New York Giants: Osi Umenyiora’s Top 5 Performances

Week 4 – Week 7, 2011 Season

Oct 23, 2014; Hertfordshire, UNITED KINGDOM; Atlanta Falcons defensive end Osi Umenyiora at press conference at the Grove Hotel in advance of the International Series game against the Detroit Lions. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The first standout performance on our list for Umenyiora with the Giants comes during the 2011 season. This was a rocky offseason between Umenyiora and the Giants, as he held out of training camp, claiming Reese said they would renegotiate his contract and never did. As a result, he was placed on the reserve/did not report list.

He returned the next day, but lasted only three practices with this teammates before he injured his knee. The injury required arthroscopic surgery, which forced him out of the first three games of the season. Well, he certainly made up for lost time quickly, as Umenyiora hit the ground running when he returned.

Umenyiora would record his longest consecutive streak game with a sack to start the season, getting one in each of the first four games. He got two against the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks, then one each against the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins. He also added 10 tackles, one safety and two forced fumbles over that stretch as he dominated opposing offensive lines.

More importantly, the Giants received the boost they needed with his return, as they went 3-1 in those games. That ended up being huge, as it pushed the Giants record to 5-2, as a late season swoon with Umenyiora sidelined once again put the Giants playoff hopes in peril. But, with the season on the line, Umenyiora returned, which brings us to the next game on the list.

Next: Defeating A Division Rival