Malik Nabers: See what the NY Giants rookie says about wearing the number 1
Malik Nabers talks about the Giants asking Ray Flaherty’s family for permission to retire the No. 1 jersey and what he thinks makes him a special player
CLEVELAND – For the ninth time, despite five different coaching regimes, the New York Giants start the season with a 2-0 loss.
They will need to put in a strong performance on the road against the Cleveland Browns, who have a 1-1 record, to avoid a 0-3 record, the record Big Blue achieved from the start in Joe Judge’s final season in 2021.
Thanks to surprise losses to the Cowboys and Eagles last week, the Giants are just one game back of the NFC East lead. But until they get a win of their own, all the discussion will be on how Brian Daboll and Co. can keep this season from going down the drain.
Check back throughout the day for live updates and analysis:
Replay assist gives Dexter Lawrence his second sack
Dexter Lawrence chased Deshaun Watson out of the pocket and forced an intentional grounding penalty, but not right away. Referees initially said Watson’s throw from outside the tackle box as he ran toward the Browns’ sideline had made its way back to the line of scrimmage.
An assist on the replay confirmed that Watson had not brought the ball over the line, so Lawrence was credited with his second sack and the Browns were forced to punt again.
The Giants must continue to attack Deshaun Watson and the Browns’ interior line. Dexter Lawrence’s second sack of the season on the previous drive was followed by consecutive sacks by Micah McFadden and rookie defensive tackle Elijah Chatman.
That’s how you respond to a terrible start. Devin Singletary scores from a yard out to cap a 13-play, 81-yard run that took 7:44. Biggest play of the possession: Brian Daboll risked a fourth-and-goal attempt from his own 43. Malik Nabers got two yards on a jet sweep and Daboll called several screens that scored on the run, taking advantage of the pressure applied by DC Jim Schwartz’s defense.
A major penalty for “unnecessary roughness against the passer” negated an interception by Daniel Jones that went straight to DePaul graduate and Browns safety Ronnie Hickman. There may have been a miscommunication between rookie tight end Theo Johnson and Jones.
Things couldn’t have gone worse for the Giants.
Eric Gray dropped the ball on the opening kickoff. The Browns recovered it.
One play later, 11 seconds, the Giants are behind.
Deshaun Watson threw a perfect pass to Amari Cooper, who beat Tae Banks despite tight coverage on the left side of the end zone. Great footwork by Cooper to bring them both down in the end zone and make the play come to fruition.
Browns DE Myles Garrett sprints to the Giants warmup lines to greet Giants RT Jermaine Eluemunor.
They were teammates at Texas A&M. Garrett may try out Eluemunor as he moves up and down the rankings, starting with LT Andrew Thomas.
Garrett (foot) and Eluemunor (neck) were only able to participate in limited training this week, but neither were on the final injury list.
GIANTS
- QB Tommy DeVito (emergency 3rd QB)
- CB Nick McCloud
- OL Jake Kubas
- CB Tre Hawkins III
- OLB Boogie Basham
- S Anthony Johnson
- OLB Benton Whitley
BROWN
- OL Jack Conklin
- QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (emergency 3rd QB)
- RB Pierre Strong Jr.
- CB Kahlef Hailassie
- G Javion Cohen
- WR Jamari Thrash
- TE David Njoku
Burns (groin) is on the field in his shirt and pants during warm-ups, testing his groin with the training staff. Joe Schoen and John Mara watch from afar. Now Schoen, defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux are talking.
The body language was positive throughout. Then Burns went to the coordination ladder and seemed to be moving well.
Special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial surprisingly floated the idea that rookie Jude McAtamney, who is on the practice squad under an International Pathway Program exemption, was competing with rookie Greg Joseph to see who would kick for the Giants against the Browns.
In reality, it would have been a shock if McAtamney had outplayed the veteran for a number of reasons, but perhaps the most important was this: If the Giants believed McAtamney was ready to kick in an NFL game, they would have signed him to the active roster last week rather than revel in the relative fiasco that unfolded due to Graham Gano’s hamstring injury.
The Giants essentially confirmed that Joseph would be their kicker against the Browns when they announced the additions to their two game-day practice squads on Saturday afternoon: linebacker Ty Summers, who was named to the team as a core special teamer for the third consecutive year, and cornerback Art Green, who was promoted from the PS team for the first time.
Joseph, 30, has played in 67 regular-season games and four postseason games for Cleveland (2018), Tennessee (2019) and Minnesota (2021-23). He also played for Miami, Tampa Bay and Green Bay, who signed him as a free agent in March but released him on Aug. 28. Joseph joined the Lions’ practice squad on Sept. 11 and joined the Giants six days later.
His career totals include 100 field goals on 121 attempts (82.6%) and 146 of 162 extra points for 446 points. Joseph scored 100-plus points in each of his three seasons with the Vikings, peaking at 135 points in 2021, when he finished sixth in the NFL. Joseph is a familiar face around the Giants, having ruined Christmas Eve for them two seasons ago by kicking a game-winning field goal from 61 yards out for the Vikings against them.
Gano was placed on the injured list this week and will have to miss at least four games before he can play again. He expects to be able to kick around this season, but the Giants have not committed to using an injured player for his return, nor are they obligated to announce their plans.
Giants outside linebacker Brian Burns is cleared to play despite his questionable status after appearing on the injury report following Friday’s practice, according to two people with knowledge of the situation who told NorthJersey.com. Burns’ groin tightened during practice, prompting the Giants to back out and remain hopeful he could play against the Browns.
Burns is still waiting for his first official sack as a Giant, although he did record one in the fourth quarter against Washington that was nullified due to a controversial holding penalty.
Injury updates for the NY Giants vs. Browns
The Giants will not see Browns right tackle Jack Conklin, who was downgraded to out on Saturday with a hamstring injury. He had been eyeing a comeback after the first two weeks off. Cleveland should get left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. back against the Giants in what would be his first game since injuring his knee last season.
Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett is not on the injured list, but he told reporters in Cleveland on Friday that he is dealing with similar injuries to both feet that may require surgery. Garrett, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, has a strip sack in each of the first two games.
Giants cornerback/special teamer Nick McCloud did not make the trip. He is dealing with a knee injury and will miss his second straight game, although there is a chance McCloud will be healthy for Thursday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium.
NY Giants vs. Browns today
- Date: Sunday, September 22
- Time: 1pm
- Location: Huntington Bank Field, Cleveland, Ohio
What channel is the NY Giants vs Browns game on today?
Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
History of the NY Giants against the Browns
- Series record: Browns lead, 28-22-2
- Last Giants win: 27 November 2016 (27-13)
- Last win for the Browns: 20 December 2020 (20-6)
Prediction for NY Giants vs. Browns
The selection: Giants 20, Browns 17
Here’s why: Desperation. If the Browns had lost last week and both teams were winless, I would lean toward Cleveland. But the Browns didn’t play a clean game in their first win against the Jaguars. They lead the league in penalties by a wide margin and I’m not convinced Deshaun Watson has solved his problems. On top of that, the Browns’ best players (Myles Garrett’s foot and Denzel Ward’s shoulder) aren’t at 100 percent. I’m assuming the Giants are feeling the pressure of the situation and are playing their best game in a long time.
STAFF PREDICTIONS: NY Giants vs. Cleveland Browns predictions: Our expert tips for week 3 of the NFL season
NY Giants vs Browns betting odds
BetMGM’s lines and odds for Saturday:
- Spread: Browns with 6.5
- Over/Under: 39.5
Weather update for NY Giants vs. Browns
Partly cloudy, high 80, 1 percent chance of rain.
NY Giants 2024 schedule
- September 8 against Vikings, loss 28–6
- 15 September at Commanders, L 21-18
- Sept. 22 at Browns, 1 p.m.
- September 26 against Cowboys, 8:15 p.m.
- Oct. 6 at the Seahawks, 4:25 p.m.
- Oct. 13 vs. Bengals, 8:20 p.m.
- Oct. 20 vs. Eagles, 1 p.m.
- Oct. 28 at the Steelers, 8:15 p.m.
- Nov. 3 vs. Commanders, 1pm
- Nov. 10 against Panthers (in Germany), 9:30 a.m.
- Nov. 24 vs. Buccaneers, 1 p.m.
- Nov. 28 at Cowboys, 4:30 p.m
- Dec. 8 vs. Saints, 1 p.m.
- Dec. 15 vs. Ravens, 1 p.m.
- Dec. 22 at Falcons, 1 p.m.
- Week 17: To be announced against Colts
- Week 18 will be announced at the Eagles
- WEEK 18 · TBD
Buy Giants tickets for this season
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