Despite being a two-touchdown underdog, the injury-ridden Giants shocked the Broncos Sunday night in Denver for their first win of the season.
New York, not the Broncos looked like they had the best defense in the league, holding Denver to just three points for the majority of the game in the 23-10 win. The Giants forced three turnovers and sacked the hapless Trevor Siemian four times.
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Siemian, who briefly exited the game with a left shoulder injury, threw for 347 yards in the loss. While he was able to return, receiver Emmanuel Sanders was carted to the locker room after suffering a third-quarter ankle injury.
Here are three takeaways from the Giants' win over the Broncos.
1. No injuries, no problem
Despite losing three wide receivers to season-ending injuries last weekend, the Giants said Friday that five more starters would miss Sunday's night game in Denver due to injuries. That doesn't include defensive back Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who was suspended by the team.
Without the starters, Giants veterans Eli Manning and Jason Pierre-Paul rallied the troops and led by example in the win. Manning was solid, avoiding pressure with his feet and completing all but eight passes for 128 and a touchdown. Not overly impressive but enough for the win. Pierre-Paul led the Giants with eight tackles, three sacks and two QB hits.
2. Janoris Jenkins steps up for Giants' defense
In addition to the distraction of Rodgers-Cromartie's suspension, the Giants' leaky secondary was under fire after allowing back-to-back three-touchdown games from opposing quarterbacks. After struggling early this year and being benched last week, cornerback Eli Apple was the target of many of Trevor Siemian's early throws but he allowed just one completion for three yards.
Jenkins, who was criticized for walking off the field early in last Sunday's loss to the Chargers, starred for the Giants in the win. Not only did Jenkins have an interception return for a touchdown, but he also forced a key fumble on a fourth-down conversion and recorded five tackles. The Giants' strong defensive performance was capped off on a fourth-and-goal defensive stand from the 1-yard-line with just under nine minutes remaining.
3. Broncos' defense, special teams struggle
Despite the inconsistent play under center, the Broncos always had its defense to fall back on. The team entered Sunday's game allowing an NFL-best 50.8 rush yards per game. In the first half alone, the Giants rushed for 83 yards on 14 carries. The poured on 65 more in the second half, led by Orleans Darkwa, who finished with a career-high 117 rushing yards.
The Broncos apparently still thought it was the bye week as Giants tight end Evan Engram gashed Broncos linebackers on crossing patterns to the tune of five catches for 82 yards and a touchdown.
Broncos kicker Brandon McManus could be looking for a new job after missing two field goals, including one that could have tied the game early. Broncos punt returner Isaiah McKenzie also had a pair of questionable plays, including nearly muffing a punt. Unfortunately for McKenzie, he was carted off with a leg injury.
Highlight
Jenkins' pick-six gave the Giants a 17-3 lead.
🚨 PICK-6 🚨
— NFL (@NFL) October 16, 2017
JANORIS. JENKINS. #NYGvsDEN #GiantsPride pic.twitter.com/wMnWmTJelu
What's next
NFL Week 7 “Sunday Night Football:" Falcons at Patriots, 8:30p ET, Oct. 22 on NBC.