Giants Let Game Slip Away to Jets, Falling 13-10 in Overtime

This loss was probably even more embarrassing than their 40-0 drubbing by Dallas in Week 1.

Author:
Joe Najarian
Publish date:
Oct 29, 2023 5:10 PM EDT

In this story:

East Rutherford, N.J.: The New York Giants blew a 10-7 lead over the New York Jets, who not only scored the tying score as time elapsed in regulation but who then went on to snatch the win away from their MetLife STadium neighbors in overtime, 13-10.

In a game devoid of offense, compounded by rainy conditions in East Rutherford, both teams had just 12 first downs and combined to go a dreadful 4-34 on third down. The Giants had 203 rushing yards and relied on their running game throughout the second half but had -9 passing yards on the day. Ultimately, the Jets outgained the Giants in total yardage, 251-194.

Backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor, filling in for the injured Daniel Jones, was knocked out of the game with a rib injury in the first half; he had only eight passing yards on the day, although he rushed for 33 yards.

Rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito entered the game and scored a 6-yard rushing touchdown but completed just two of seven passes for -1 yard. Tight end Darren Waller led the Giants in receiving with four yards on just one reception before leaving the game with a hamstring injury.

Running back Saquon Barkley had a whopping 36 carries and racked up 128 rushing yards as the Giants leaned heavily on Barkley this week.

Jets quarterback Zach Wilson completed just 17 of his 36 passes and lost two fumbles but had 240 passing yards and a touchdown, a 50-yard reception by running back Breece Hall. His top target was Garrett Wilson, who caught seven passes for 100 yards.

Giants kicker Graham Gano, who is playing on a compromised left knee that, per a report by NorthJersey.com, will require off-season surgery, missed two of his three field goal attempts, both of which would have helped make a difference.

Oct 29, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants quarterback Tyrod Taylor (2) carries the ball in front of New York Jets defensive end Solomon Thomas (94) during the first half at MetLife Stadium.

The first half was full of injuries, punts, and poor offensive play from both teams. There were 20 possessions, 10 by each team, and 15 ended in a punt. The Giants and Jets combined to go 0-18 on third down. Ultimately, the Jets had 127 total yards, while the Giants had just 74, with -8 net passing yards.

With the barrage of three-and-outs throughout the first two quarters, there were very few notable plays. The first came just over a minute into the game when Giants outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux forced a fumble against Wilson that fellow outside linebacker Jihad Ward recovered. The Jets’ stout defense wouldn’t allow a first down inside the red zone, but the Giants drew first blood with Graham Gano’s 31-yard field goal.

The next six drives ended in punts, and the Jets would eventually have good field position at midfield. However, they needed just one play to find the end zone, as running back Breece Hall caught a checkdown pass and evaded multiple tackles, scampering to the end zone for a 50-yard touchdown reception. The Jets now led 7-3, and from the way both offenses were performing, the lead felt much larger.

After the Jets touchdown, the Giants would finally move the ball. Assisted by an unnecessary roughness penalty against Quincy Williams and a 17-yard scramble by Taylor, the Giants reached the Jets’ 29-yard line before facing 4th-and-1. Giants coach Brian Daboll chose to settle for a 47-yard field goal attempt, but Gano shanked the kick wide left, and the Giants came away with nothing.

Aug 1, 2023; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants tight end Darren Waller (12) stretches during training camp at the Quest Diagnostics Training Facility.

Outside of a fumble recovery by Giants linebacker Micah McFadden (which wouldn’t amount to anything), every other drive after Gano’s miss ended in a punt. The injuries would pile up during these meaningless drives, as the Jets suffered injuries to Connor McGovern and Xavier Gipson, while the Giants lost Taylor for the rest of the game.

The first possession of the second half, however, would finally see a sustained offensive drive, courtesy of the Giants. Their 12-play, 75-yard drive consisted of primarily running plays, with Barkley ripping off a 34-yard run to move the ball inside Jets territory.

Barkley later added a 6-yard run on 3rd and 6, which was the first conversion on third down by either team up to that point. After getting another fresh set of downs from an unnecessary roughness penalty on the Jets, DeVito scored his first professional touchdown with a 6-yard run on 3rd and Goal, giving the Giants a 10-7 lead.

This seemed to be the decisive score of the game, as both defenses would take over from there. After DeVito’s touchdown, the next eight possessions (four by each team) ended in punts.

The Giants seemingly had the game won when Thibodeaux sacked Zach Wilson on 4th down, giving them the ball with 1:26 left in regulation. However, a baffling decision by Daboll allowed the Jets to get back in the game.

After three straight runs by Barkley, the Giants faced 4th and 1 with 28 seconds left, while the Jets had no timeouts. Inexplicably, Daboll chose not to ice the game by going for the fourth-down conversion and sent out Gano for a 35-yard field goal, which the kicker hit wide left to give the Jets life.

Even worse, the Giants’ defense would finally break in the last 24 seconds. Zach Wilson threw consecutive 29-yard strikes to Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard and spiked the ball with just one second remaining. Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein then drilled a 35-yard field goal as time expired, sending the game into overtime.

Thoroughly shell-shocked, the Giants collapsed in the overtime period. Despite winning the coin toss, the offense lost 11 yards and went three-and-out. Wilson then completed an 11-yard pass to Garrett Wilson on 3rd down, and a 30-yard pass interference penalty on Adoree’ Jackson was the final nail in the coffin.

Zuerlein then kicked a 33-yard field goal that barely snuck through the left upright, giving the Jets a stunning 13-10 win.