Giants Week 2 report card: Total turnaround vs. Cardinals

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Grading the Giants’ 31-28 win against the Cardinals on Sunday afternoon.

Offense

It was like someone slipped the Giants an answer key at halftime. Average out the failure of the first half — 81 yards, a giveaway and no points — with the acing of the second half — 31 points, including touchdowns on four straight drives.

Daniel Jones threw for 321 yards and two touchdowns. Saquon Barkley totaled 92 yards from scrimmage and scored touchdowns on the ground and through the air, with a full-extension stretch across the goal line. Jalin Hyatt started the second half with a 58-yard reception that flipped the game on its head. And the offensive line held up (three sacks allowed) without All-Pro left tackle Andrew Thomas and with a first-time left tackle (Josh Ezeudu) and a first-time starter (right guard Marcus McKethan).

Grade: B+

Defense

When needed, the defense forced three straight punts to feed into the touchdowns that let the Giants get to within 28-21, tie the score at 28-28 and score the winning points. What’s more is that the last two stops were three-and-outs, which conserved time for the comeback. And the Giants got a stop in the final 19 seconds, too.

Jason Pinnock had 13 tackles, including three for loss. The Giants didn’t have a sack or a takeaway and missed too many tackles.

Grade: B

Special Teams

Graham Gano converted all four PATs and the game-winning 34-yard field goal, after going 0-for-2 last week. He bailed the Giants out with a PAT after their intent to go for a two-point conversion, down 28-20, was ruined by Parris Campbell’s false-start penalty.

Rookie Eric Gray, who has looked shaky catching punts in practice, had a 14-yard return late in the game. Most importantly, he secured the ball.

Grade: B-

Coaching

After all the talk of putting last week’s stink bomb in the past, the Giants came out flat. The 20-0 halftime deficit against arguably the league’s least-talented roster was unacceptable. That has to be figured into the big picture.

Credit for the offensive line tweaks that allowed the group to stabilize despite inexperience, the second-half adjustments and the aggressive play-calling that lit a spark.