Giants Win and Even Record to 1-1: The Giants earned a much-needed victory last night at MetLife Stadium by defeating the St. Louis Rams 28-16. The Giants improved their record to 1-1.
The Rams out-gained the Giants in total net yardage (367 to 300) and net passing yards (308 to 181) but the Giants out-gained the Rams in net rushing yards (119 to 59) and time of possession (34:12 to 25:48).
The Giants received the ball first and promptly moved 43 yards in five plays by using the no-huddle. But on 1st-and-10 from the Rams’ 43-yard line, QB Eli Manning’s pass intended for WR Mario Manningham was intercepted at the 14-yard line. The Rams were then able to drive 84 yards in nine plays, the big play being a 68-yard pass from QB Sam Bradford to WR Danario Alexander when CB Aaron Ross was beat and neither Ross nor S Deon Grant touched Alexander when he fell to the ground, allowing the receiver to race for additional yardage down to the Giants’ 1-yard line. However, the Giants’ defense stiffened at the goal line and the Rams were forced to settle for a short field goal.
The Giants went three-and-out on their second possession, but the Rams muffed the punt and DE Dave Tollefson recovered the fumble at the Rams’ 38-yard line. On 4th-and-4, Manning’s pass to WR Hakeem Nicks was caught out-of-bounds, but a 23-yard pass interference penalty on the Rams gave the Giants a first down at the Rams’ 9-yard line. Two plays later, Manning hit Nicks for a 3-yard touchdown pass. Giants 7 – Rams 3.
The Rams responded with a 10-play, 67-yard drive that resulted in another short field goal. Again, the defense held near the goal line after St. Louis moved to the Giants’ 2-yard line. Giants 7 – Rams 6.
Both teams exchanged three-and-out punts near the end of the first quarter. After the Giants went three-and-out again, the Rams moved from their own 24-yard line to the Giants’ 25. On 3rd-and-8, Bradford’s incomplete pass to HB Cadillac Williams was ruled a lateral. LB Michael Boley picked up the loose ball and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown. Giants 14 – Rams 6.
“Obviously I read that is was a screen,” said Boley. “I wasn’t thinking it was a lateral at first but for us one of the things we talk about in practice is whenever the ball hits the turf is to pick it up and leave no doubt and always scoop and score. Right before I picked it up I didn’t hear a whistle so I am just thinking score.”
Both offenses continued to struggle. There were two more three-and-outs for the Giants while the Rams went three-and-out twice and had another drive that only picked up one first down.
With just under three minutes to go before halftime, the Giants drove 86 yards in eight plays to take a 21-6 halftime advantage on Manning’s 22-yard touchdown pass to WR Domenik Hixon. On the play preceding the touchdown pass, Manning also found Manningham for 31 yards.
The Rams received the football to start the third quarter and ended up cutting the Giants’ lead to 21-9 after driving 60 yards in eight plays. Again, the defense for New York held inside the the red zone, forcing a short field goal.
The Giants responded with a 10-play, 81 yard drive that gave the Giants a commanding 28-9 advantage. On 3rd-and-6, Manning found WR Victor Cruz for 10 yards and a first down. On 3rd-and-6, the drive was kept alive with a 17-yard pass interference penalty. Three plays later, facing a 3rd-and-18, Manning’s 23-yard screen pass to HB Ahmad Bradshaw picked up the first down. On the next play, HB Brandon Jacobs scored from nine yards out.
The Rams then responded with a long drive of their own – their only touchdown drive of the night – by moving 72 yards in 13 plays. On 3rd-and-10, Bradford found Alexander for a 19-yard touchdown pass over CB Michael Coe, who was subbing CB Aaron Ross, who had been benched for poor play.
“It was an attempt to find a solution to one of the problems we were having,” Head Coach Tom Coughlin said of the benching of Ross. “There’s nothing wrong with playing a lot of people. It’s not an indictment on anybody. Just trying to solve an issue…I’m sure he’s disappointed.”
Neither team scored on each of their final three possessions as St. Louis was held without a first down in the entire fourth quarter while the Giants did manage to eat up some of the clock by gaining 92 yards and six first downs on their final three drives. New York could have run out the clock on its last possession, but failed to convert on 4th-and-1.
Offensively for the Giants, Manning finished 18-of-29 for 200 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Bradshaw gained 59 yards on 15 carries while Jacobs gained 50 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. The leading receiver was Bradshaw with 5 catches for 45 yards. Manningham had 56 yards on 3 catches.
Defensively, the Rams were held to only 59 yards rushing. DE Justin Tuck had 1.5 sacks and DE Jason Pierre-Paul 0.5 sacks
Highlights/lowlights of the game are available at NFL.com.
Injury Report: WR Mario Manningham suffered a concussion in the game and did not return. WR Domenik Hixon injured his calf muscle; it was originally feared that he re-injured the same knee that caused him to miss all of last season with a torn ACL.
Post-Game Player Media Q&As: The transcripts of post-game media Q&As with the following players are available at Giants.com:
Post-Game Notes: Inactive for the Giants were DE Osi Umenyiora (knee), CB Prince Amukamara (foot), HB Da’Rel Scott, WR Jerrel Jernigan, H-Back Travis Beckum (hamstring), OG Mitch Petrus, and OT James Brewer.
Article on the Giants’ Offense: Giants Are Having Trouble in Short Yardage Situations by Zach Berman of The Star-Ledger