Baker Mayfield was outstanding against the New York Giants defense

The New York Giants entered their week 15 matchup with the Cleveland Browns desperate for an upset. The Giants defense was going to be the key ingredient in pulling off an upset with the offense struggling, missing starting QB Daniel Jones due to multiple and injuries and OC Jason Garett was also missing after testing positive for COVID-19 earlier in the week leading up to the game. The Giants defense main focus was stopping the Browns dominant rushing attack and the RB duo of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Their focus was to take away the run game and force QB Baker Mayfield to beat them from within the pocket rather than off of play-action bootlegs the Browns rely on to get their young signal caller in rhythm with simple reads and comfortable throwing lanes. Success in the run game allows these play-action bootlegs to work as the run sets up the pass in the Cleveland offense. Chubb - 15 carries for 50 yards Hunt - 7 carries for 21 yards The Giants were able to stop the Cleveland rushing attack and were successful in forcing Mayfield to win while dropping back in the pocket. However, Mayfield was excellent and dropped dime after dime against NYG zone coverage looks. The lack of elite pass rushing and depleted secondary - Pro Bowl CB James Bradberry (COVID close contact) and slot CB Darnay Holmes (injury) both did not play and left the Giants without their top 2 CB's - forced the Giants to give the Cleveland offense much simpler pre-snap looks rather than the disguised exotic pre-snap packages they've used all year. Without Bradberry and Holmes, the Giants were limited and couldn't dial up more complex coverages as inexperienced players manned the CB spots they vacated. All in all, the Giants got what they wanted. They wanted to shut down the Cleveland run game and force Mayfield to beat them. Credit to the Cleveland passing attack. They blocked, threw, and caught everything at an exceptional level (84% completion). The Giants will look to bounce back defensively with Bradberry (and hopefully Holmes) returning for a must-win game against the Baltimore Ravens in week 16 as they fight desperately to stay alive in the 2020 NFC East divisional race. #TogetherBlue #NYG #NYGiants #NewYorkGiants #NewYorkFootballGiants #GiantsPride