Were it not for a stalwart defensive line, the New York Giants’ season-opening six-game losing streak may look even worse. And at the center of that strong defensive performance is defensive tackle Mike Patterson.
Patterson, 30, had an unknown NFL future in front of him after appearing in just five games for the Philadelphia Eagles last season following brain surgery during the offseason. His play through the first six games of this season, however, has been impressive and well timed.
He is currently ranked as the 11th-best defensive tackle in the league by Pro Football Focus, with solid scores for his play against the run. In 190 snaps played, Patterson has recorded 12 tackles (11 solo). His presence on the field has been one of the lone positive points for the Giants, who currently rank the bottom in most significant defensive categories. According to PFF, Patterson has notched 10 defensive stops (the cumulative number of tackles which result in an offensive failure); that number is 12th in the NFL among all defensive tackles and only one of the 11 players in front of him have played fewer snaps.
Though he is not on the field for all of the Giants’ defensive snaps, he is seeing a fairly equal share of them while he mixes in and out with fellow tackles Linval Joseph and Cullen Jenkins. And when he is on the field, he’s making an impact for a defensive unit in desperate need of something positive. He is among the league’s premier run stoppers though was never expected to produce as he has for New York thus far.
At this point in his career — and after all he’s been through — who could’ve predicted he’d be having the season he is? But we’re six games in and, if those first six are any indication, they’re going to need a lot more from him in the coming weeks.
The Giants’ Week 7 match up — potentially their easiest to date at home against the 1-4 Minnesota Vikings — could be Patterson’s toughest, as he is tasked with the challenge of slowing down the defending NFL MVP, Adrian Peterson.
Peterson may not be having quite the year he had in 2012, but he is still the league’s most dangerous rusher. He is averaging 4.7 yards per attempt while doing his best to carry a lackluster offensive unit in Minnesota. The Giants — the league’s seventh-worst run defense — will have their hands full simply trying to slow him down.
That’s where Patterson comes in.
The G-Men are desperate for a win. They need a win. The biggest key to victory will be containing Peterson and forcing new starting quarterback Josh Freeman to win with his arm. This situation favors the Giants.
Everything else is in their favor: the Vikings’ atrocious defense, having talented coaches, captains and athletes in New York and a battle at home inside MetLife Stadium on Monday Night Football. They can’t afford to start 0-7… otherwise they might as well go 0-16. They must win Monday night against the Vikings and, using their stout defensive tackles — namely Mike Patterson — to stop Peterson will make their efforts much easier.
Louis Musto is a reporter and sports talk host for the Sports Journey Broadcast Network. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. All quotes were acquired first hand or via team press releases unless otherwise noted. You can follow him on Twitter @LouisMusto.