Giants bounce back, shock Broncos in Denver
Eli Manning ignored the loss of four wide receivers, and the reeling New York Giants capped a stormy week of injuries and infighting by stunning the Broncos, 23-10, last night in Denver.
The Giants (1-5) pulled off one of the season’s biggest upsets by dominating Denver in every phase from start to finish. The Broncos (3-2) blew a golden opportunity to close in on Kansas City in the AFC West after the Steelers knocked off the last unbeaten team in the league earlier yesterday.
Visiting teams were 8-5 in Week 6 and are 46-44 overall this upside-down season.
Jason Pierre-Paul had a trio of sacks for the Giants, who came into Denver tottering from a tumultuous week in which three receivers landed on injured reserve, five other starters were sidelined with injuries and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was suspended for insubordination.
The Giants had a goalline stand to go with four sacks and two interceptions. And it was the Broncos who bumbled their way through a nightmarish night filled with muffs and mistakes, flags and frustration.
Quarterback Trevor Siemian was knocked out of the game briefly, and he lost his right tackle Menelik Watson (calf) along with receivers Emmanuel Sanders and rookie Isaiah McKenzie to ankle injuries.
Before being soundly booed as they retreated to the locker room trailing 17-3 at the half, the Broncos kept hollering at each other in the huddle, couldn’t convert third downs and gave up big plays.
Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins had a 43-yard interception return for a touchdown with 48 seconds left before halftime.
Saints 52, Lions 38 — Running backs Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara combined for 237 yards from scrimmage and New Orleans’ resurgent defense forced five turnovers and scored a franchiserecord three times during a rout of visiting Detroit.
Texans 33, Browns 17 — Deshaun Watson threw for 225 yards and three touchdowns, becoming the first rookie in NFL history with at least three TD passes in three straight games as host Houston kept Cleveland out of the win column.
Watson has thrown 15 TD passes this season, the most in NFL history by a rookie in a team’s first six games.
Bears 27, Ravens 24 — Connor Barth kicked a 40yard field goal with 2:08 left in overtime, and Chicago used a 167-yard rushing effort by Jordan Howard to beat host Baltimore.
The Bears blew a 14-point lead in the second half before coming through in overtime behind Howard, whose 53-yard run put Chicago at the Baltimore 40. After rookie Mitchell Trubisky completed an 18yard pass to Kendall Wright, Barth delivered the winner.
Cardinals 38, Buccaneers 33 — Adrian Peterson rushed for two touchdowns and 134 yards in an impressive debut with Arizona, which held off a furious second-half Tampa Bay rally in Glendale, Ariz.
The Buccaneers lost quarterback Jameis Winston to a right shoulder injury in the second quarter, with the Cardinals leading 21-0. But backup Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for 290 yards and three touchdowns to bring Tampa Bay back from a 31-0, early third-quarter deficit.
Redskins 26, 49ers 24 — Kirk Cousins threw for two touchdowns, ran for a score and also had an interception as part of an inconsistent performance in host Washington’s win against San Francisco in Landover, Md.
The Redskins blew a 17-point lead but held on.
Chargers 17, Raiders 16 — Nick Novak kicked a 32-yard field goal on the final play and San Diego took advantage of a key missed extra point by Giorgio Tavecchio to win in Oakland, Calif.
Rams 27, Jaguars 17 — Pharoh Cooper returned the opening kickoff 103 yards, one of two special teams scores that helped Los Angeles win in Jacksonville, Fla.
The Rams also blocked a punt for a score and a 10-point lead in the first half.