Giants Win Ugly Over Raiders, Head Into Bye Week
It was certainly ugly, but for the New York Giants, in a year that has been anything but beautiful, they’ll settle for ugly — especially in the win column.
In what was basically a field goal fest, as both teams combined for a grand total of six field goals, the Giants outlasted the Las Vegas Raiders 23-16 at MetLife Stadium to send themselves into the Bye Week at 3-6.
Major credit is to due to the Giants defense, which came up big Sunday forcing three turnovers, none bigger than the pick-six by Xavier McKinney to open the second half that gave the Giants a 17-13 lead.
Derek Carr throws a pick-6 to Xavier McKinneypic.twitter.com/QB61FEg7HO
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 7, 2021
The pick was one of two by McKinney, who picked off another Derek Carr pass at midfield with 5:12 to go with the Giants already leading 20-16. The turnover helped set up Graham Gano’s third field goal of the day to make it 23-16.
Still the game came down to one final stand by the Giants defense. Las Vegas moved the football into Giants territory thanks a 19-yard pass to Darren Waller, and a 17-yard completion to Kenyan Drake. Soon Vegas had a 1st and 10 at the Giants’ 13-yard line.
The game looked destined for overtime until Quincy Roche worked his way around left tackle, and stripped Carr of the football. Ex-Jet Leonard Williams fell on the football, icing it for Big Blue.
The @Giants force a red zone fumble! Clutch play by Quincy Roche to win the game. #LVvsNYG pic.twitter.com/lFYm9JznK6
— NFL (@NFL) November 7, 2021
The Giants lone offensive touchdown came on their first series of the game, when Daniel Jones hit Evan Engram from 30-yards out for a touchdown to cap off a 75-yard drive to make it 7-0.
The Raiders quickly answered that score on a 10-play, 73-yard drive, capped off by a Carr touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow.
Jones finished with a quiet day, 15-of-20 for 110 yards and a touchdown for the Giants.
Devontae Booker had a nice day on the ground for the Giants, rushing for 99-yards on 21-carries as Saquon Barkley missed his fourth consecutive game. Barkley has been dealing with an ankle injury and a false COVID-19 positive test.
