Giants defense leads NFL in havoc rate; can make history vs. Bengals

The New York Giants lead the NFL in sacks with 22 through five games this season. And they have an opportunity to do something few teams have done in NFL history.

Big Blue has logged five sacks in three of their first five games and (per NFL Communications) with five sacks again this Sunday night against the Cincinnati Bengals, “the Giants will become the third team since 1990 to record at least five sacks in four of their first six games of a season, joining New England in 2019 and Tampa Bay in 2000.”

Should the Giants record six sacks Sunday night, “they will tie the 2000 Buccaneers (28 sacks) and 1998 Seahawks (28) for the third-most sacks by a team in their first six games of a season since 1990.”

But sacks aren’t the only stat the Giants’ defense is excelling at. Per football stat guru Warren Sharp, the Giants have the “best havoc rate” in the NFL this year.

Best Havoc Rate on Defense

(rate of plays resulting in sacks, forced fumbles, INTs, TFLs or PBUs)

1. New York Giants
2. Cleveland Browns
3. Minnesota Vikings
4. San Francisco 49ers
5. Chicago Bears
6. Detroit Lions
7. Philadelphia Eagles
8. Houston Texans
9. Miami Dolphins
10.…

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) October 9, 2024

“Havoc rate” is defined by the “rate of plays resulting in sacks, forced fumbles, interceptions, tackles for a loss or passes defensed.”

The Giants are led by Dexter Lawrence with six sacks. He is second in the NFL behind only Detroit’s Aiden Hutchinson, who has 6.5.

11 different players have recorded sacks for the Giants this season.