New York Giants (2-4) – Cincinnati Bengals (2-4): 7-17
From the outset, we must put things into perspective. The Giants are not a notorious offensive power. After this game, they only scored one touchdown in three home games. But the Bengals defense carried the group to a victory. Especially since the attack was for once not in broad daylight.
Trey Hendrickson had two sacks, New York finished the first half with four punts and an interception. After the break, the G-Men were stopped twice on fourth down. Enough to compensate for a small offensive evening from Joe Burrow (19/28, 208 yards) and his troop.
Once again, Daniel Jones (22/41, 205 yards, 1 int – 11 carries, 56 yards) and the Giants did not have much to offer, especially in the absence of Malik Nabers. But this is the first time in 75 games that the Bengals have taken less than 10 points!
Joe Course
However, it all started as a potential offensive festival. On the first possession of the game, Joe Burrow takes off… on the run! The Bengals quarterback breaks through the Giants defense 47 yards to score the longest drive of his career, and especially the first touchdown of the game.
After ? Not much anymore. Under stifling pressure led by Brian Burns (1 sack), Dexter Lawrence and Azeez Ojulari (2 sacks), Cincinnati is blocked. Punts follow one another, from one side to the other, until halftime.
Joe Clutch
Well helped by the races of Tyrone Tracy (17 races, 50 yards, 1 TD), the Giants finally advance in the third quarter. And the rookie even equalized by scoring on the ground (7-7).
But Joe Burrow responds immediately with a 33-yard pass to Ja'Marr Chase (5 rec, 72 yards). Not enough to find the end zone, but enough to put Evan McPherson in position for a 37-yard kick (7-10).
Greg Joseph does not have the same success. The Giants kicker misses the target from 47 yards, then the Giants attack is stopped on fourth attempt. The Bengals then continue to produce decisive actions. Burrow found Andrei Iosivas (2 rec, 36 yards) on 29 yards to score a crucial first attempt, and Chase Brown concluded the deal with a 30-yard touchdown on the ground just under two minutes from the final whistle.
Not flashy, but sufficient.
