Giants grades vs. Browns: Defense, coaches ace their tests in Cleveland
Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) reacts after sacking Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Cleveland. Credit: AP/Sue Ogrocki
OFFENSE: B
It would have been nice to see them score some points in the second half to create some breathing room, but the two long touchdown drives, 81 yards on 13 plays and 93 yards on 14 plays, were about as good as the unit has functioned all season. Turning a takeaway into a third TD to cap the first half proved even more crucial than it seemed at the time. Malik Nabers (8 receptions, 78 yards, 2 TDs) was absurd. Daniel Jones was sharp (24-for-34, 236 yards, 2 TDs). Devin Singletary was steady (16 carries, 65 yards, 1 TD), although his late fumble was nearly costly. That offensive line is holding up, too.
DEFENSE: A
The Browns had three possessions with a chance to go ahead in the final 9:53 of the game and each time the Giants slammed the door on them: a fumble recovered by Azeez Ojulari with 7:40 left, a QB sneak stuffed by Kayvon Thibodeaux and a fourth-and-1 sack by Dexter Lawrence with 3:56 left, then finally a fourth-down stop (ok, a Browns drop) with 2:23 remaining. Brian Burns had his first sack as a Giant and stripped the ball on it to set up an important touchdown late in the second quarter. The Giants posted eight sacks from nine different players and had 17 QB hits to rattle Deshaun Watson and limit the Brows to 217 yards.
SPECIAL TEAMS: F
The two plays that nearly cost the Giants the game were Eric Gray’s fumble on the opening kickoff which gave the Browns the ball for a touchdown pass 11 seconds in and the 48-yard field goal attempt by newcomer Greg Joseph that went wide right with 3:00 left and should have given them a two-score lead rather than the precarious 6-point edge. After last week the Giants were probably just happy to have Gregory kick all three of his extra points. Two Jamie Gillen punts had a chance to be downed but bounced into the end zone for touchbacks. Bryce Ford-Wheaton did record a nice sweeping tackle on punt coverage.
COACHING: A
Keeping the team together after one of the worst starts to a game imaginable and with 0-3 breathing down their shoulder pads should not go unnoticed. Brian Daboll and his crew did just that. Kudos to Shane Bowen and the defensive staff for adjusting philosophically and blitzing more than they did in the first two weeks. The result was constant pressure on the quarterback and eight sacks. Offensively there was creativity to get the ball into Nabers’ hands, such as the fourth-and-1 run and the direct snap to him on the goal line. Teams are going to focus on the record-setting rookie and the challenge moving forward will be to find ways to keep feeding him.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
