EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Joe Burrow made just enough plays, and the maligned Bengals defense stepped up to deliver a much-needed victory, giving Cincinnati some hope after a dismal start to the season.
Burrow scored on a career-long 47-yard run during the opening possession, and Chase Brown added a game-clinching 30-yard touchdown run, one play after his fumble fortuitously rolled out of bounds, leading to a 17-7 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday night.
“We really needed it,” Burrow said after the Bengals improved to 2-4. “I don’t want to say we would have been out of it if we lost, but we’d be scratching and clawing for the rest of the year. We still really are, but it was good to get a win. Great to see our defense step up like that. They’ve taken some heat the last couple of weeks, and they played awesome tonight.”
Rookie Tyrone Tracy scored a 1-yard touchdown for the Giants (2-4), who remain winless at home in three games and have only managed to score one touchdown in that stretch. They failed to capitalize on a Bengals defense that came into the game ranked 31st in the league in scoring.
The Giants punted four times in the first half. In the second half, they turned the ball over on downs twice, and kicker Greg Joseph missed two field goal attempts.
Cincinnati’s defense was led by Trey Hendrickson, who recorded two sacks, and linebacker Germaine Pratt, who intercepted quarterback Daniel Jones near the goal line in the first quarter after former Giant B.J. Hill put pressure on Jones while he was throwing.
“We just knew we had to come out and play our type of football,” Hill stated. “We were better at it. We’re still not perfect and still got a long way to go, but we can build off this win.”
After Tracy’s touchdown tied the game, the Bengals quickly regained the lead as Burrow navigated through the backfield to connect with Ja’Marr Chase on a 33-yard pass to the Giants’ 37. Kicker Evan McPherson converted a go-ahead field goal with 41 seconds remaining in the quarter.
New York had a subsequent chance to tie the game, but Joseph missed a 47-yard field goal attempt, with the kick veering sharply left as it neared the uprights.
The Giants had another opportunity to equalize late in the fourth quarter, but a crossing pass to Darius Slayton was broken up by DJ Turner.
New York, which had not scored a touchdown in their first 10 quarters at home this season, finally found the end zone on Tracy’s 1-yard run with 5:48 left in the third quarter, capping a lengthy 16-play, 79-yard drive that featured two fourth-down conversions by Tracy.
Burrow’s legs put the Bengals in front early on, as he scrambled for a first down on the third play from scrimmage before racing 47 yards for a touchdown on third-and-18 without being touched.
“I saw an opening, saw it was man coverage,” Burrow explained. “I was able to squeak through there and find the end zone.” He led the Bengals with 55 yards rushing on four carries.
The Giants played without rookie star receiver Malik Nabers (concussion) and starting running back Devin Singletary (groin) for the second straight week, and Nabers’ absence was felt significantly.
“We didn’t score enough points offensively, and it starts with me,” coach Brian Daboll reflected. “It’s hard to win games when you score seven points, and that’s the reality of it.”
Jones concluded the game with 22 completions on 41 attempts for 205 yards while also leading New York in rushing with 56 yards on 11 carries. Burrow similarly posted good passing numbers, completing 19 of 28 passes for 208 yards, performing well when it mattered most.
Injuries
Bengals: Burrow was evaluated in the sideline medical tent after a significant hit from Brian Burns but returned on the next series.
Giants: Slayton was evaluated for a concussion but returned to the game.
Up Next
Bengals: At Cleveland next Sunday.
Giants: Host their former star running back Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday.