EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – – Joe Burrow made just enough plays and the maligned Bengals defense stepped up to deliver a much-needed win that gave Cincinnati some hope after a dismal start.

Hollow scored on a career-long 47-yard run on the opening possession, and Chase Brown added a game-clinching 30-yard touchdown run one play after his fumble fortunately rolled out of bounds in a 17-7 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday night.

“We really needed it,” Burrow said after the Bengals improved to 2-4. “I don’t want to say we wouldn’t have come out of it if we had lost, but we would have been scratching and clawing for the rest of the year. We still are, but it was good to win. Great to see how our defense is so on edge. They have taken some heat in recent weeks. They played great tonight.”

Evan McPherson made a go-ahead 37-yard field goal in the third quarter after a botched snap and hold contributed to him missing a potential game-winning kick a week earlier.

Rookie Tyrone Tracy ran for a 1-yard touchdown for the Giants (2-4), who are winless at home in three games and have scored one touchdown. They failed to take advantage of a Bangladeshi defense that ranked 31st in the league in scoring.

The Giants scored four times in the first half. On the second, they turned it over twice on downs and Greg Joseph missed two field goal attempts.

The high-scoring Bengals suffered a heartbreaking 41-38 overtime loss to visiting Baltimore, their second loss this season, in which Burrow and the offense scored more than 30 points. McPherson’s missed kick contributed to the loss, but the Bengals also couldn’t stop the Ravens and Lamar Jackson.

This time, Cincinnati was led defensively by Trey Hendrickson, who had two sacks, and linebacker Germaine Pratt, who intercepted Daniel Jones at the goal line in the first quarter after former Giant BJ Hill hit Jones while throwing.

“We just knew we had to come out and play our brand of football,” Hill said. “We were better at it. We are still not perfect and still have a long way to go, but we can build on this victory.”

After Tracy’s TD run tied the game, the Bengals quickly regained the lead as Burrow danced in the backfield to give himself time to find Ja’Marr Chase on a 33-yard pass to the Giants 37. McPherson set his leading field. goal with 41 seconds left in the quarter.

New York had a chance to tie the game shortly afterwards, but Joseph missed a 47-yard attempt when the kick went hard to the left as he approached the uprights.

The Giants had another chance to tie the score late in the fourth quarter, but a passing pass to Darius Slayton was interrupted by DJ Turner.

The Giants, who had not scored a touchdown in their first ten quarters at home this season, finally found the end zone on Tracy’s 1-yard run with 5:48 left in the third quarter. It capped a 16-play, 79 drive with two fourth-down conversions by Tracy.

Burrow put the Bengals ahead with his legs. After fighting for a first down on the third play from scrimmage, he was no-hit after rumbling 47 yards for a TD on third-and-18.

“I saw an opening, saw it was man coverage,” said Burrow, who led the Bengals with 55 yards rushing on four carries. “I was able to squeak through that and find the end zone.”

Burrow’s previous long run was 23 yards twice in a career that began in 2020.

The Giants played without playmaking rookie receiver Malik Nabers (concussion) and starting running back Devin Singletary (groin) for the second straight week, and Nabers’ absence showed.

“We didn’t score enough points offensively and that starts with me,” coach Brian Daboll said. “It’s hard to win games when you score seven points, and that’s the reality.”

Jones went 22 of 41 for 205 yards and he also led New York with 56 yards rushing on 11 carries. Burrow had similar numbers – 19 of 28 for 208 yards – but was good enough when it mattered.

Injuries

Bengals: Burrow was evaluated in the medical tent after a big hit by Brian Burns, but returned on the next series.

Giants: Slayton was evaluated for a concussion and returned.

Next

Bengals: Next Sunday at Cleveland.

Giants: Host their former star with Saquon Barkley and Philadelphia next Sunday.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl