New York’s Backups Star in Victory Over Struggling Carolina
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Eli Manning didn’t need a scintillating fourth-quarter comeback Thursday night.
The two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback, running back Andre Brown and the rest of the New York Giants were too good for the first three quarters to need one.
Brown ran for a career-high 113 yards and two touchdowns in his first NFL start as the Giants routed the Carolina Panthers 36-7. The Giants dominated the first half, scoring on their first four possessions to build a 20-0 lead.
The defending champion Giants (2-1) were without three starters but it hardly mattered.
Brown got the start in place of Ahmad Bradshaw, who sat out with a neck injury. Ramses Barden caught nine passes for a career-high 138 yards in his first NFL start in place of Hakeem Nicks.
Manning completed 27-of35 passes for 288 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions.
Carolina’s Cam Newton struggled all night and was pressured into three interceptions. The Panthers (1-2) had five turnovers, including two by returner Joe Adams.
Mixing run and pass, the Giants dominated the opening half, outgaining the Panthers 303-125.
Manning completed a 14-yard touchdown pass to Martellus Bennett on the Giants’ gameopening drive. It capped an eight-play, 80-yard drive and marked the third straight game the Panthers have given up a touchdown on an opponent’s first drive.
The Panthers played without starting right tackle Byron Bell, a second-year player from UNM.
BEARS: Brian Urlacher has been in the NFL long enough that internal turmoil or external criticism doesn’t affect him.
So when the Bears linebacker and former UNM Lobo was asked his opinion of Jay Cutler’s sideline confrontation with J’Marcus Webb, Urlacher refused to feed the drama.
“Whatever happened, it’s over with now,” Urlacher said Thursday. “We’ve moved on. It doesn’t seem to be an issue. Someone told me there was a mutiny against Jay in our locker room. If there was, I didn’t know about it. I guess we’re supposed to be mad at him, but things happen on the sideline.”
BROWNS: Team president Mike Holmgren wants to patch things up with Jim Brown. Holmgren plans to meet with the Hall of Fame running back, hoping to repair their relationship, which fell apart two years ago when Brown was relieved of his duties as an adviser to owner Randy Lerner. Brown has told the team he will take part in alumni activities surrounding Sunday’s game against Buffalo.
COWBOYS: With safety Gerald Sensabaugh doubtful for Sunday against Tampa Bay with a calf strain, special teams ace Danny McCray is in line to not only get the first start of his NFL career but also the first one since the third game of his senior year at LSU in 2009.
JETS: All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis was cleared Thursday for contact in practice for the first time since suffering a concussion in the team’s season opener.
RAMS: St. Louis is brushing aside comments by Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III, who said the Rams were “dirty” and “unprofessional” during their 31-28 victory Sunday. The Rams said Griffin simply experienced an aggressive NFL defense.
BRONCOS: Former receiver Rod Smith will be inducted Sunday into the Broncos’ Ring of Fame.