The New York Giants opened the 2025 preseason with a 34-25 victory over the John Allen-less Bills in Buffalo on Saturday afternoon.
How did the individual units perform?
Here’s a quick report card from Saturday’s win.
Offense
The Giants used all four quarterbacks, and all four led the offense on scoring drives. Rookie Jaxson Dart had a solid debut with 178 total yards (154 passing, 24 rushing) and a pretty touchdown pass to wideout Lil’Jordan Humphery. The 34 points would have been enough to win 16 of the team’s 17 games in 2024. The offense committed no turnovers, and the offensive line did not allow a sack. Backup running back Dante Miller had an eye-opening day with 102 yards from scrimmage.
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Notables who did not play: wide receivers Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, rookie Beaux Collins, and Jalin Hyatt, left tackle Andrew Thomas, guard Evan Neal, and rookie running back Cam Skattebo.
Grade: A
Defense
No Dexter Lawrence, Cor’Dale Flott, or Chauncey Golston. Not a great day, but good enough considering all of the changes, especially in the second and third string depth. The Bills were able to conjure up three long drives, and the Giants missed a boatload of tackles.
Deonte Banks was thrust into extended duty with Flott, and several other cornerbacks were inactive. The Giants hope he’s headed for a bounce-back year. Linemen D.J. Davidson and Jordon Riley each recorded a sack, and rookie Trace Ford had a fumble recovery.
Linebackers K.J. Cloyd and Dyontae Johnson made key stops late in the game on a successful goal-line stand.
Grade: B
Special teams
Veteran kicker Graham Gano belted three 50-plus-yard field goals in the first half, laying to rest any doubt regarding the strength of his leg. After two years marred by leg injuries, Gano appears to have returned to form. He had 10 total points on the afternoon, and Jude McAtamney added four more. The return teams were solid on both sides. Ihmir Smith-Marsette had a 40-yard kickoff return.
Grade: A
Coaching
Brian Daboll looked more like a head coach on the sidelines and less like a coordinator. Mike Kafka, the offensive coordinator, called the plays from the sidelines. Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen was without Dexter Lawrence and managed to piece together a strategy to bend but not break. There are too many new parts for them to get into synch so soon. Rookie linebacker Abdul Carter gave Bills’ Pro Bowl tackle Dion Dawkins fits in the short time he played. With so many players on the bubble this summer, the special teams were buzzing as players see that as a path to making the roster.
Grade: B+
