CHEERS AND FEARS
Giants hold off Bengals to move into first, but lose Jones to hammy injury
The climb, more slow jog up an incline than a rapid ascent up a steep cliff, has taken the Giants to the top of the NFC East. It looks as if they will try to stay there without the services of Daniel Jones.
In a good-news/bad-news deal, the Giants won a game Sunday in Cincinnati and lost their quarterback. Hanging tough, often despite themselves, allowed the Giants to dig in on defense to secure a 19-17 victory over the sad-sack Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. But Jones went down and eventually out early in the third quarter to a right hamstring injury, replaced by backup journeyman Colt McCoy.
The Giants were able to come out of this, with McCoy making a few plays, missing on others and leaning on a defense that took the ball away from the Bengals three times in the final 16 minutes.
What comes next is murky. It is almost impossible to envision Jones being ready to face the Seahawks in Seattle and, depending on what shows up on the MRI on Monday, his absence could be measured in weeks, and not days, as the Giants gear up for their stretch run.
“Yeah, I’m certainly not discouraged,’’ Jones said, sounding downcast. “I’m excited to win and be a part of that. But certainly want to be out there and it’s tough not being out there, but feels great to get a win.’’
Said Joe Judge: “I would say I’m optimistic at this point right now,’’ about Jones’ availability in Seattle, but he admitted he did not have the medical information needed to make a real assessment.
This is the first three-game winning streak for the Giants in five years and it gently eases the Giants to the top of the NFC East. They are 4-7 but get the tiebreaker nod over Washington (also 4-7) based on their two-same season-series sweep. The Eagles (3-6-1) can overtake the Giants if they beat the Seahawks on Monday night in Philadelphia. The Cowboys (3-8) are down but not out of it.
“Who cares?’’ safety Logan Ryan said. “Who honestly cares, it’s like a tie. We’re in first place for a minute, and then someone else plays.’’
Judge was unmoved by f irst place after 11 games.
“Listen, we start looking past what we have to do to get ready, this conversation is going to be something in the past, if you know what I’m saying,’’ he said.
Jones hurt his right hamstring on a designed run that picked up 7 yards early in the third quarter.
Jones did not slide and got hit and dragged down by safety Vonn Bell. Immediately, Jones reached back behind his right leg. He handed off to Wayne Gallman the next play and then, on third down, stood in the pocket and tossed a flat-footed pass to Gallman for 2 yards and the first down. Jones then collapsed to the turf and left the game.
On the next series, Jones tried to give it a go. He handed off to Gallman and had to leave the field for good when he could not push off on a pass intended for Evan Engram that was nearly intercepted.
“Just felt it on that play and didn’t feel like I could get a lot on it really or do what I needed to do to be effective and move the ball and throw it accurately,’’ Jones said.
Before he got hurt, Jones’ 44-yard pass to Engram put the Giants deep inside Bengals territory and after McCoy arrived on the scene, Graham Gano hit a 40-yard field goal to put the Giants up 13-10.
“I’m always going to be ready to play, but I hate it for DJ,’’ McCoy said.
That the Giants after dominating the first half were even at 10-10 was almost criminal. They marched down the f ield on a 76-yard drive to take a quick 7-0 lead on a 1-yard Gallman touchdown run on fourth-and-goal. It lasted 11 seconds, or as long as it took Brandon Wilson to motor 102 yards up the gut of the kickoff coverage unit.
The Giants with McCoy, a 10-year veteran, tried to massage their slim lead, realizing their defense was dominating Brandon Allen, the backup quarterback subbing for injured rookie sensation Joe Burrow. An interception by defensive lineman Niko Lalos, making his NFL debut, off a deflection by another rookie, Darnay Holmes, led to a Gano field goal to make it 16-10 early in the fourth quarter. Ryan forced a fumble on tight end Drew Sample, putting the Giants on the Cincy 19, leading to yet another Gano field goal for a 19-10 lead with 3:54 remaining.
One poor defensive series allowed Allen to hit Tee Higgins for a touchdown with 2:33 to go. The Giants could not run out the clock and a 29-yard punt return — rookie Cam Brown made a gamesaving tackle — put the Bengals at midfield with 57 seconds left. On first down, Jabaal Sheard sacked Allen, raking the ball out, and Leonard Williams fell on it to put the Giants in first place.
“It wasn’t a very good-looking win, but the team played together, especially defense,’’ Engram said. “They stayed strong and made huge plays for us.’’