Dexter Lawrence, Julian Love and the Giants’ protection didn’t let Xavier McKinney’s bye week damage set a adverse tone to begin the second half of their 2022 season.
It wasn’t fairly. But Lawrence dominated the road of scrimmage. Love made two touchdown-saving tackles. And Wink Martindale’s protection pressured two straight red-zone turnovers in Sunday’s fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium to defeat the Houston Texans, 24-16.
The win vaulted the Giants (7-2) into second place within the NFC East as soon as the Dallas Cowboys (6-3) fell in extra time to the Green Bay Packers.
“It was a challenge, honestly,” Love mentioned of pushing via McKinney’s absence. “Guys are put into different roles and positions. It was a grind of a week. We really wanted to get on top of things. It wasn’t perfect. But guys stepped up.”
Two Daniel Jones landing passes and a Saquon Barkley speeding TD gave the Giants their first season with greater than six wins since 2016, with eight video games to play.
Barkley carried the ball 35 occasions for 152 yards and the rating, hours after nationwide media had reported that the Giants and Barkley’s reps had mentioned a contract extension however tabled talks till after the season. Darius Slayton had 95 yards receiving and a TD.
A playoff berth is on rookie head coach Brian Daboll’s horizon, even when they make none of those victories look straightforward. The Giants offense went quiet late after a 14-point third quarter outburst, placing it on the protection to complete the sport.
Texans QB Davis Mills (319 yards passing) drove the ball simply down the sphere your complete second half, however Martindale’s unit was opportunistic when it mattered most.
“All plays in the red zone are big,” Lawrence mentioned. “It’s guys being prepared and fearless.”
Leonard Williams punched the ball out from rookie Texans working again Dameon Pierce, and linebacker Jaylon Smith recovered the fumble on the Giants’ 11. Love had made a landing saving deal with on Texans tight finish Jordan Akins’ 44-yard reception simply prior.
“We like to strive for greatness, and we never think that we’re out of a fight,” Smith mentioned.
Then on the subsequent drive, Lawrence drew a holding penalty on Texans guard Kenyon Green to negate Mills’ TD go to Brandin Cooks. And rookie security Dane Belton — McKinney’s substitute for the foreseeable future — intercepted Mills in the long run zone for a touchback on the subsequent play.
Lawrence pressured Mills on the interception to Belton. Lawrence was a terror all sport at defensive deal with. He recorded a sack, 5 tackles, 5 QB hits, a deal with for a loss, and a go defended.
“He’s able to shine now that we’re winning,” Love mentioned of Lawrence. “You can see his game taking over. We know he’s an All-Pro, Pro Bowl level player. We’re lucky to have him.”
The Texans managed two late Kai Fairbairn area objectives, one after an Oshane Ximines pressured fumble was overturned to an incomplete go. But Graham Gano made a 49-yarder with 1:55 remaining for the Giants, as properly.
Houston fell to 1-7-1 on the season. The Giants host the Detroit Lions (3-6) subsequent week assured of their capacity to select up McKinney, who’s out long-term with a left hand damage on account of a bye week ATV accident in Cabo, Mexico.
“The number one thing for me was, being a vet, year seven, a leader, understanding how much ‘X’ loves this game and loves this team and wants to be there for us, it was immediately being there for him,” Smith mentioned. “Wanting to ensure that his psychological was OK.
“It’s not something he wanted to happen,” Smith added. “But it’s a blessing to still have him here. He still leads. For us, that next man up mentality matters. We’ve got to be able to rally together. So that’s the biggest thing about us staying as a unit and doing whatever we gotta do to get a win.”
After a sluggish first half, the Giants’ offense erupted for 14 factors within the third quarter to take a 21-10 lead into the fourth. Daboll benched Kenny Golladay for your complete second half after two drops within the first.
Jones hit Slayton for a 54-yard landing for a 14-3 lead with 12:33 to play within the third. Slayton broke a Jalen Pitre deal with and obtained a great block from tight finish Tanner Hudson down the left sideline. Jones delivered a well timed ball beneath stress.
Mills answered with a 12-yard TD go to Nico Collins. Mills had 61 passing yards on the drive, virtually double his 35 for your complete first half. That slimmed the Giants’ result in 14-10 at 8:06 of the third.
But the Giants responded. Jones hit newcomer Isaiah Hodgins for a 26-yard completion on third down deep into Houston territory. Then Barkley punched in a 2-yard TD run with 2:21 left within the third and a 21-10 lead.
The Giants had led 7-3 at half after a irritating first two quarters of offense that felt rather a lot like final season with a conservative strategy, pricey errors, and loads of boos.
Daboll used a formation with eight offensive linemen a number of occasions and confirmed little religion within the passing sport. And the followers booed Golladay for his drop and punter Jamie Gillan for touchdown a punt on the Texans’ 26 whereas attempting to pin them deep.
But Jones put the Giants forward early with a 9-yard TD go to tight finish Lawrence Cager on their first possession, and Houston managed -3 yards of whole offense within the first quarter on 9 performs and three drives.
Only when the Giants’ Lawrence got here off the sphere for a breather did Pierce break away for a 44-yard run within the second quarter. Love made the landing saving deal with on Pierce to power a Fairbairn area purpose, although, and foreshadow the end.
“Good to get another win,” Daboll mentioned. “I thought we did a lot of things well. Some things obviously to clean up on — like there always is.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com