With the NFL regular season wrapped up and the playoffs kicking off, NewYorkBets.com is taking a break from NFL betting for a moment to analyze both of the Big Apple teams that call MetLife Stadium their home.
Neither team had a shot at the Super Bowl this season, as both the New York Jets and New York Giants finished with the same record of 4-13 in their 2021-22 season, tallying just 8 wins for the New York teams.
With similar records, it is interesting to break down each locker room, and see which team was better at all the positions. By looking at position-by-position, we take a glance at which team actually had a better year.
Position Breakdown
It was another tough year for the New York teams, as neither had a chance at playoff contention and a Super Bowl run. There will be a lot of questions entering the offseason before next season's preseason games start, as the Giants just fired coach Joe Judge before he had a chance to enter his third season. The Jets, however, will have some continuity going into Robert Saleh's second year with the team.
Quarterback Edge: Jets
| Jets | ✅ Zach Wilson, Mike White |
| Giants | ❌ Daniel Jones, Mike Glennon |
While Zach Wilson showed flashes of his talent, the No. 2 overall pick had an underwhelming rookie season. The Jets ranked 20th in the NFL in passing yards per game. A first round draft pick, Jones and the other Giants' quarterbacks ranked 31st passing yards per game in the 2021 season. Mike Glennon played in 6 games, but his future is uncertain.
Running Backs Edge: Jets
| Jets | ✅ Michael Carter, Tevin Coleman, Ty Johnson |
| Giants | ❌ Saquon Barkley, Devontae Booker, Elijhaa Penny |
The Jets had 6 more rushing TDs, while the Giants averaged 4.0 yards per attempt. The Jets had 10 less rushing fumbles and averaged 4.4 yards per attempt, and their running backs combined for more receiving yards and more receiving yards after contact than the Giants in a significant amount of fewer receptions. That being said, the Giants still have Saquon Barkley, and while he may be underperforming, he still has potential to be one of the top backs in the league.
Wide Receivers Edge: Jets
| Jets | ✅ Braxton Berrios, Keelan Cole, Jamison Crowder, Elijah Moore, Corey Davis |
| Giants | ❌ Kadarius Toney, Sterling Shepard, Kenny Golladay, Darius Slayton |
Neither team saw much production from their receivers last season, as the Jets tallied 1,908 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns, and the Giants recorded 1,646 yards and three touchdowns. Additionally, the Jets receivers had a rating of 82.0, and a drop rate of 3.15%. The Giants pass catchers had a rating of 63.3, and a drop rate of 5.65%.
Tight Ends Edge: Giants
| Jets | ❌ Ryan Griffin, Tyler Kroft |
| Giants | ✅ Evan Engram, Kyle Rudolph |
Led by veterans Rudolph and Engram, the Giants tight ends tallied 665 yards and four touchdowns. The Jets, with a younger group, had 434 yards and three touchdowns.
Offensive Live Edge: Giants
| Jets | ❌ Dan Feeney, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Conor McDermott, Greg Van Wroten |
| Giants | ✅ Wes Martin, Billy Price, Matt Skura, Andrew Thomas |
Jets QBs felt pressured 175 times during the season, while the Giants OL only allowed 150 pressures on their QBs. Wilson and Co. felt pressure 28.8% of the time, while Jones and Glennon only felt pressure 23.3% of the time. According to Pro Football Focus, out of the five offensive line starters who appeared the most in games, the Giants had the three highest grades out of the 10 players between both teams.
Defensive Line Edge: Giants
| Jets | ❌ Quinnen Williams, John Franklin-Myers, Folorunso Fatukasi |
| Giants | ✅ Dexter Lawrence, Austin Johnson, Leonard Williams |
The Giants defensive line combined for more combined sacks, blitzes and pressures than the Jets defensive line, as well as higher combined Pro Football Focus grades on average.
Linebackers Edge: Jets
| Jets | ✅ Quincy Williams, Jarrad Davis, C.J. Mosley |
| Giants | ❌ Tae Crowder, Reggie Ragland, Lorenzo Carter, Jaylon Smith |
While the Giants linebacker unit had a higher pass defensive rating and more sacks, the Jets had two of the top linebackers in the league. C.J. Mosley had 103 solo tackles, ranking him No. 2 among all NFL defensive players. Additionally, Pro Football Focus graded Quincy Williams in the Top 15 of all linebackers.
Defensive Backs Edge: Giants
| Jets | ❌ Bryce Hall, Brandin Echols, Ashtyn Davis, Elijah Riley |
| Giants | ✅ Logan Ryan, James Bradberry, Xavier McKinney, Adoree Jackson |
The Jets defensive backs allowed 72.5% completion percentage to opposing quarterbacks, while the Giants only allowed a 67.5% completion percentage. The Jets allowed 2,224 yards passing, while the Giants only allowed 1,969 yards. The Giants also had more made tackles and less missed tackles than the Jets.
Special Teams Edge: Jets
| Jets | ✅ Eddy Pineiro, Braden Mann, Braxton Berrios |
| Giants | ❌ Graham Gano, Riley Dixon, Adoree Jackson |
The Jets made 21 out of 27 field goal attempts, while the Giants made 29 out of 33. The Jets had a net punt average of 41.8 yards, while the Giants averaged 41.2 yards. In the return game, Berrios showed flashes of excellence, giving the Jets an overall edge in special teams. The Jets averaged 27.4 yards per kick return, and 10.6 yards per punt return, while the Giants averaged 20.7 kick return yards and 8.5 punt return yards.
Coaches Edge: Jets
| Jets | ✅ Robert Saleh |
| Giants | ❌ ??? |
After a tough first year, Saleh will look to have a better second season as Jets head coach. Regardless, the Jets are still in a better position than the Giants, who just fired Judge after two seasons, and have yet to announce who they will hire next.
Final Thoughts
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