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Giants record most sacks in a decade; Malik Nabers makes history
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Giants record most sacks in a decade; Malik Nabers makes history

*Daniel Jones completed 24 of 34 passes for 236 yards and threw two touchdown passes without an interception for the second straight game. His passer rating was 109.4, the highest he’s posted since a 125.2 vs. Indianapolis on Jan. 1, 2023.

*Rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers had another sensational game, with eight receptions for 78 yards and two touchdowns. And Daboll said his best play was knocking down a pass that could have been intercepted by the Browns.

*With 23 catches (for 271 yards) and three touchdowns, Nabers becomes the first player in NFL history with 20+ catches and three touchdowns in his first three career games.

Nabers’ 23 catches tie Anquan Boldin (23 receptions in 2003) for the second-most receptions by a player through his first three career games in NFL history. Only the Rams’ Puka Nacua (30 receptions in 2023) has more.

*At 21 years, 56 days old, Nabers is the youngest wide receiver in NFL history to have two touchdown receptions in a single game, surpassing Mike Evans (21 years, 73 days old on Nov. 2, 2014).

*Nabers is the first Giants rookie to score two touchdowns in a single game since tight end Kaden Smith on Dec. 22, 2019, at Washington.

*Nabers’ first two rushing attempts each yielded two yards, and the first earned a first down on fourth-and-one in the first quarter.

*Nabers fielded a shotgun snap and attempted a pass just before the Giants’ second touchdown on second-and-goal. He threw the ball away when no receiver was open. Nabers is the first Giants wide receiver to attempt a pass since Kadarius Toney at Tampa Bay on Nov. 22, 2021.

*Wan’Dale Robinson had seven receptions for 61 yards.

*Devin Singletary rushed for a game-high 65 yards on 16 carries, including a one-yard run for the Giants’ first touchdown. Singletary also made a heads-up play on the two-minute warning, ending a game-long 43-yard run by going down on the one-yard line instead of continuing to the end zone. With no timeouts on the Browns, Jones was able to take three kneels to end the game.

*Eric Gray fumbled returning the opening kickoff, the Giants’ first turnover this early in a game since Nov. 10, 2013, when Jerrel Jernigan’s fumble led to an Oakland Raiders touchdown with 53 seconds left at MetLife Stadium. The Giants won 24-20.

*The Browns immediately capitalized on their acquisition when Watson threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper, who secured the ball despite being shadowed by cornerback Deonte Banks.

*Cooper scored just 11 seconds into the game. It was the earliest time in a game that the Giants had allowed a touchdown of any kind (offense, defense or special teams) since the merger in 1970.

*Cleveland’s early touchdown was the first the Giants have allowed on an opponent’s first down since Jan. 2, 2022, when Chicago’s David Montgomery scored on a 2-yard run at Soldier Field 18 seconds into the game.

*The Giants had not allowed a touchdown on the first play of a game since Sept. 13, 1998, when the Raiders’ Napoleon Kaufman scored on an 80-yard run with 17 seconds remaining.

*Burns’ sack was his first with the Giants and first since Jan. 7, 2024, at Carolina vs. Tampa Bay. His forced fumble was his first since Sept. 10, 2023, at Atlanta and the ninth of his career.

*Two cornerbacks suffered calf injuries, forcing the Giants to make changes in the secondary. Rookie Dru Phillips left in the opening moments of the game, followed by Adoree’ Jackson late in the first half. Cor’Dale Flott moved from corner to slot when Phillips was injured and back to corner when Jackson went down. Isaiah Simmons took snaps in the slot, and Art Green, who was pulled from the practice squad on Saturday, made his NFL debut at cornerback and on special teams, assisting on one tackle.

*Wide receiver Darius Slayton (thumb) and linebacker Micah McFadden (back) left the field with injuries, but returned.

*Lawrence got a big laugh during the coin toss. As the visiting team, the Giants were choosing between heads or tails. The umpire’s microphone caught Lawrence saying, “A tail never fails.” This time, it did. When the coin landed on heads, the entire stadium heard Lawrence say, “Goddammit.” The Giants have had 21 chances to make the heads/tails call under Daboll, including twice in the playoffs. They’ve called tails 19 times.

*Kicker Greg Joseph scored three extra points in his Giants debut, but missed a 48-yard field goal attempt with three minutes left that could have decided the game.

*Ihmir Smith-Marsette returned two punts for 19 yards with a longer one of 16 yards after not returning a punt in his debut last week.

*Patrick Johnson made his debut for the Giants on special teams.

*The Giants’ inactive players were cornerbacks Nick McCloud and Tre Hawkins, safety Anthony Johnson, linebackers Boogie Basham and Benton Whitley and quarterback Tommy DeVito (third quarterback).