The NY Giants moved into first place in the NFC East race after toppling the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday
Sunday’s 19-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals will go down among the NY Giants’ most bittersweet victories of the season.
Daniel Jones was in the midst of a strong performance — his third turnover free game in as many weeks — when disaster struck in the third quarter.
Jones landed awkwardly while running for a first down and looked awkward on the next play, before two plays later hobbling to the ground and suffering a hamstring injury. While Jones returned to the game for a pair of plays on the Giants’ next possession, he was ultimately knocked from the contest when his leg gave out on an awkward passing attempt and he was unable to put any weight driving off his back leg.
Colt McCoy came on in relief of Jones and completed 6-of-10 passing attempts for 31 yards, and led the Giants to a critical two-point victory over the Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium that vaults New York to the top of the NFC East standings.
Before getting hurt, Jones completed 16-of-27 passes for 213 yard, but Sunday’s game was all about the dominance of running back Wayne Gallman.
The Bengals were given new lift when a controversial pass interference was called on Giants cornerback Darnay Holmes in the end zone, when Holmes — despite having his back to the play, turned his head and made a play on the ball. Bengals quarterback Brandon Allen found Tee Higgins for a touchdown to pull Cincinnati to within 19-17.
But, the Giants’ defense did just enough to slam the door shut on the final possession, on offense it was all about Gallman.
Gallman’s punishing running style and the Giants’ commitment to the ground game had all the hallmarks of a team capable of making some noise down the stretch and potentially in the playoffs. But, the uncertainty surrounding Jones’ injury and availability in coming weeks casts a dark shadow over one of the most promising stretches of Giants football in recent memory.
Here’s a look at our instant analysis from Sunday’s victory:
Wayne Train barreling down the tracks
Wayne Gallman’s power-running style has picked up speed in recent weeks, and he looks more each game like an every down workhorse. It’s no secret that the Giants’ offense has been most successful since the Giants inserted Gallman into that role.
Gallman finished Sunday with 22 carries for 82 yards, and a touchdown.
From the start of the game, the Giants used Gallman as a battering ram when he touched the ball on seven of nine plays on New York’s opening possession that was capped by a one-yard Gallman touchdown plunge.
As the Giants were working in a new offensive line coach this week, and the line continues to improve, the best friend of an offensive line is the ability to consistently settle into being able to impose your will on a defense while run-blocking. The Giants did exactly that for much of Sunday.
By game’s end, the Giants called 37 runs and 38 passes, which is precisely the kind of balance that makes teams tough to beat over the final month of the schedule and into the postseason.
Turnovers and special teams breakdowns costly
The Giants dominated every aspect of the first half, save for the scoreboard and two plays.
Following a methodical nine-play opening possession to jump out to a 7-0 lead, the typically stellar Giants special teams broke down in a big way.
Bengals kick returner Brandon Wilson took Graham Gano’s ensuing 68-yard kickoff 103 yards for a touchdown to tie the score on the longest play in Cincinnati franchise history. Later, Wilson took the second half kickoff 23 yards to the Bengals’ 38.
On a pivotal Riley Dixon punt with :57 remaining, the Giants allowed a return to the 50-yard line.
Special teams have been a hallmark for the Giants the past two seasons, but that was not the case on Sunday.
Later, the Bengals turned an Evan Engram fumble that Bengals defensive back Von Bell punched out of Engrams hands, into a Randy Bulloch 44-yard field goal with 3:37 remaining in the second quarter.
The game was tied at halftime, despite the Giants out-gaining the Bengals (223 yards to 66), picking up more first downs (12-4), and converting more third downs (55 percent to 40 percent), but the first half was a microcosm for how costly mistakes can be during a stretch run towards the postseason when margins for error become slimmer.
The impact of turnovers works both ways, as the Giants’ pair of turnovers forced in the second half turned out to be game altering.
From defensive end Niko Lalos’ third quarter interception to Logan Ryan’s forced fumble and fumble recovery, the Giants’ defense made two more plays Sunday that make it fair to wonder just how high this team’s ceiling has the chance to be.
Mr. Consistency
Graham Gano picked up where he left off, prior to testing positive for COVID-19.
With :21 remaining in the first quarter, Gano ran up the second-longest made field goal streak in Giants franchise history to 21 consecutive games, when he sneaked in a 49-yard field goal just inside the upright to tie the game at 10 apiece.
Gano added field goals from 40, 32, and 39 yards, keeping his streak intact.
By game’s end, Gano had made 24 consecutive field goal tries.
While quarantined, Gano practiced his footwork and kicking form by installing a kicking net in his hotel room. The practice certainly paid off, just as Gano continues to pay dividends as one of the franchise’s most impactful offseason additions. Gano might also be the best player on the roster.
What it means
The victory vaults the Giants into a first place tie in the NFC East race, where they’ll sit atop the standings until at least Monday night.
Depending on Jones’ health, the Giants have to be considered a favorite.
Because the Giants swept the season-series against the Washington Football Team, the Giants own that tiebreaker. If the Philadelphia Eagles lose to the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night, the Giants will be in sole possession of first place for the first time since Week 14 of the 2015 season.
The Giants have one more game remaining against a division opponent, the beleaguered Dallas Cowboys in Week 17 at MetLife Stadium. Sunday’s victory over the Bengals positions the the Giants to have a chance to clinch the division championship — and a home playoff game that day.
First things first, though, the now 4-7 Giants return to action next Sunday against Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks.
Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL.