injury, Burns was determined to play. “I always felt like I was going to play,” he said. “I won’t step off the field until I really can’t.”