A new era in NY Giants football started off on the right foot with a 21-20 victory in Week 1 vs the Tennessee Titans. By no means was this a perfect football game for Big Blue, but the team fought from behind and found a way to win. This was the Giants first Week 1 win since beating Dallas on the road in 2016.
It always feels right to start off the season with a win and this is momentum that the team can continue to build off of. The Giants offense was struggling to make anything happen in the first half and it looked like the Titans were going to blow it wide open sooner or later.
However, second-half adjustments and gutsy play calls by Brian Daboll all helped the G-Men walk away with a win. Next, here are four moments that werre key for the Giants in recording the upset.
4. 65-yard Sterling Shepard TD
The Giants began their first offensive drive of the second half with a four-yard touchdown run by Saquon Barkley, who looked absolutely incredible yesterday. Tennessee’s next drive ended in a three and out forced by the Giants defense. Daniel Jones and the offense would soon capitalize.
Two plays after the Titans punted the ball to NY, Jones would find the longest tenured Giant Sterling Shepard on a 65-yard touchdown pass that would tie the game 13-13 with 8:48 left in the third quarter.
Despite only having two catches, Shep still led the offense with 71 receiving yards. It was great to see Shepard fully healthy and productive after dealing with two different injuries last season. An ideal start to the season for Shepard and the NY Giants.
3. 12-plays, 73-yards, and a game-winning drive
New York was down 20-13 with 10:28 left in the fourth. They were given outstanding field position after recovering a muffed punt at the Titans 11 yard line.
Jones would throw an interception on 3rd and 7 trying to target Barkley in the corner of the end zone. Luckily, the defense had another stop left in them. Tae Crowder, who finished the game with seven tackles, teamed up with Austin Calitro on 3rd and 1 to force the Titans to punt the ball away.
The Giants would start with the ball on their 27 yard line. A 33-yard rush by Saquon had NY close to the red zone with about four minutes left in regulation. Big Blue was now staring at a 4th and 1 from the 17 yard line, needing a touchdown to tie or potentially take the lead.
A naked bootleg run by Jones picked up a first down to keep the drive moving. Not too long after on a 2nd and goal from the one, Jones would find tight-end Chris Myarick for a one-yard touchdown to only now be down 20-19. What happened next was truly shocking.
2. A two-point conversion to take the lead
A little over a minute left in regulation… Kick an extra point and tie the game or go for two and potentially steal a road win in Week 1? Head coach Brian Daboll already had his mind made up; he wasn’t playing it safe. If you’re a fan of the NFL, you’ve seen Patrick Mahmoes and the Chiefs execute a shovel pass close to the goal line.
Daboll knows a thing or two about playing against the Chiefs and don’t forget Giants OC Mike Kafka spent 2017-21 with Kansas City. Jones would shovel a pass to Saquon who would finish the play off by trucking a Titans defender into the end zone, giving the Giants a 21-20 lead.
Giants fans have to be thrilled with the execution on the game-winning drive. The offense had looked so stale at points in the last 3-4 seasons and that two-point conversion alone was enough to see that this is not your typical NY Giants offense.
Daboll is using the offense to its strengths. Saquon is healthy and clearly was ready to carry the offense in the second half. They were able to mix in some deep shots for Jones as well.
1. Giants get first win on missed field goal
It was hard to keep track of how many games the Giants lost by one possession last season. The team lost back-to-back weeks on game-winning field goals in Week 2 and Week 3. Despite having three penalties called against them on the Titans final drive, the Giants had some luck on their side.
Tennessee moved the ball all the way to the Giants 29 yard line and it was looking like another loss by one possession or less. Randy Bullock would try a 47-yard field goal with just four seconds left on the clock. WIDE LEFT!!! Somehow Bullock missed the field goal and the NY Giants are victorious in Week 1.
A win is a win no matter how it comes. They did enough to take the lead and used a little bit of luck to escape with a victory. Hats off to Daboll being gutsy enough to go for two points late in that game. Not sure if any Giants coach in the last six years would have done that.
An exciting win for the team in Week 1. The Giants will be in East Rutherford this Sunday when the visiting Carolina Panthers come into town. Can Big Blue do the impossible and start the season 2-0?
4 NY Giants who saved the day in Week 1 win over the Titans
After the NY Giants thrilling Week 1 victory against the Tennessee Titans, many fans of the team are ecstatic, and rightfully so.