Here are the top takeaways and highest-graded players from the Falcons-Giants game:
Atlanta Falcons
— It was a far more steady effort from Matt Ryan (+3.7) this week, trusting his once again excellent protection (his line combined to allow just six quarterback disruptions) and avoiding bad decisions. He was especially impressive on intermediate passes, going 8 of 9 though he attempted only one pass longer than 20 yards all game.
— This is what the Falcons hoped for when they drafted DL Vic Beasley (+5.3). He had a breakout game as he regularly turned the corner on Ereck Flowers. The quick-throwing Giants passing attack was the only thing preventing him from earning more than his one sack and two hurries.
— Is there a better receiver in football at the moment than Julio Jones? He was peppered with 14 targets, catching 13, as he turned in a 135-yard day and made two of the most impressive plays of the day that were instrumental in the Falcons win.
Top Performers:
ED Vic Beasley (+5.3)
QB Matt Ryan (+3.7)
WR Julio Jones (+3.3)
OLB Nathan Stupar (+3.2)
DE Tyson Jackson (+2.2)
New York Giants
— Before leaving the game with an injury, Ereck Flowers was not having the best of times. Flagged for two penalties and allowing three hurries, speed is definitely going to give him a problem on the evidence of this one. It’s something the Giants can live with when everything goes exactly to plan and the ball comes out quickly, but when it doesn’t trouble will be brewing.
— Another game where Eli Manning didn’t play poor, but had some bad moments that defined the outcome of the contest. Allowing himself to be strip-sacked by Kroy Biermann was inexcusable, with Eli displaying a tendency to drift in the pocket that hurt his protection. As a passer, he didn’t have a lot of joy on the deeper and intermediate routes but was extremely efficient on throws under 10 yards going 24 of 27.
— Not quite back to his best (he dropped a rifle-of-a-pass late in the game) but much-improved, Odell Beckham Jr. caught 7-of-12 targets for 146 yards, going to work on Robert Alford mostly. It just makes you wonder how the Giants failed to get him more involved in the second half.
Top Performers:
WR Odell Beckham Jr. (+2.8)
CB Prince Amukamara (+1.4)
HB Shane Vereen (+1.3)
DL Robert Ayers (+1.2)
CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (+1.1)
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