Instant analysis of the New York Giants’ 17-13 Week 2 preseason loss to the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium.
The New York Giants faced off against the Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on Sunday afternoon in their second game of the 2021 NFL Preseason.
Kickoff temperature was a sunny 81 degrees and perfect for football. It was another game in which the reserves did most — if not all — of the heavy lifting for Big Blue.
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The Giants game-day captains were safety Julian Love, long snapper Casey Kreiter and tight end Kaden Smith.
The offensive line got a respite in this game after a tough couple of days of scrimmages with the Browns. With five more roster cuts due this week, the Giants wanted to get a long look at the reserves. Jackson Barton started at left tackle with Kenny Wiggins at left guard, Jonotthan Harrison at center, Ted Larsen at right guard and Chad Slade at right tackle. Mike Glennon opened the game at quarterback.
The starting defense was as such: Raymond Johnson, David Moa and B.J. Hill up front with Ryan Anderson, Oshane Ximines, Reggie Ragland and Devante Downs at linebacker with rookie Rodarius Williams and Madre Harper at the corners and Xavier McKinney and Love at safety.
Harper was picked on twice in the red zone on the Brown’s first drive. The first play he broke up a touchdown grab against Rashard Higgins but gave up a touchdowns two player later to KhaDarel Hodge. The Browns’ drive, led by veteran quarterback Case Keenum, went for 81 yards on 10 plays. The Giants’ defense was very lax, especially when it came to containing the edge on running plays.
The Giants charged right back with an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive of their own, highlighted by a 24-yard completion from Glennon to Rysen John and the rushing and receiving of free agent running back Devontae Booker, who scored on one yard dive to complete the scoring drive.
On the Browns’ next possession, Quincy Wilson picked off Keenum in the end zone to stop a scoring drive. The first half ended with the score tied 7-7.
The Giants allowed 94 yards on the ground in the first half, 7.8 yards per attempt. To be fair, 32 of those yards came an a last-second scramble by former Giant backup quarterback Kyle Lauletta against a prevent defense.
The second half featured the bottom rungs of each team’s depth charts. Brian Lewerke, signed this week by the Giants, played the second half at quarterback leading a scoring drive that ended in a touchdown pass but was followed by a failed two-point try. For a player who has been with the team for a week, he appeared to be quite poised.
The final was Browns 17, Giants 13 with onlookers champing at the bit for the regular season to begin.
Notes
- When backups are playing backups, it’s difficult to get excited about standout players but several Giants flashed. Booker looked like a No. 1 back, rushing for 27 yards on six attempts and caught both targets for 13 yards.
- Glennon completed 10 of 13 paces for 86 yards. Wide receiver David Sills had another strong game catching thereof four targets for 31 yards, including a contested catch in the end zone for a score.
- TE/WR Rysen John had three receptions with one going for 24 yards and another for 29. Unfortunately, he injured his lower leg late in the game, coming lame in what appeared to be a non-contact injury. He walked off underlies own power.
- Coughlin is still a tad spotty in pass coverage but is without a doubt a solid pass rusher, especially coming up the middle. He had four tackles including a sack in the first half.
- Harper, who was a ‘bubble’ player entering the game, left the game in the third quarter with a groin injury.
- Wilson left with an ankle injury, leaving the Giants a bit short at corner.
- Special team ace Matt Cole was trotted out on defense to fill in and looked fairly comfortable in the role.
- The Giants went 2-for-2 in the red zone. Cleveland went 2-3.
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