Giants Put Up Fight but Fall Short vs. Rams, 26-25

Penalties, mistakes help thwart Giants' efforts to upset Los Angeles.

East Rutherford, N.J.: The New York Giants fought hard but barely fell short against the Los Angeles Rams, heartbreakingly losing 26-25.

In an evenly matched game in total yards and time of possession (391-389 and 30:11-29:49, both in the Rams’ favor), the Giants had one of their best offensive showings on the season while their defense forced three turnovers. Unfortunately, they failed to convert a potential go-ahead two-point conversion after a dramatic 94-yard punt return touchdown by Gunner Olszewski, and kicker Mason Crosby missed a potential game-winning field goal in the game's waning seconds.

Giants quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who replaced Tommy DeVito as the starter, completed 27 of 41 passes for 319 yards and a touchdown despite being sacked six times and throwing an interception; he also ran for 40 yards on six carries to lead the Giants’ rushing attack, which totaled 105 yards.

Running back Saquon Barkley struggled, with just 39 rushing yards on 12 carries; although he caught three passes for 19 yards, he dropped a pass that would have been the game-winning two-point conversion. Nonetheless, the Giants had perhaps their best game from the receiving corps: Darius Slayton had four receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown, Wan’Dale Robinson had six receptions for 55 yards and a 24-yard rushing touchdown, and tight end Darren Waller had five receptions for 51 yards. On defense, safety Dane Belton intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 24 of 34 passes for 317 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted twice, both by Belton. Puka Nacua was the game’s leading receiver with five receptions for 118 yards (in addition to 19 rushing yards), Demarcus Robinson caught six passes for 92 yards, and star wide receiver Cooper Kupp had four catches for 27 yards and a touchdown. Running back Kyren Williams had a huge game with three rushing touchdowns and 87 yards on 20 carries while also catching two passes for 14 yards.

The Rams began the game with a drive deep into Giants territory, moving 54 yards in 11 plays. However, the Giants defense was able to force a turnover on downs thanks to a pair of successful replay challenges from coach Brian Daboll. His first challenge reversed a 13-yard reception by Demarcus Robinson on 2nd and 11, and the second challenge reversed a 4-yard catch by Nacua on 4th and 3 to give the Giants the ball.

Unfortunately, the Giants couldn’t do anything and went three-and-out, while the Rams picked up right where they left off and drove 72 yards in eight plays. Higbee logged a pair of receptions for 32 yards, while Williams rushed for 26 yards and finished the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run to put Los Angeles up 7-0.

But the Giants struck right back, moving 75 yards in nine plays in just over five minutes. Taylor completed all six passes on the drive, the last of which was an 18-yarder to Jalin Hyatt to move the ball just outside the red zone. On the next play, Wan’Dale Robinson scored on a 24-yard end-around play to tie the game at seven.

Both teams punted before New York’s opportunistic defense forced a turnover, as safety Dane Belton intercepted a deep pass intended for Nacua at the Giants’ 38-yard line. However, disaster struck for the Giants when they attempted to convert a 4th and 1 when the snap was botched, and Taylor was forced to fall on the ball for a turnover on downs. With great field position at the New York 46, Los Angeles capitalized as Stafford completed five of six passes, including a 13-yard pass to Nacua and a 5-yard touchdown pass to Nacua for a 14-7 advantage.

With less than two minutes left in the half, the Rams looked to tack on more points as safety Jordan Fuller intercepted a deep pass from Taylor at the Los Angeles 27. But on the next play, the Giants forced another turnover when Adoree’ Jackson forced a fumble from Demarcus Robinson and Belton recovered at the Rams’ 43-yard line. Wan’Dale Robinson’s ensuing 20-yard reception would set up a 45-yard field goal attempt from Crosby; although Ben Skowronek blocked the kick, he was penalized for leaping to give Crosby another chance. With a much shorter 31-yard kick, he converted to cut New York’s deficit to four points at halftime.

The third quarter featured a pair of massive plays for both teams. After the Giants punted on the second half's opening possession, the Rams charged down the field when Nacua took off for a massive 80-yard reception to the New York 2-yard line. Williams scored his second rushing touchdown of the day on the next play, putting Los Angeles up 20-10 after kicker Lucas Havrisik missed the extra point.

But after an exchange of punts, the Giants responded with an 80-yard play. After Waller converted a 3rd and 10 with an 11-yard catch, Taylor launched a deep ball to Slayton, who made the catch and scampered off for an 80-yard touchdown bomb; although Crosby missed the extra point, the Giants were right back in the game, trailing 20-16.

New York’s defense forced yet another turnover when Belton continued his stellar day, recording his second interception and returning it 20 yards to the Rams’ 34-yard line. On offense, Barkley moved the ball into the red zone with a 2-yard run on 4th-and-1 and a 13-yard run; although Taylor’s pass to Isaiah Hodgins in the end zone was broken up, Crosby kicked a 32-yard field goal to make it a one-point game early in the fourth quarter.

But the Rams stormed down the field to give themselves more breathing room. Stafford completed a deep 37-yard pass to Demarcus Robinson to quickly move into Giants territory. After a defensive holding penalty, Williams broke free for a 28-yard touchdown run, his third of the day. However, Havrisik missed another extra point to keep the Giants within one possession, trailing 26-19.

New York’s next possession featured a pair of missed opportunities. First, Taylor completed a 47-yard strike to Hyatt that would have moved the ball inside the red zone, but an offensive holding penalty negated the play. The Giants would still move inside Rams territory, but facing 4th-and-1 at the 33-yard line, Taylor threw a short dump-off pass to Hyatt that was read perfectly by the Rams defense, and Hyatt was tackled behind the line of scrimmage for a turnover on downs.

After both teams punted, the Giants forced another punt from the Rams after Bobby Okereke and Rakeem Nunez-Roches split a huge sack of Stafford on third down. Returner Gunner Olszewski caught Los Angeles punter Ethan Evans’s kick at his 6-yard line. Still, stunningly, Olszewski evaded a group of tacklers and took off for a 94-yard punt return touchdown as the MetLife Stadium crowd erupted.

However, an encroachment penalty on the Rams during Crosby’s extra point prompted coach Brian Daboll to bring the offense back onto the field for a go-ahead two-point conversion. Unfortunately, Barkley dropped a pass from Taylor that almost certainly would have been successful as the Rams maintained their one-point lead.

Fortunately, New York’s defense gave their team one last chance to win. On 3rd-and-9 with the game on the line, Isaiah Simmons sacked Stafford for a 10-yard loss to force a punt. The Rams were only able to run 2:36 off the clock.

The Giants were able to move to the Rams 34-yard line thanks to a 31-yard scramble by Taylor, but lost two yards over the next two plays to bring up a 54-yard game-winning field goal attempt from Crosby. Sadly, he missed the kick wide left, allowing the Rams to escape with the victory.

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