EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Late in the third quarter of a game he'd begun to dominate, Jason Pierre-Paul turned to New York Giants defensive linemate Robert Ayers and said, "You got it?" And Ayers nodded. Pierre-Paul called a stunt, swinging over to stop the run while Ayers went after the quarterback from his defensive tackle position. Falcons running back Devonta Freeman saw a huge hole close and Pierre-Paul wrapped him up after a 1-yard gain.
"That play wasn't on," Pierre-Paul said after the Giants had completed their 30-20 comeback victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. "I ran the stunt, but before I did I had to make sure he knew, and that he had the quarterback. That's just an example of our communication getting better as a pass rush."
So much of the focus in this young season has been on the new Giants offense and the ways in which it has or hasn't come together. Three straight victories have obscured the early-season troubles and lifted the 3-2 Giants over .500 for the first time since 2012, and they are averaging 35 points per game over that stretch. The addition of first-round pick Odell Beckham Jr., who made his debut Sunday after missing the first four games with a hamstring injury, gives them reason to believe the offense can stay on the upswing.
But amid all of that excitement, the Giants' pass rush took over Sunday's game when it had to. The Falcons had a 20-10 lead with 5:37 left in the third quarter. And on the sideline, the Giants' defensive players believed the offense would come back if they could keep the Falcons from adding on.
"We just felt like we had to take over this game," Ayers said. "We love those situations. We like having it all on the defense's back."
It wasn't as easy a day for the Giants' defensive line as many suspected it would be. After a week that saw the Falcons put three starting offensive linemen on injured reserve, this looked like a matchup Pierre-Paul, Ayers & Co. should dominate. But the Falcons have talented skill position players on offense, and in the first half quarterback Matt Ryan did a great job of beating the Giants' rush with quick screens and swing passes to running backs. Star wide receiver Julio Jones made brilliant catch after brilliant catch. Veteran running back Steven Jackson played tough.
So at halftime, adjustments were made. The linebackers were told to stop blitzing and to stay in coverage on the running backs. That left it to the Giants' front four to keep the pressure on, and they responded by turning up the intensity.
"I think it got more intense, absolutely," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "And some of the stunts up front were more effective. Two different halves, as far as I'm concerned."
The Giants have shown they can control games with their quick-hitting, no-huddle offense. But until Sunday, they hadn't shown an ability to come back from a deficit. In order to do it Sunday, they had to be able to count on the defense to keep Ryan and the Falcons from getting first downs. In the first three Atlanta possessions after they took that 20-10 lead, the Falcons did not get a single first down.
"We definitely took it to a different level," Pierre-Paul said.
It culminated with 4:40 left on the clock and the Giants up 27-20. The Falcons elected to go for it on fourth-and-1 from their own 29-yard line. Ryan took the snap and dropped back, and second-year defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins finally cashed in on a game's worth of pressure by the Giants by notching their first sack of the day.
"It was good to see, because around here it's tough for defensive tackles, because we put four ends on the field and it's all about the ends," defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka said. "So when those guys have the opportunity, they really feel they have to take advantage of it."
Hankins was happy to do so. He said he predicted to linebacker Jon Beason that he'd get a sack on that drive, and he did it. Pierre-Paul was certainly right about that communication thing. The Giants' defensive linemen are communicating so well right now, they can see into the future.
