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LIVE BLOG: Giants Survive Second Half Scare by Browns to Notch First Win, 21-15

What initially looked like a blowout ended up closer than expected.

Patricia Traina

Sep 22, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) makes a touchdown reception under coverage by Cleveland Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during the second quarter at Huntington Bank Field.
Sep 22, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) makes a touchdown reception under coverage by Cleveland Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during the second quarter at Huntington Bank Field. / Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
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The New York Giants avoided their first 0-3 start to the regular season since 2021 by beating the Cleveland Browns 21-15.

The Giants defense recorded eight sacks against Browns quarterback DeShaun Watson, whose banged-up offensive line suffered further injuries. 

Giants quarterback Daniel Jones recorded his second straight multi-touchdown game, throwing both scores to receiver Malik Nabers, who finished with eight receptions on 12 targets for 78 yards.

Jones meanwhile finished 24 of 34 for 236 yards and two touchdowns. And running back Devin Singletary finished with 65 yards on 16 carries.

New York improved to 1-2 with a big divisional game coming up Thursday night at home against the Dallas Cowboys.  

Fouth Quarter

  • INJURY UPDATES: Browns OL Jedrick Wills Jr. has a knee injury and his return is questionable. And Browns OL James Hudson has a shoulder injury and his return is questionable.

14:03: Jones avoided a catastrophe when he put it up for grabs while under pressure deep in his own territory. Thankfully, it fell incomplete. Still, a bad throw there.

  • INJURY UPDATES: ILB Micah McFadden (back) is being helped off the field by trainers. And receiver Darius Slayton (thumb) walked to the locker room. Both are questionable to return.

11:36: The Browns capitalize on a short field as Watson finds Amari Cooper for his second touchdown of the day. Cooper beat Deonte Banks who was in coverage. The Browns get the two-point conversion. Six-point game. NYG 21-CLE 15.

7:47: Huge break for the Giants as Cleveland fumbles and Azeez Ojulari recovers at the Giatns' 46. Huge momentum swinger.

4:40: Kayvon Thibodeaux and Jason Pinnock blow up a 3rd-and-short for no gain. On the ensuing play, Watson is unable to convert.

3:04: New Giants kicker Greg Joseph pushes his first field goal attempt (48 yards) as a Giant wide right

2:28: Browns go for it on 4th-and-5 but Watson's pass to Tillman is incomplete.

2:23: And that should do it for the Giants as Devin Singletary breaks free for a 43 yard run before giving himself up at the 1-yard line. Browns are out of time outs so the Giants should win this one, 21-15.

Third Quarter

New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) and linebacker Brian Burns
Sep 22, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) and linebacker Brian Burns (0) celebrate after Burns strip-sacked Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (not pictured) during the first half at Huntington Bank Field. / Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

15:00: The Browns go on offense to start the second half.

  • INJURY UPDATE: CB Adoree' Jackson (calf) is questionable to return.

13:01: Giants RB Devin Singletary's second lost fumble in as many weeks gives the Browns the ball back.

12:10: Browns on the move. Watson's 13-yard scramble gets him to the Giants' 30.

11:33: Sack No 6 for the Giants as Jason Pinnock comes in off the edge for the f (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson sacked at NYG 35 for -5 yards (27-J.Pinnock).

10:49: The Browns cannot convert on the Giants turnover, as kicker Dustin Hopkins's 53-yard field goal attempt sails wide left. Giants 21, Browns 7

9:56: High snap from center. Jones tries to salvage the play but no dice. Also, Giants Jon Runyan was called for being an ineligible man downfield.

  • INJURY UPDATE: Browns RG Wyatt Teller has a knee injury and is out.

7:25: Watson was sacked for the seventh time today, this one by Azeez Ojulari, who is having his best game as a pro. This is the first time the Giants have recorded 7+ sacks in a game since 2016, when they did so against the Browns on November 27.

  • STAT NOTE: Giants have yet to convert on third down this half as they fail to convert the takeaway into points.

END OF THE THIRD QUARTER: Giants 21, Browns 7

Halftime

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers
Sep 22, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) runs the ball against the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter at Huntington Bank Field. / Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

The Browns have had no plays in Giants territory since the opening drive.

Daniel Jones is having a nice day after shaking off an earlier interception that was nullified. Jones is 17 of 19 (89.5%) for 178 yards and two touchdowns (140.8).

Malik Nabers has six catches on six tagets for 66 yards and two touchdowns. NFC Player of the Week worthy?

Giants winning time of possession, 19:07 to 10:53.

Giants outgained Cleveland 218 to 41 yards.

Tyrone Tracy, Jr. the Giatns leading rusher at the half with 18 yards on four carries.

Second Quarter

11:49: Watson connects with Amari Cooper for 13 yards as the Giants give up a third-and-long.

10:29: Ouch! Giants cornerback Deonte Banks called for defensive pass interference on a ball intended for Amari Cooper. That's a 13-yard penalty. That came on 2nd-and-9.

8:41: After the officials figured out that WAtsonw was guilty of intentional grounding, Browns punted. Ball is fair-caught by Smith-Marsette.

2:32: Gorgeous catch by Malik Nabers on a deep pass to the left. Nabers doing a nuce job to stay in bounds. Giants on the move.

2:00: We have reached the two-minute warning.

1:49: And the Giants take the lead on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Jones to Nabers to cap a 14-play, 93-yard drive. Second impressive scoring drive by the Giants today. NYG 14 - CLE 7.

:38: Watson was sacked by Brian Burns, who forced a fumble. It was recovered by Elijah Chatman the Browns' 30-yard line. That's their fourth sack of the game.

:15: Jermaine Eluemunor, who, to my eyes, looks like he's been calling out close on the pass set, gets called for a false start.

:15 : Touchdown Nabers! What a game he's had. NYG 21-CLE 7

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper
Sep 22, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) makes a touchdown reception under coverage by New York Giants cornerback Deonte Banks (3) during the first quarter at Huntington Bank Field. / Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

First Quarter

15:00 And away we go. Eric Gray, who was ineffective as a kickoff returner last year, coughs up the ball. Browns recover (Grant Delpit) and start from the Giants 24-yard line.

14:55: And just like that, Cleveland is up 7-0 on a Deshaun Watson pass to Amari Cooper. Can't make this stuff up.

13:25: On 3rd-and-11, Daniel Jones tries to get the ball to a triple-covered Malik Nabers, who only manages to pick up four yards. Giants go three-and-out. 

11:42: Giants had the Browns stopped on 3rd-and-2 thanks to a sack by Micah McFadden, but an offside penalty on Rakeem Nunez-Roches nullifies it.

Schmitz appears to be fine and is back in the game.

9:51: Ugh. Daniel Jones's pass intended for Theo Johnson is picked off by Ronnie Hickman, but luckily a personal foul against the Browns nullifies it.

8:04: Giants fo for it on 4th-and-1 and Nabers picks it up on a jetsweep.

  • INJURY UPDATE: Giants CB Dru Phillips has a calf injury and is questionable to return.

3:42: Well, how about that? The Giants just ran a successful screen pass that went for 23 yards (Devin Singletary) to give the Giants 1st-and-goal.

2:12: Touchdown Devin Singletary! Giants ran a heavy personnel pacage to get push up front, capping a 13-play, 81-yard drive. Game is tied, 7-7.

1:30: SACK! Micah McFadden with the Giants second sack of the quarter.

:48: SACK! Rookie Elijah Chatman gets his first career sack, dropping Watson for a 10-yard loss.

***END OF QUARTER: NYG 7 - CLE 7***

Pregame

Outside linebacker Brian Burns (groin), who was listed as questionable for the game, is expected to be active today. Burns went through a pregame workout with the Giants medical and management brass looking on.

Inactives:

Hot Mic! Giants DL Dexter Lawrence called tails, but it came up the head." Dex gets caught saying, "G--damn it."

Saturday News

The Giants elevated linebacker Ty Summers and cornerback Art Green from the practice squad. They are also rolling with veteran kicker Greg Joseph for the Week 3 game against the Browns.

Published |Modified
Patricia Traina

PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for over three decades for various media outlets. She is the host of the Locked On Giants podcast and the author of "The Big 50: New York Giants: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants" (Triumph Books, September 2020). View Patricia's full bio.

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