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On a perfect day for football in Northern New Jersey, the 0-2 New York Giants hosted the 0-2 Atlanta Falcons in a matchup between two teams not expected to make much noise in the NFC this year.
They didn’t make much noise in this game, either. Atlanta came into the game allowing the most points in the league (80) over the first two weeks and many expected the Giants to take advantage of that. Quarterback Daniel Jones was operating with this full complement of weapons for the first time in his Giants career.
But that wouldn’t last very long.
Wide receiver Darius Slayton left the game in the first quarter with a hamstring issue and was ruled out. Sterling Shepard hobbled off the field in the second quarter with a hamstring strain and was also ruled out. Running back Saquon Barkley went off for treatment on the Giants’ third possession but returned.
The Giants’ defense opened the game by forcing punts on the Falcons’ first three possessions but could only muster a pair of field goals on two long drives. The Giants were plagued by injuries and penalties in the first half and fell behind 7-6 with 1:33 left in the second quarter when Matt Ryan hit Olamide Zaccheaus for a four-yard touchdown. The scoring drive was aided several plays before when Giants safety Xavier McKinney was flagged with a questionable personal foul penalty that gave the Falcons the football on the New York seven.
On the Giants’ next possession, tight end Evan Engram, making his season debut, caught a pass in the seam on a second-and-10 for 14 yards but fumbled the football away. Atlanta took possession on the Giants’ 36 but the defense got the football back when rookie Azeez Ojulari stripped Ryan on a third and nine. The ball was recovered by Lorenzo Carter preventing any further damage as the half ran out with Atlanta leading, 7-6.
In the second half, the Giants opened with a seven-play, 29-yard drive that led to another punt. The defenses continued to rule as both teams went scoreless in the third quarter. But the Giants put an end to the frustration early in the fourth quarter when Barkley scored on a one-yard dive at the 12:33 mark. Jones followed that by running in the two-point conversion for a 14-7 Giants lead.
Atlanta came right back and tied the game on a one-yard Ryan-to-Lee Smith touchdown connection to end a 15-play drive that was buoyed by an Adoree’ Jackson dropped interception in the end zone and a Logan Ryan pass interference penalty.
The Giants took possession with 4:13 remaining but a holding penalty on second down put Jones in a 3rd-and-19 situation that led to another Giants punt with 1:58 left on the clock.
Ryan, starting from his now 20, drove the Falcons down the field quickly and efficiently down to the Giants’ Pro Bowl kicker Younghoe Koo, who had never kicked a game-winning field goal in the fourth quarter or in overtime, belted a 40-yard attempt right through the middle of the uprights with :03 left on the clock for the Atlanta victory.
The Giants are 0-3 for the third time in five seasons.
Notes
- Inside linebacker and defensive captain Blake Martinez was helped off the field on the Falcons’ opening drive with a non-contact knee injury and did not return. He was replaced by Reggie Ragland. Tae Crowder took over calling the defensive signals.
- Collin Johnson was the next man up at wide receiver after the injuries to Slayton and Shepard and had a solid day catching five passes for 51 yards.
- Daniel Jones did not throw a touchdown but did complete 24 of 35 passes for 266 yards and rushed for 39 more.
- Saquon Barkley scored his first touchdown since Week 17 of the 2019 season. He rushed for 51 yards and caught six passes for 43 yards.
- Former quarterback Eli Manning had his No. 10 retired at halftime and was also enshrined in the Giants’ Ring of Honor. It was one of the few times the crowd cheered.
- The Giants outgained the Falcons 346-296 and won the time of possession, 31:51 to 28:09.
- The Giants went 7-14 on third down but just 1-3 in the red zone. They 3-9 on the season in the red zone.
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