MetLife Stadium, NJ —”The Cardiac Kids” did it again AKA, the New York Giants. They just find a way to put a W on the right side of the column.
The NY Giants improved to 5-1 as they wore down the Baltimore Ravens Bears 24-20 on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. This is their best record through six games since they were 5-1 in 2009.
The Giants trailed with seven minutes remaining left in the contest, 20-10. This is the first time they overcame a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter – and with very little time on the clock – they defeated New Orleans in overtime, 27-21, on Oct. 3, 2021. They were down 21-10, before Saquon Barkley’s 54-yard touchdown catch from Daniel Jones, a two-point conversion, and Graham Gano’s field goal tied the game. Barkley scored the game-winner touchdown in overtime on a six-yard dash.
“It’s frustrating because we’re losing these games,” said Baltimore Lamar Jackson, who threw for 210 yards and had 77 yards on the ground. “It happened. It’s over with. We have to move on to the Browns. We just can’t keep beating ourselves up because that’s what it is. It’s not our opponent.”
In the last few weeks, offensive and defensive coordinators Mike Kafka and Don “Wink” Martindale seem to dial up the right schemes to put the Giants in the right situation to be successful.
Daniel Jones completed 19 of 27 passes (70.4%) for 173 yards and touchdown passes to rookies Wan’Dale Robinson and Daniel Bellinger. It is the third game this season in which Jones completed more than 70% of his passes and on their last drive Jones was surgeon, carving up the Baltimore defense.
Baltimore outgained the Giants 256 yards to 90 in the opening half, the Ravens led 10-7 going into the break. But G-Men never got down-they stayed the course.
Ravens RB Kenyan Drake rushed for 119 yards, including a 30-yard TD with ten men on the field, and Jackson hooked up with TE Mark Andrews on a 12-yard TD pass early in the fourth quarter for a 20-10 lead. Baltimore thought the game was over but somebody forgot to deliver that message to the Giants.
Jones threw touchdown passes to two rookies: 5-yards to Robinson on a little square out and 8-yards to Bellinger flashing across the middle of the endzone. The second got the Giants within 20-17 with 6:53 to go on the clock.
“We’re not shocked that we find ways to win,” said Jones. I think we’re confident in what we can do. And we’re confident in our toughness, our ability to compete and find ways to win down the stretch.”
On the next series, Lamar Jackson fumbled a shotgun snap, picked up the ball and tried to throw it to Patrick Ricard that was intercepted by Julian Love. It was the Giants’ first interception of the season and ended their six-game streak without one dating back to last year.
Love’s interception led to Barkley’s game winning touchdown. With the Ravens backs to the wall and desperate to make a play, edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux got his first career sack, an eight-yarder on Jackson, and forced a fumble when the quarterback lost the ball. The fumble was recovered by Leonard Williams with 1:30 remaining.
Saquon Barkley rushed for 83 yards on 22 carries, the longest an eight-yarder. He upped his season total to 616 yards, exceeding his total for the entire 2021 season (593). Barkley also caught three passes for 12 yards.
Two turnovers by Jackson late in the fourth quarter was the difference in the game. The G-Men pressure defense had a lot to do with that.
Safety Xavier McKinney led New York with nine tackles (five solo). Cornerback Fabian Moreau had eight unassisted tackles.
INJURY UPDATES:
The Giants’ inactive players were wide receivers Kenny Golladay (knee) and Kadarius Toney (hamstring), linebacker Azeez Ojulari (calf), cornerback Cor’Dale Flott (calf), and safety Jason Pinnock (ankle).
UP NEXT:
Ravens: Host AFC North rival Cleveland next Sunday.
Giants: At Jacksonville next Sunday.
