Aug 28, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets quarterback Bailey Zappe (11) is tackled by New York Giants linebacker Khalid Kareem (54) during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The New York Giants drubbed the Jets 23-6 in Friday night’s preseason finale. Although most starters for both teams were held out of the contest, the game served as the last opportunity for coaches to evaluate their depth and make important decisions regarding competition within positional groups.
“Every player in the National Football League is a great football player,” Giants head coach John Harbaugh said. “It’s all challenging, in a great way, because guys have an opportunity to play and make [their] dreams come true and building your team [is] exciting.”
This is what we learned.
Giants
The Giants’ victory is an encouraging sign as the performance followed a dominant showing against the Miami Dolphins last week. Only four players drafted by New York in 2022 and 2023 remain on the team, which suggests Coach Harbaugh has done an effective job finding replacements who can execute the new scheme.
Odell Beckham Jr. proved he still has a place in the NFL as he demonstrated quickness and confidence on the field that led to three catches for 53 yards. Beckham even broke away downfield for a would-be 73-yard touchdown, but the pass was overthrown by backup quarterback Jameis Winston.
He officially made the final 53-man roster on Sunday.
The Giants made progress in sorting out their running back depth as newly signed veteran Najee Harris received the bulk of the touches out of the backfield. Harris gained 59 yards on his 11 carries and made a strong push to be the team’s main backup behind Cam Skattebo.
For the second straight week, the Giants held their opponent to under 100 yards both rushing and passing. Young defensive linemen Darius Alexander and Bobby Jamison-Travis impressed and showed that they can step up when veteran starters D.J. Reader and Shelby Harris need to rest.
Jets
For the Jets, it is clear there are questions remaining at the backup quarterback position, as Cade Klubnick struggled in Friday’s loss. He completed just six of his 13 pass attempts for 59 yards and threw one interception. The team may look for a veteran presence off waivers following roster cuts.
“Every single aspect of our game, everything’s gotta improve,” Jets quarterback Geno Smith said. “That’s gonna be something I’ll continue to say. [Anything] we can do to get better every single day.”
Two veteran defenders stood out for a Jets defense that looks to improve from its 25th-ranked standing last season. Linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball intercepted a pass from Winston and defensive end Nate Lynn tallied both a sack and a tackle for loss.
Kicker Jason Sanders badly missed a 54-yard attempt as well as an extra point, and the team may be tempted to explore adding another option off waivers.
Both the Giants and Jets will begin their season on Sunday, Sept. 13, with games against the Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans, respectively.
