Giants.com Senior Writer/Editor
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Notes and statistics from the Giants’ 17-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in MetLife Stadium:
*The Bengals’ first touchdown – which seemed for much of the game that it would be their only 6-pointer – was on a play not made by a Giants opponent in 82 years.
On a third-and-18 from the Giants’ 47-yard line, Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow dropped back to pass, saw the entire secondary engaged with potential receivers, and took off down the right side. With Isaiah Simmons – who blitzed on the play – right behind him, Burrow dove over the goal line for the score just 3:28 into the game.
The 47-yarder was the longest touchdown run by a quarterback against the Giants since Nov. 1, 1942, when Pittsburgh’s Bill Dudley scored on a 66-yard run in a 17-9 Steelers victory. Burrow’s run was the longest by a quarterback against the Giants since Carolina’s Cam Newton ripped off a 47-yarder in MetLife Stadium on Dec. 20, 2015.
In addition, it was the longest run – touchdown or otherwise – by an NFL quarterback since … last week, when Arizona’s Kyler Murray reached the end zone on a 50-yard run. That was also the first score of the game.
*Burrow’s 47-yarder was the longest touchdown run by a Cincinnati quarterback in franchise history and more than twice as long as his previous two longest runs, a pair of 23-yarders. In his first NFL game on Sept. 13, 2020, Burrow scored on a 23-yard run at home against the Los Angeles Chargers. He also ran for 23 yards in the 2022 season opener vs. Pittsburgh.
*Cincinnati was the second Giants opponent to score a first possession touchdown this season. On Sept. 22, the Cleveland Browns scored a 27-yard touchdown pass from Deshaun Watson to Amari Cooper on their first offensive play. In Brian Daboll’s three seasons as head coach, the Giants are 3-5 in regular-season games and 1-1 in postseason games when their opponents score a touchdown on their first offensive series.
*The Giants fell to 2-4, including 0-3 at home. They last lost their first three home games in 2021, a season in which they finished 3-5 in MetLife Stadium.
*The Giants trailed at halftime, 7-0. It was their first scoreless first half since Nov. 12, 2023, at Dallas, where they trailed, 28-0, in what became a 49-17 loss.
*Quarterback Daniel Jones completed 22 of 41 passes for 205 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. He also led the Giants in rushing with 56 yards on 11 carries, including a team-long 13-yarder.
*Rookie running back Tyrone Tracy scored the Giants’ only touchdown – and his first in the NFL – on a one-yard run with 5:48 remaining in the third quarter. He rushed for 50 yards on 17 carries – 47 yards on 14 attempts in the second half.
*Tracy and wide receiver Darius Slayton each caught a team-high six passes for 57 yards.
*The Giants’ longest reception was 15 yards – two by Wan’Dale Robinson and one each by Slayton and tight end Theo Johnson.
*Jalin Hyatt caught his first pass of the season, a six-yarder. But it was on a third-and-10, so the Giants had to punt.
*Linebacker Micah McFadden picked up his first fumble recovery of the season when he fell on a loose ball at the Giants’ 21-yard line early in the third quarter. Bobby Okereke forced the fumble by Zach Moss after a one-yard run. In 2023, McFadden led the Giants and tied Tampa Bay’s Antoine Winfield, Jr. for the NFL lead with four defensive fumble recoveries.
*Outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari made his first start of the season in place of Kayvon Thibodeaux, who was placed on injured reserve yesterday after undergoing surgery on his wrist Wednesday. Ojulari sacked Burrow twice on the Bengals’ last series of the first half and nearly had another sack in the first quarter.
*Brian Burns and Dexter Lawrence each had one sack.
*Rookie safety Tyler Nubin led the Giants with nine tackles (five solo).
*Punter Jamie Gillan was inactive after experiencing tightness in his left (kicking) hamstring at the end of the practice week and missed his first game in his three seasons with the Giants. Gillan had played in 39 consecutive regular-season games (plus two postseason games), the second longest streak on the team. Long snapper Casey Kreiter played in his 73rd straight game Sunday night.
*With Gillan sidelined, Matt Haack, who was signed Saturday after trying out Friday, played in his 100th regular-season game and first for the Giants. Haack, like Gillan, is a left-footed punter. He has previously played for Miami, Buffalo, Indianapolis and Cleveland. He punted four times for a gross average of 46.8 yards and a net average of 43.5.
*With wide receiver/special teamer Bryce Ford-Wheaton inactive with a shoulder injury, rookie running back Dante Miller, elevated from the practice squad, replaced him as a punt team gunner and assisted on one tackle.
*Linebacker Boogie Basham had one assisted tackle in his season debut.
*The Giants’ inactive players were wide receivers Malik Nabers and Ford-Wheaton, running back Devin Singletary, Gillan, guard Jake Kubas, cornerback Tre Hawkins, and quarterback Tommy DeVito (third QB).
*The Giants are 23-34-1 on Sunday night, including 11-15 at home. They are 2-17 in their last 19 regular-season prime time games.
*The Giants honored their 2007 and 20011 Super Bowl championship teams in a halftime ceremony. Coach Tom Coughlin; quarterback Eli Manning; defensive end Justin Tuck; wide receivers David Tyree, Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks; safety Antrel Rolle; tight end Kevin Boss; offensive linemen Chris Snee, Shaun O’Hara, Rich Seubert, Kareem McKenzie and Kevin Boothe; and linebacker/defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka were among the notables in attendance.
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