JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — This may need been a turning level for the Giants, who not are delighted and relieved and perhaps even considerably shocked once they win a recreation.
They did it once more on Sunday in a riveting and imperfect 60 minutes of frenzied motion that got here right down to a remaining, fateful play, with three Giants defensive backs coming collectively to cease a Jaguars extensive receiver on the 1-yard line to safe one other comeback victory, this one a tense 23-17 escape-job at sun-drenched TIAA Financial institution Area.
They did it with Daniel Jones flashing a uncommon present or emotion as he ran via the Jaguars’ protection with abandon. They did it with Saquon Barkley working wild within the second half however making the crucial mistake of going out of bounds to make life far tougher within the closing moments for a protection that was having all types of issues coping with quarterback Trevor Lawrence and working again Travis Etienne.
They did it, successful their fourth consecutive recreation to rise to 6-1, and afterwards realized they have to be higher.
“Made it more durable than we wanted it to be,’’ coach Brian Daboll mentioned.
“If we executed higher, we undoubtedly may have accomplished extra to not make it such a nail-biter on the finish,’’ mentioned receiver Darius Slayton, who caught a first-quarter landing.
They managed to get the win and that they realize it ought to have been closed out sooner than it was is an indication of progress for these Giants. Main 20-17, Barkley ripped off runs of 13, 7 and 20 yards to maintain the clock transferring and preserve the yards churning. Graham Gano hit a 34-yard area purpose with 1:07 remaining to present the Giants a six-point lead. However Barkley failed to remain in bounds on his remaining third-down run, costing the Giants 42 seconds, because the clock had run right down to 25 seconds earlier than a overview decided he stepped out.
“Simply acquired to do higher,’’ Barkley mentioned. “Not going to make any excuses. Simply acquired to be higher. That’s actually it. I’m anticipated to grasp the scenario. I knew the scenario. I attempted to get down, however acquired to do a greater job of it.’’
The door was open for the Jaguars and their final shot was not with out anxiousness for the Giants due to defensive penalties on Adoree’ Jackson and Dane Belton — Belton’s negated an interception by Fabian Moreau — and a roughing the passer penalty on Dexter Lawrence — although it regarded prefer it may need as a substitute been Leonard Williams — that put the Jaguars on the Giants’ 17-yard line. Lawrence’s remaining cross, to Christian Kirk, was caught on the 1-yard line and the receiver was hit by Moreau after which Xavier McKinney after which Julian Love from the facet. The defenders saved Kirk out of the tip zone because the clock ran out.
“Method too shut,’’ Moreau mentioned.
“It’s a kind of performs, get him down, it doesn't matter what,’’ Love mentioned.
Earlier than that, the Giants normal one other certainly one of their late comebacks. Jones completed with a career-high 107 speeding yards on 11 carries and at instances carried the offense when the Jaguars have been stuffing Barkley, who had solely 18 speeding yards at halftime and completed with 110.
Down 17-13, the Giants got here up with a fourth-down cease when Lawrence was stopped for no achieve on a sneak on the Giants’ 20-yard line. What adopted was a drive that was not all Jones, however he was most of it. The successful factors got here on the finish of a 10-play, 79-yard drive that put the ball within the arms of Jones and Barkley.
A cross interference penalty on Tyson Campbell for hauling down Slayton ultimately zone put the Giants on the 1-yard line and Jones took it in from there. The Giants have been up 20-17 with 5:31 to go.
The Giants wanted a cease on protection and acquired it when Jackson got here again from a concussion verify to defend towards former Giants tight finish Evan Engram on a third-down cross that dropped to the grass.
The Giants’ first drive of the second half was a superb one, helped alongside when rookie linebacker Devin Lloyd’s interception of Jones was worn out when linebacker Foyesade Oluokun was known as for roughing the passer for almost head-butting Jones. The drive made it contained in the 5-yard line however stalled, with Jones throwing twice for Marcus Johnson. The fourth-down throw was positioned in Johnson’s midsection however he dropped the ball close to the purpose line. As he ran off the sphere, Jones did what he not often does — present emotion — when he regarded again on the spot of the drop and yelled “Catch the ball.’’
It actually was not a lot of an outburst in any respect, however Jones regretted it nonetheless.
“Warmth of the second, and I want I may have that scenario again,’’ Jones mentioned. “I satisfaction myself on being composed in these conditions. Yeah, I wasn’t there. I’ve acquired full religion and confidence on the earth in Marcus and yeah, dissatisfied I let that occur.’’
Barkley mentioned he was working “gentle’’ within the first half however the Giants managed to guide 13-11 on the break. The Jaguars scored six factors within the second half and the Giants outscored them 10-0 within the fourth quarter, persevering with a season-long development.
The sport was a tough one for the Giants. They misplaced two beginning offensive linemen, rookie proper sort out Evan Neal and left guard Ben Bredeson to knee accidents and rookie tight finish Daniel Bellinger was compelled out with a grotesque eye damage when he acquired poked inside his helmet.
“We didn’t play as clear as I might need us to,’’ Love mentioned. “We’re getting these wins, belief me, it feels good, however to get the place we wish to go now we have loads to enhance on.’’
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