New York Giants linebacker Brian Barnes (right) forces Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) to fumble the ball, which the Giants recover during the first half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/David Richard)
CLEVELAND — There’s one play that works better than any other for the New York Giants: Throwing the ball anywhere near Malik Neighbors.
The rookie wide receiver caught two touchdown passes from Daniel Jones and made a spectacular catch over a defender along the sideline to prevent a would-be interception as New York held off the Cleveland Browns 21-15 on Sunday for its first win.
Jones and Neighbors completed two passes in the first half and the Giants (1-2) built a 21-7 lead before desperately holding on for the rest of the game.
“I have a lot of confidence in him to go get the ball.” “It’s a tough game,” said Jones, who completed 24 of 34 passes for 236 yards as New York tried to shake off a loss at Washington that drew criticism of coach Brian Daboll a week ago.
It wasn’t easy.
Deshaun Watson spurred the Browns (1-2) despite being sidelined by three injuries, and Cleveland had three chances to take the lead in the fourth quarter, but the Giants recovered a fumble and twice denied the Browns on downs.
The Giants were by no means perfect. They fumbled the opening kickoff, gave up a 7-0 lead 11 seconds into the game and new kicker Greg Joseph missed a 48-yard field goal that could have decided the game.
“It’s just a normal NFL game.” Daboll said with a straight face.
Neighbours is anything but ordinary.
The first-round draft pick was the Giants’ lone bright spot through two games and shone again with eight catches for 78 yards, including a spectacular catch in the corner of the end zone for his first career touchdown.
At 21 years and 56 days old, he became the youngest wide receiver in NFL history to record two touchdown receptions.
Neighbors said Jones gave him specific instructions about the plays he would be targeted on.
“He said, ‘It’s you or nobody.’ Neighbors said.
Late in the first half, Neighbors stole the ball from Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. and completed a 28-yard pass.
“What a great catch.” Daboll said. “When you have a player like him, it doesn’t matter the opponent. You just throw him the ball and trust that he’ll get it.”
A few plays later, Neighbors made a leaping, twisting catch of a 3-yard pass from Jones in the back of the end zone and scored.
Neighbours smiled when asked if she knew she had won for good.
“I knew what it was going to be, but I was like, oh my God.” Neighbors said.
While those catches were noteworthy, Daboll said Neighbors’ biggest play was when he stopped a reckless pass by Jones that Cleveland nearly intercepted deep in Giants territory.
“For him to have the awareness to drop the ball, I think that play says more about Malik than anything else.” Daboll said. “Everybody saw the touchdown, but the unselfish play he made, the smart play, was huge.”
The Giants defense did its job, sacking Watson eight times, but the Browns struggled at home for the second time in three weeks and suffered a string of major injuries.
Cleveland’s starting left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee) and right guard Wyatt Teller (knee) were both injured, along with backup tackle James Hudson III, forcing coach Kevin Stefanski to switch the line around in front of Watson, who completed 21 of 37 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns.
Of more concern is that All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett may have aggravated a foot injury by playing. Garrett is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday, and a serious injury could alter Cleveland’s season.
“There’s a lot going on.” Garrett said when asked about his foot. “It’s part of the game. No excuses. You don’t win this game with excuses.”
Aside from a fumble on the opening kickoff, the Giants dominated the first half.
Jones was nearly perfect, completing 17 of 19 passes and at one point completing 12 in a row.
The New York defense continued to pressure Watson, sacking him four times, Brian Barnes stripping the ball from Cleveland’s quarterback, and Jones’ second touchdown pass to Neighbors with 11 seconds left in the first half to give the Giants a 21–7 lead.
Injury
Giants: CB Dru Phillips (calf) left the game in the first half and CB Adoree Jackson (calf) was injured in the third quarter. … ILB Micah McFadden (back) left the game early in the fourth quarter. … WR Darius Slayton (thumb) was also injured in the second half.
Browns: Stefanski said all three linemen will undergo imaging tests. … Cooper was slow to get up on Cleveland’s penultimate play but said he was OK.
Next
Giants: Host Dallas on Thursday night.
Browns: At Las Vegas on Sunday.
