Giants Schedule: Ranking the Opposing Running Games

For all the improvements new general manager Joe Schoen has made to the New York Giants’ roster, one area he’s left largely unaddressed is the run defense. The Giants signed veteran nose tackle Justin Ellis, and selected inside linebackers Darrian Beavers and Micah McFadden on day three of the NFL Draft, but made no truly significant moves to bolster their run defense.

This should be a concern for Giants fans, as Big Blue ranked a lamentable 25th in rushing yards allowed last season. Linebacker Blake Martinez returning from injury should help in this regard, but relying on any player coming off a torn ACL is a risky proposition. Defensive linemen Leonard WiIliams and Dexter Lawrence are solid starters in the trenches, but outside of them New York is lacking proven run defenders.

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While the NFL is continually becoming more of a passing league, there are still plenty of teams fully capable of gashing the Giants on the ground if they’re not up to snuff. So, to gauge what New York’s run defense will have to contend with this season, let’s rank, from best to worst, the 14 rushing attacks on their schedule.

1. Baltimore Ravens (Week 6)

Big Blue has some fearsome rushing attacks on their schedule, but none are quite as diverse and potentially dominant as Baltimore’s. The Ravens ranked third in total rushing yards and sixth in rushing yards per attempt last season. Unlike most good run games that are built around the tailback, Baltimore’s is galvanized by the electrifying Lamar Jackson, probably the greatest rushing quarterback the game has seen. Running back J.K. Dobbins is no slouch either, and is more than capable of burning a defense overly focused on Jackson. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley and rookie center Tyler Linderbaum should lead a bulldozing offensive line, and fullback Patrick Ricard is a true run-blocking weapon.

2. Philadelphia Eagles (Weeks 14 and 18)

Much like Baltimore, Philadelphia’s run game vaults up the board thanks to the boost it gets from its ball-carrying quarterback. Last season, Jalen Hurts averaged 52.3 rushing yards per game to go along with 10 rushing touchdowns. As a team, the Eagles led the entire NFL in rushing yards last year, and a quick scan of their roster shows why. Philadelphia’s offensive line is arguably the best in football, with no weak link and muliple dominant members. Miles Sanders is a more than capable starting back.

3. Indianapolis Colts (Week 17)

The Colts may not have a mobile quarterback like the previous two teams, but they have the makeup of a classically dominant run game. Superstar feature tailback? Check. Jonathan Taylor led the NFL in rushing attempts, yards, and touchdowns last season. Road-grading offensive line? Check. Left guard Quenton Nelson is arguably the best player regardless of position in football, and right tackle Braden Smith is among the leagues elite. The Colts finished second behind the Eagles in rushing yards last year.

4. Tennessee Titans (Week 1)

New York’s questionable run defense will face a tall task right off the hop when they take on Derrick Henry and the Titans on opening weekend. Henry will likely go down as the top running back of his generation, and entering his seventh season has shown no real signs of slowing down. Tennessee has suffered a couple losses along the offensive line, but Taylor Lewan is still a very good left tackle and Ben Jones is a solid center. We know the Titans will feed Henry often to wear down the Giants’ defense.

5. Dallas Cowboys (Weeks 3 and 12)

These days, people probably associate the Cowboys with a high-octane passing attack led by quarterback Dak Prescott and a deep group of receivers, but Dallas can still run the ball down your throat. They ranked top-ten in both total rushing yards and rushing yards per attampt last season. Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard form a very stong one-two punch in the backfield. Tyron Smith and Zack Martin are future Hall-of-Famers along their offensive line.

6. Detroit Lions (Week 11)

Don’t look now, but the Lions have quietly assembled one of the best young offensive lines in football. Taylor Decker, Jonah Jackson, Frank Ragnow, and Penei Sewell are all ascending blockers. D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams are a potent duo at tailback. Detroit ranked a mediocre 18th in total rushing yards last year, but 11th in rushing yards per attempt. If they can manage to stay in more games this season, they should see big leap in their ground production.

7. Minnesota Vikings (Week 16)

After multiple years of having highly productive ground games, the Vikings fell off a bit last season. They finished 17th in both total rushing yards and rushing yards per attempt. Tailback Dalvin Cook is still one of the best pure runners in the NFL, however, and Minnesota should see some of their young offensive linemen, like Christian Darrisaw and Ezra Cleveland, improve. New head coach Kevin O’Connell will maintain the outside zone scheme this team has been built on. The Vikings are a good bet to be an above-average rushing attack once again.

8. Carolina Panthers (Week 2)

Much like the Giants, the Panthers have become notorious for poor offensive play the last few years. Like the Giants again, they appear to have taken significant strides in that department this offseason. Ikem Ekwonu, selected sixth overall in this year’s draft, will finally address Carolina’s long-woeful left tackle position. Solid veterans Bradley Bozeman and Austin Corbett were brought in to fortify the interior, and Taylor Moten should continue to be one of the games better right tackles. If the Panthers’ offensive line can gel quickly, they’ll be paving the way for the great Christian McCaffrey.

9. Washington Commanders (Weeks 13 and 15)

“Solid if unspectatular”, is probably the phrase that best describes the Commanders’ rushing attack. They finished 11th in total rushing yards last season, and 16th in rushing yards per attempt. Their offensive line is nothing to write home about, but right tackle Sam Cosmi and center Chase Roullier are quality players that can stabilize a running game. Tailback Antonio Gibson cracked 1000 yards on the ground last year, but only averaged 65 yards per game. Ultimately, this is a rushing attack that shouldn’t cause much concern.

10. Green Bay Packers (Week 5)

The Packers go as quarterback Aaron Rodgers goes, so their running game is frankly an afterthought. Even their feature back, Aaron Jones, is better known for his exploits in the passing game. But Green Bay can still run the ball when they want to, and they may need to this season after the departure of star receiver Davante Adams. They only finished 19th in total rushing yards last season, but their ranking should go up this year with more of a commitment to the run game. Plus, their second running back AJ Dillon is the type of bruiser that can wear down a defense.

11. Seattle Seahawks (Week 8)

Seattle gets the nod over the remaining teams on this list almost through sheer insistence. Head coach Pete Carroll and the Seahawks have long been known for their fidelity to running the ball. Now, with quarterback Russell Wilson out of the picture, they’ll have even more reason to lean on the ground game. This team has some interesting options at running back, as Rashaad Penny came on strong late last season, and rookie Kenneth Walker has explosive ability. Unfortunately, Seattle’s offensive line will be among the league’s worst.

12. Chicago Bears (Week 4)

Speaking of bad offensive lines, the Bears figure to trot out a pretty dismal one themselves. Running back David Montgomery has proven to be no better than middling entering his fourth season. Quarterback Justin Fields does offer the threat to run, so Chicago could boost their rushing totals with some designed QB keepers. But overall, this is not a rushing attack to be feared.

13. Jacksonville Jaguars (Week 7)

Despite finishing just 22nd in total rushing yards last year, Jacksonville finished a respectable eighth in rushing yards per attempt. Take that stat with a grain of salt, however, as the Jaguars’ perpetual state of playing from behind meant defenses were inviting them to run the ball. The addition of guard Brandon Scherff will improve this offensive line, but it still won’t be very good. Running back James Robinson has shown to be an efficient ball carrier, but this offense will be too pass heavy to produce any impressive rushing numbers.

14. Houston Texans (Week 10)

Houston finished dead last in both total rushing yards and rushing yards per attempt last season. Don’t expect much to change this year. Retread Marlon Mack will be their starting running back, and their offensive line wil be putrid once again. Rookie guard Kenyon Green should be a good foundational piece along the offensive line, but the rebuilding Texans are still a long way away.

– Ryan Cuneo is the Managing Editor of Full Press Giants. He covers the New York Giants. Like and follow on Follow @ryan_cuneo Follow @FullPressGiants and Facebook.