EAST RUTHERFORD – The New York Giants faced a pivotal moment in their season but ultimately fell short in a 17-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Despite a determined second-half performance and a strong defensive display against quarterback Joe Burrow, the Giants were unable to capitalize on key opportunities. A crucial fourth-down pass from Daniel Jones intended for Darius Slayton was defended well by Bengals cornerback DJ Turner, sealing the Giants’ fate and marking their fourth consecutive loss, leaving their record at 2-4.
The Bengals (2-4) came into the game as favorites, and the Giants missed a chance to generate momentum in the NFC East standings, especially with division rivals Dallas and Washington losing earlier in the day. With Philadelphia set to visit MetLife Stadium next week for Saquon Barkley’s return, the Giants are still grappling with respectability after their 0-2 start.
Sunday night’s contest highlighted missed opportunities for the Giants. Kicker Greg Joseph’s 47-yard attempt to tie the game in the fourth quarter sailed wide left, and a potential longer field goal opportunity was abandoned. Jones also struggled to connect on key plays, including an important pass to Slayton.
The Bengals took a significant step late in the game when Burrow connected with Princeton’s Andrei Iosivas for a third-and-12 conversion, putting them in position to seal the victory. The moment that frustrated Giants fans most came when Micah McFadden forced a fumble from Bengals running back Chase Brown, but the ball went out of bounds, allowing Cincinnati to score on the next play with a 30-yard touchdown run.
Throughout the game, the Giants’ defense showed resilience. They stopped the Bengals from extending their lead after Burrow’s early touchdown run of 47 yards. Dexter Lawrence played a key role by negating a touchdown with a holding penalty against Cincinnati and later sacking Burrow.
The Giants did manage to equalize with a 16-play drive, capped off by a one-yard touchdown run from Tyrone Tracy Jr. after converting on two fourth down attempts. However, the offense often struggled to maintain their momentum, and defensive pressures led to setbacks.
As the Giants look ahead, the loss to the Bengals serves as another reminder of the challenges they face, particularly with injuries impacting their roster. The Giants will need to regroup and find a way to deliver a better performance against the Eagles next week.