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#4.) Melvin Ingram v. Giants - 6 tackles, 2 sacks, forced fumble, fumble recovery, TFL
It took us awhile but we are finally highlighting our first Melvin Ingram performance on this list.
The headliner of the matchup between the Giants and Chargers was that each team was coming into the week with a dismal 0-4 record on the season. Everyone knew someone was going to get their first win of the season, but who was it going to be?
Based on Ingram’s play alone, you couldn’t help but know what his answer would have been.
Ingram had his engine revving from the very first whistle. Seemingly applying pressure to Eli Manning on every play.
Coming out of halftime, the score was 10-9 with the Chargers narrowly in the lead. On a 3rd and 5, defensive coordinator Gus Bradley drew up a beautiful stunt utilizing Ingram and Joey Bosa on the same side of the line.
As the ball was snapped, Bosa bowled into the left guard from an inside alignment, bringing him with as he attacked the inside shoulder of the left tackle. With #99 succeeding in occupying both offensive line, Ingram twisted inside free of opposition and sacked Manning for a loss of 13 yards. This effectively killed any momentum the Giants may have had to start the half.
With four minutes left in the game, the Giants owned a 22-20 lead with the ball on their 23-yard line. On a pivotal 3rd and 7, Ingram went full-on “Supa Mel”. Taking advantage of some confusion along the Giants’ offensive line, Ingram came free up the middle once more for a strip-sack of Manning. Ingram then went on to recover the fumble himself at the New York 11-yard line.
This set the Chargers up for a 10-yard touchdown run by Melvin Gordon, giving the Bolts a 27-22 lead they would never relinquish and the first victory of the 2017 season.