It’s only Week 3, and it’s too early to say what any team will look like in 2024, but the signs are there. Already struggling at 0-2, the New York Giants didn’t need a play from scrimmage to slam their face into the ground on Sunday. The Cleveland Browns will be tough to beat given their franchise history, but the Giants certainly came into the day more than up to the challenge.
Fortunately for New York, Cleveland reclaimed the title with 59 minutes, 49 seconds left in the game, as New York overcame early blunders to win, 21-15.
On the opening kickoff, Giants returner Eric Gray made the decision to run the ball out of the end zone, but after a 24-yard run he immediately regretted it, fumbled the ball and gave the Browns the ball in New York’s half.
On the first play from scrimmage, Deshaun Watson found Amari Cooper on the left edge of the end zone, and boom:
Well, you know, if you allow a touchdown and there’s still 14 minutes, 40 seconds left on the clock, you’re not a good football team.
Watson’s pass was far from a sure thing: It was one of the most unlikely touchdowns of the year, according to Next Gen Stats.
Deshaun Watson’s 24-yard TD pass to Amari Cooper had a 14.5% completion rate, making it his third-lowest success rate this season and Watson’s lowest success rate since Week 16 of 2018.
🔹 Distance in the air: 39.9 yards
🔹 Sideline distance: 0.9 yards #NYGvsCLE | @Browns pic.twitter.com/7MXSJkp8S7— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 22, 2024
The Giants responded to that gaffe by going out three times in a row on their first series. New York has already lost to Minnesota and Washington this year. On the plus side, it has nearly 60 minutes to make up for its mistake on the first play.
But as the game progressed, it became clear that the Browns may have run out of steam on the first two plays: New York scored three touchdowns, and Cleveland reclaimed the title of “Most Wretched” from the Giants.