Seton Hall
Recap: Giants Win Tight Contest vs Titans, 21-20.
Date: September 16, 2022By: Brian Henderson
Andrew Nelles/USA Today
The Giants are back, baby.
Ok maybe not, but they should feel amazing after a Week One upset against Derrick Henry and the Tennessee Titans, 21-20.
For the first time in 2,192 days, the New York Football Giants have a record that is over .500. This was their first Week One win since 2016, and it couldn’t have been more symbolic.
For the past five years, the mantra for the Giants was “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” New GMs, new coaches, new coordinators, new players, same results on the field.
But the new regime of the Giants – Joe Schoen, Brian Daboll, Mike Kafka, and Wink Martindale – delivered Giants fans something special on Sunday.
Things did look bleak in the first half. The offensive line was getting mauled by Jeffery Simmons and Bud Dupree. The Giants didn’t cross midfield until the last play of the half when former 49ers receiver Richie James caught a pass and made it to the Titans’ 46-yard line.
Down 13-0, on the Giant’s first play of the second half, Saquon Barkley burst to the outside and took off for a 68-yard gain. After two runs from Matt Breida, Saquon flipped his way into the endzone from four yards out.
Saquon Barkley hasn't had a 50+ yard run in 3 years. There he goes!pic.twitter.com/qeGEYVPSzW
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 11, 2022
The Giant’s next offensive drive was when things started to materialize. It took just three plays for Daniel Jones’s first touchdown of the year to be lofted down the field to Sterling Shepard on a 65-yard bomb. It was the Giant’s first game with two plays of 65+ yards since 2016.
After more and more clutch stops from the Giant’s defense, which was missing second-year star Azeez Ojulari and rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux, the Giants needed to score on their final drive to at least tie the game up.
They were calling his name all day, and once again, Barkley made his presence known on the Tennessee defense. A 33-yard run put the G-men within scoring range. The Giants ran it the next eight plays to claw their way to the Tennessee 1-yard line. Daniel Jones rolled out and found Chris Myarick for the easy touchdown.
A point after would’ve merely tied the game. The head coaches of the past probably would’ve taken the PAT.
Not Brian Daboll.
He wasn’t playing for overtime. On a shovel pass to Barkley, he broke a tackle before diving through contact to complete the two-point conversion take a 21-20 lead.
The Titans would then drive down the field, ready to steal a win from the jaws of defeat, but luck was on the Giant’s side. Titan’s kicker Randy Bullock sent a 47-yarder wide left, and New York’s first win of the season was officially sealed.
Well wide left by Randy Bullock from 47 to win it.#Giants 21, #Titans 20. pic.twitter.com/54Iyd5V43z
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) September 11, 2022
The man of the hour was unquestionably Saquon Barkley. 194 total yards, 1 touchdown, and the game-winning 2-point conversion. What a performance.
Looking to next week, the Giants take on the Panthers, who just allowed 217 yards on the ground to the Cleveland Browns. Although, the Giants need to work on pass protection, as Myles Garrett could have a field day.
I’ll be back next week to recap that game. Can the Giants move to 2-0 on the year? Crazier things have happened…
Brian Henderson can be reached at brian.henderson1@student.shu.edu.
