NY Giants tales from the timeline: Young players impress vs. Vikings

Malachi Fields celebrates a touchdown catch on Saturday. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The New York Giants hosted the Minnesota Vikings in preseason Week 1, falling 13-10 in John Harbaugh's first game with the team.

I review the All-22 film after every Giants game and post plays on my X, providing a snippet of analysis on why each play is noteworthy. Here are posts from Week 1, with some commentary.

The offense

Such a Jaxson Dart play.

Dart leaves the medical tent, play breaks down, he extends, and finds rookie Malachi Fields for a tuddy.

Elite job by Fields to work upfield after the drag and find space in the back of the EZ. pic.twitter.com/p971QwKVl6

- Nick Falato (@nickfalato) August 15, 2026

Dart to Fields. pic.twitter.com/ubpYguAy6d

- Nick Falato (@nickfalato) August 16, 2026

The top post is spot-on - this is such a Jaxson Dart play.

Everything about it stands out, from the off-script playmaking and unorthodox throwing motion to the fact that Dart had a sip of tea in the medical tent on the previous play. Dart does an excellent job diagnosing the robbing boundary safety sitting on the hash and baiting the in-breaker to Darius Slayton (18).

Rather than forcing the throw, Dart shows restraint, pulls the ball down, and finds space behind quality blocks from Marcus Mbow (71) and Jon Runyan Jr. (76). From there, he delivers a beautiful touch pass, while Malachi Fields (0) makes an excellent route adjustment and shows strong awareness of the situation.

The matchup between Fields and Ivan Pace Jr. (0) was one the Giants could exploit, and they did exactly that. Dart extended the play, recognized the mismatch, and trusted Fields to make the adjustment. The result was an impressive off-script play that showcased Dart's creativity and play-making ability - and ultimately produced the Giants' only touchdown of the game.

Sisi Mauigoa, No. 65! pic.twitter.com/DjnjiGP3DF

- Nick Falato (@nickfalato) August 16, 2026

Francis Mauigoa didn't have a perfect game, but his power does flash, and I am certainly excited about his presence on this offense. New York aligned in a Strong-I and ran iso-power out of 21 personnel with a draw element. Runyan Jr. pulled as the backside guard to the strong side, which prompted Pace Jr. to read his run key and attack the strong side of the offensive formation. Patrick Ricard (45) was the kick-out block, but the play-side was crowded - this is where Mauigoa and Devin Singletary (26) come into play.

Singletary's vision and patience gave Mauigoa the opportunity to turn first-round rookie Caleb Banks (95) toward the pile-up, which opened up the back-side cut lane for Singletary. Bryan Hudson (60) - who played well in the run game - helped open the initial hole against the 2i-shade. The raw power of Mauigoa was eye-popping, to say the least.

The routes of Odell Beckham Jr. against the Vikings. pic.twitter.com/fsT4kRvfOF

- Nick Falato (@nickfalato) August 16, 2026

Odell Beckham Jr. saw preseason action and played 16 snaps, catching two passes on three targets for just 6 yards. Beckham Jr. looked to have juice in his brief time on the field. A busted coverage could have led to a massive play, but Jameis Winston checked it down; it was his final rep, where Beckham Jr. won on an outside release. Still, a player of his caliber is playing against backups. He is no lock to make the roster, but still appears to have play left in his tank.

It's great to see Cam Skattebo back healthy. He picks up five yards behind the blocks of Patrick Ricard, Chris Manhertz, Jermaine Eluemunor, and the pulling BS OG (Runyan)

btw, Chris Manhertz throws two Vikings defenders to the ground on this play. pic.twitter.com/Au9IDpVZkS

- Nick Falato (@nickfalato) August 16, 2026

It wouldn't be a Nick Falato article about the Giants without a Chris Manhertz appreciation post. The veteran tight end gives the Giants a run advantage, and he appears poised to have an important role in a Greg Roman-constructed running offense. Manhertz played nine snaps with the first team; he had this quality rep and also pinned a 295-pound defensive end on a T/C pin-pull sweep out of even 12 personnel. That play is located below, and it didn't work, but the Giants trust the veteran to execute the block, which gives their rushing attack creative options:

The #Giants run pin-pull sweep with the play side tackle and center pulling into space out of UC 12 personnel.

Tight ends like Chris Manhertz (beast) allow offenses to pin 290-pound ends. Blake Cashman and Eric Wilson fit it well, but I like the concept from Greg Roman. pic.twitter.com/l3rOP8Vx2s

- Nick Falato (@nickfalato) August 16, 2026

Arvell Reese

Elite run defense by the #Giants on 2nd & 8...

Fotu and Carter do an excellent job constricting the rushing lane, and Arvell Reese quickly diagnoses and attacks.

Tae Banks was in position as secondary contain and McFadden overlapped for support. Great rep. pic.twitter.com/ia9dLiexa5

- Nick Falato (@nickfalato) August 16, 2026

Arvell Reese has some serious pop on contact. pic.twitter.com/ir1268qw0f

- Nick Falato (@nickfalato) August 16, 2026

Arvell Reese is a DUDE!

Reese quickly fit and blew up the Vikings' FB behind the line of scrimmage. pic.twitter.com/cdhRqU9lUT

- Nick Falato (@nickfalato) August 16, 2026

Defense

Arvell Reese introduced himself well in his 12 preseason snaps. What stood out the most was his physicality and pop on contact. Reese can take on blocks and surprised both the fullback and tight end (TJ Hockenson). He did an excellent job on the top play, fitting the run quickly for a STOP. Reese was the third-highest-graded Giants' defender behind Tyler Nubin and Josh Tupou.

Dennard Wilson ran a simulated pressure on 3rd & 3 with Cover-1 Press on the back end.

Reese is stacked as Carter goes up the arc and Golston slants inward; it gets picked up as McFadden mans up the RB.

Excellent reps by both Tae Banks and Colton Hood on the outside. pic.twitter.com/EZrEVdhb0t

- Nick Falato (@nickfalato) August 16, 2026

Cornerbacks Tae Banks and Colton Hood both had up-and-down performances, with grabbing becoming an issue at times, but each also produced quality reps - particularly when asked to play press-man in Dennard Wilson's scheme.

Wilson was creative on third down, showing multiple ways to generate four- and five-man pressures. The Giants brought pressure from different levels of the defense, including linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties, giving opposing quarterbacks plenty to process.

It was refreshing to see a more aggressive approach from the Giants' defense, especially after the relatively conservative approach we've seen over the last two seasons. Of course, it was only preseason, so the true extent of Wilson's aggressiveness remains to be seen. Still, the early signs suggest this defense could be far more willing to attack than what Giants fans have grown accustomed to.

4-3 front from Dennard Wilson on first down w/ Leki Fotu as the EMOLOS to the boundary.

Caleb Murphy as the WILL w/ Washington dropped into the box.

Abdul Carter does a phenomenal job working through multiple blocks to track down JJ McCarthy to the field. pic.twitter.com/5KY2mrBjY3

- Nick Falato (@nickfalato) August 16, 2026

Abdul Carter does a GREAT job as the field end, working through two blocks to track down J.J. McCarthy (9) and make a tackle at the line of scrimmage. Carter was praised by Giants' legend Carl Banks on this play:

Not many can do what Carter does here and kids dont try ot and Coaches dont try to teach..
He literally goes underneath 2 blocks and still make a tackle for loss..

This is the sh*t LT would do. Defied the laws of leverage https://t.co/yJuEE0vVDC

- Carl Banks (@CarlBanksGIII) August 17, 2026

Another quality run defense rep by the #Giants defense on 1st & 10.

Kayvon Thibodeaux ripped through the tackle's inside shoulder as the LBs quickly got to the LOS.

Both Darius Alexander and Josh Tupou eat double teams, and Carter does enough to restrict the C-Gap. pic.twitter.com/PYJ8sYJzso

- Nick Falato (@nickfalato) August 16, 2026

The Giants defense forced the Vikings into a second-and-long after both Darius Alexander (91) and Josh Tupou (94) absorbed the double teams in the Vikings' DUO concept. Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) does an elite job crashing through the B-gap (3-hole) by ripping underneath the inside shoulder of the tackle and staying square to the running back's destination, with good leverage and control - excellent effort and execution by Kayvon Thibodeaux. The team defense on this play was great too, as the linebackerss were quick to fit and the defensive tackles held the point of attack.

Chauncey Golston spent his 1st year w/ the #Giants injured and w/o a defined role, but he's a quality depth piece behind the starters, with both run & pass-defense skills.

Elite block deconstruction/execution here to contain as the FS end.

He will see the field this season. pic.twitter.com/78H7Wjly6s

- Nick Falato (@nickfalato) August 17, 2026

The Giants have Thibodeaux, Carter, and Burns all on the edge, but Chauncey Golston (57) is a quality depth asset who will have a role this season. Dennard Wilson played in big defensive packages throughout his time in Tennessee and Baltimore, and during this preseason game, he played in 4-3 fronts with Tupou and Leki Fotu playing end man on the line of scrimmage to the boundary. Golston will likely have a BIG-END role, as well as some passing-down reps on the inside. He does an excellent job shedding the block of the tight end to the field and making a tackle for a loss above.

Final thoughts

New York Giants football is back! There were plenty of positive and negative takeaways from the tape after the Giants' preseason loss. Still, one thing is for certain: New York has a much more creative and aggressive defensive strategy, and that's coupled with a significant talent upgrade at linebacker. While the Giants did struggle - at times - against the run, their two starting defensive tackles did not play. The Giants offense flashed, and there's no denying that New York will employ more 21 and 12 personnel than they did with Brian Daboll. Players like Mauignoa should help the Giants establish the run and control the clock, but offesnsive consistency and exection is something that must be proven.