For once, the Giants’ special teams was one step ahead of the opposition. The result was a momentum-turning play in Big Blue’s 27-13 victory over the Packers at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
Trailing 13-6 late in the third quarter, the Packers faced a fourth-and-7 from the Giants’ 43-yard-line. Green Bay attempted a fake punt, giving the ball to up-man M.D. Jennings, who was stopped a yard short by linebacker Spencer Paysinger. The Giants converted the beneficial field position into a touchdown and a 14-point lead.
Paysinger deferred credit to safety Ryan Mundy, who called out the fake before the snap. On the previous play, a Packers punt, John Kuhn was in as the punt protector, but after a 5-yard running-into-the-punter penalty was called on Giants receiver Louis Murphy, Kuhn was taken out.
“When we got up to the line we noticed they were trying to go quick,” Paysinger recalled. “I’m in my stance and Ryan Mundy calls out ‘New [punt protector].’ The new PP was 43 [Jennings] instead of Kuhn. When you don’t have one of your most trusted people on the field in a situation like that, your antennas kind of go up.”
The play call was a blitz, but Paysinger aborted the call, stayed back at his position and was able to bring down Jennings just shy of the first down.
“It was a good play for us,” Paysinger said.
Stopping the fake punt was by far the biggest splash play by the Giants’ special teams on Sunday, but the unit was stout otherwise in all facets, rare for the struggling group which has allowed four touchdowns this season, three on punt returns.
Punter Steve Weatherford enjoyed one of his best days as a Giant, averaging 53 yards per punt and a 42.2 net average — his highest of the season — on five attempts. Reuben Randle set up the Giants’ first touchdown with a 32-yard return. They held Green Bay’s Micah Hyde to just 34 yards on three punt returns, and Hyde managed only a long of 27 on three kickoff returns.
“Hopefully this is the start of a great thing because realistically our punt and other special teams areas have been sub-par, we know that,” Paysinger said. “That’s on me, and Mark [Herzlich] and Ryan Mundy, guys who are primarily on special teams. You’ll see a difference in the coming weeks.”