Giants unable to put away Jets, who pull off shocking OT victory at MetLife
EAST RUTHERFORD - The Jets needed a miracle not to lose Sunday afternoon.
And the Giants gifted them one. And then another.
What transpired was a collapse of historic proportions for the Giants, culminating in a game-winning field goal by Greg Zuerlein in overtime for a Jets' 13-10 victory Sunday afternoon.
Adoree' Jackson's pass interference on a prayer from Wilson deep to Malik Taylor gave the Jets a golden opportunity at the 15-yard line. The Giants (2-6) had the Jets facing a third-and-5 and Wilson went fishing for a flag. Jackson gave them one.
Earlier, the Giants appeared poised to put the game away. Yet Graham Gano missed his second field goal of the game with 24 seconds left, giving the Jets another chance at a miracle, and they delivered. Zach Wilson completed consecutive 29-yard passes to Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard. And the Jets' offense hustled to the line of scrimmage, with Zach Wilson spiking the ball with one second on the clock.
Zuerlein knocked the chip shot 35-yard field goal through the uprights as time expired, forcing overtime.
The last time Saquon Barkley faced the Jets - the team for which he rooted as a kid - the Giants' star running back was held to one yard rushing.
The weight of an entire team was on Barkley's shoulders, too.
Barkley carried the Giants in the second half with undrafted rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito in for the injured Tyrod Taylor, finishing with 128 yards on a career-high 36 carries. DeVito did not complete a pass in what was his professional debut, entering the game in the second quarter. He finished 0-for-4, while Taylor completed just four passes for eight yards before leaving.
But DeVito's 6-yard touchdown run on a zone read option put the Giants ahead in the third quarter.
And a dominant defense did the rest, smothering Zach Wilson and daring the Jets to beat them with their offense.
The Jets (3-4) had one last drive to try and steal the game, and Zach Wilson's third-down scramble for 17 yards was their first conversion on third down on the afternoon. Kayvon Thibodeaux stood tall on the next play, sacking Wilson for the second time in the game. Thibodeaux did it again on the final play for the Jets' offense, sacking Wilson on a fourth-and-10.
Dexter Lawrence dominated up front for the Giants, toying with Jets backup centers. Connor McGovern, their starter, and Wes Schweitzer, their back up, were both injured in the first half. Practice squad call-up Xavier Newman was third man up, and Lawrence was in the backfield on seemingly every play.
The Giants did such a good job in bottling up Breece Hall in the run game that for some reason the Jets went away from the player Big Blue was concerned with wrecking the game. Hall showed why in the first half when he took a short pass from Wilson and raced through the Giants' defense and around four different would-be tacklers for a 50-yard touchdown.
Tyrod Taylor leaves game with ribs injury
The Giants might need their defense to score in order to complete a second-half comeback against Zach Wilson and the Jets.
If not, they're going to have to ride undrafted rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito for the offense to do it.
The Giants were forced to turn to DeVito when Tyrod Taylor suffered a ribs injury in the second quarter at the end of a play on which he caught his own muffed pass attempt. Taylor was drilled along the Jets' sideline and was down for several moments before leaving the game and heading directly to the locker room.
The Giants ruled Taylor out of the game shortly before halftime, and announced he was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation and observation.
The Giants' offense is in a very difficult position, and not just with DeVito at the helm.
Star tight end Darren Waller was ruled out of the game with a hamstring injury in the first half, and the Jets have done what they can to zero in on Saquon Barkley.
Graham Gano has a tough game
Graham Gano popped up on the Giants' injury report two weeks ago with a left knee injury. And while the veteran kicker has refused to allow that to keep him from doing his job, the issue is something he will have to deal with for the remainder of the season.
Gano told NorthJersey.com that he will need surgery to fix the problem in his left knee, which has considerable swelling. He is receiving extensive treatment during the week to assure that he is able to kick on game days, and this past week Gano participated in practice, so he is not on the injury report.
Still, Gano admits he is in pain and is being diligent on making sure the injury does not affect his kicks.
For the second straight game, Gano missed a field goal going in the same direction. He pushed a 47-yarder in the second quarter wide left after making one in the first quarter from 31 yards out for the Giants' only points.
"Not really sure what happened. Was just kicking and felt it," Gano said. "There’s damage in the knee. Need surgery at some point. It’s one of those things, either I get it now and have to sit out for a while, and then eventually have another one after the season. Or just keep fighting through the pain, keep kicking and just have one. So, that’s my goal, that’s my mindset. Lucky to have some of the best doctors and trainers in the whole country, and in the world, to be honest. They’re doing a fantastic job. It’s just one of those things, manage it week in and week out, and just going out and make my kicks."
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Giants vs. Jets: Postgame updates as Jets win in overtime
