'Let's go!' Brian Daboll's turnaround of Giants shown through signature win against Packers | Opinion

Corrections & Clarifications: A previous version of this story misidentified the location of the game. It was played at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Brian Daboll could barely contain his emotions.

The New York Giants' first-year coach hugged and greeted his players and other members of the franchise all the way to the tunnel at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. That's when he saw Giants fans and screamed at the top of his lungs.

“Let’s go!” Daboll said. “Let’s [expletive] go!”

Daboll and the Giants stormed back from a 17-3 deficit in the first half to beat Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers 27-22 on Sunday, marking a signature win in Daboll’s first season as an NFL head coach.

Daboll should be considered an early Coach of the Year favorite, considering the turnaround he has orchestrated  on a  Giants team that lacks depth.

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The Giants are 4-1, and off to their best start since 2009. In a competitive NFC East, the Eagles enter Sunday's game against the Cardinals 4-0, while the 3-1 Cowboys visit the Rams.

More importantly, New York has already matched its win total from a season ago.

The Giants’ revival has come under Daboll and new general manager Joe Schoen, both of whom joined New York after a successful run with the Bills.

And it’s been a breath of fresh air compared to the incompetence the Giants displayed under previous coach Joe Judge and general manager Dave Gettlemen.

Star running back Saquan Barkley, who has been hampered by injuries during the last three seasons, should also be a favorite to win Comeback Player of the Year behind his strong start in 2022.

Barkley led the Giants with 106 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown run against the Packers, including a wicked stick-and-move during a 41-yard catch in the third quarter and a 2-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that put New York ahead for good.

Daboll, an offensive-minded coach who has worked with Bills star Josh Allen and Tua Tagovailoa at Alabama, has also placed starting quarterback Daniel Jones in an ideal position to lead the Giants' offense.

Sometimes, that means taking the ball out of the hands of Jones, who is in the final year of his rookie contract without a fifth-year option or extension.

And with some creativity, Daboll’s play calls have worked.

During the second quarter when the comeback began, the Giants ran a reverse run play. Jones handed the ball off to Barkley, who then gave it to tight end Daniel Bellinger, who turned the corner and charged into the end zone for the 2-yard score.

Daboll also saw the weaknesses in Green Bay’s defense, calling for backup running back Gary Brightwell’s 2-yard touchdown run right up the middle early in the fourth quarter.

And during Barkley’s touchdown run, the running back lined up in a wildcat formation with Jones off the field, and ran straight toward the right pylon to give the Giants the lead.

Jones completed 21 of 27 passes for 217 yards against the Packers, and Daboll has also relied on Jones’ ability to extend drives with his legs. Jones finished with 10 carries for 37 yards, including a 14-yard run.

Daboll is also leaving his imprint on the Giants' offense without the team’s highest-paid receiver, Kenny Golladay, who has been a non-factor this season with just two catches and a knee injury that prevented him from making the trip to London.

Shifty receiver Kadarius Toney, the Giants’ first-round pick in 2021, has been dealing with hamstring injuries for the last three games. Veteran Sterling Shepard is already out for the season with a torn ACL. Veteran Darius Slayton led the Giants with six catches for 79 yards against the Packers.

Fortunately, the Giants' defense was opportunistic against Rodgers and the Packers, too.

Second-year safety Xavier McKinney knocked down Rodgers’ last pass before his failed Hail Mary attempt to end the game, while Giants rookie first-round pick Kayvon Thibodeaux knocked another Rodgers pass one play earlier.

Daboll has the Giants re-energized. They are playing for one another. And an upset win over the Packers is a great sign.

The Giants’ depth in certain areas, like receiver, is concerning. It makes you wonder how much longer New York can sustain its fantastic start.

But Daboll’s leadership is the new X-factor opponents must consider, and he has the Giants in position to compete for a playoff spot.

That would be something they haven't done since 2016.