The Giants grinded to the top of the NFC East standings on Sunday for the first time since 2016, but they paid a price.
Franchise quarterback Daniel Jones left their 19-17 road win over the Cincinnati Bengals with a right hamstring injury at the 6:04 mark in the third quarter and did not return. The severity of his injury is not yet known.
Backup Colt McCoy managed the rest in his first snaps as a Giant and let kicker Graham Gano (four field goals) and the defense win the game — barely.
Defensive lineman Jabaal Sheard's sack-fumble in the final minute, recovered by Leonard Williams, sealed a nail-biter victory. That was one of three second-half turnovers forced by the Giants in a smothering defensive effort that held the Bengals offense and backup QB Brandon Allen to 155 total yards.
Rookie defensive end Niko Lalos also made a third quarter interception in his NFL debut off a deflection by corner Darnay Holmes, and Logan Ryan forced and recovered a fumble in the fourth.
The Giants (4-7), therefore, moved into a first-place tie with Washington (4-7) but technically stand atop the division because they own the head-to-head tiebreaker, with a 2-0 record this season against Washington.
The Philadelphia Eagles (3-6-1) host the Seattle Seahawks (7-3) on Monday night with a chance to jump back on top, but Philly is floundering with a QB controversy brewing between Carson Wentz and Jalen Hurts.
So rookie coach Joe Judge has the Giants on a three-game winning streak for the first time since Weeks 10-12 of the 2016 season under Ben McAdoo. That stretch also included a win over Cincinnati as part of a six-game winning streak.
The 2016 season is also the last time the Giants made the playoffs. The 2014 Carolina Panthers are the only team since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger to make the playoffs after having only three wins through 10 games, according to Fox Sports.
But the Giants have a chance, and they could break or tie the 2010 Seattle Seahawks' mark of having the worst record (7-9) of a division winner since the merger, per Elias Sports Bureau.
The Giants are tied for first place in the division for the first time since Week 2 of 2016, when they started 2-0. And they are tied for first place in Week 12 or later for the first time since 2015, in Week 14 under Tom Coughlin with a 6-7 record, per Elias.
Jones' injury, of course, is a major asterisk to Sunday's victory, especially considering the Giants' formidable upcoming schedule against the Seahawks, Cardinals, Browns, Ravens and Cowboys.
Jones hurt his hamstring initially with about 11 minutes left in the third quarter. He hurt it as he fell forward and was hit by Bengals safety Vonn Bell at the end of a designed first-down QB run up the middle.
He came up gimpy and was limping after handing off to Wayne Gallman on the next play. On third down, the normally mobile Jones stood rigidly still, threw complete to Gallman for the first down, but dropped to the turf grabbing his right hamstring.
McCoy then entered to take his first snaps as a Giant. His second pass promptly was thrown directly to Bengals QB Akiem Gaither-Davis, but the Cincy defender dropped it.
Gano made a field goal to give the Giants a 13-10 lead with 8:06 left in the third quarter. And Jones tried to give it another go the following drive, but he couldn't make it more than two more plays.
He hobbled off for good after handing off again to Gallman on first down and nearly throwing an interception on second down, unable to push off his leg. That's when McCoy replaced Jones for good in a battle of backups.
Two big Giants penalties allowed the Bengals' offense to mount a late touchdown drive and a TD pass from Allen to Tee Higgins. Then a punt return gave the Bengals favorable field position. But Sheard got to Allen to snuff out a potential crushing loss.
The Giants' special teams — Judge's calling card as a longtime Patriots coordinator — actually hurt them for the first time this season.
The teams went into halftime tied at 10 apiece despite the Giants gaining 223 yards of offense to the Bengals' 66 because Cincinnati scored on special teams and off an Engram fumble. The Bengals also converted a fake punt in the second half.
Engram erupted for six catches and 129 yards, including 53- and 44-yard completions. Jones' 53 yard pass to Engram set up a game-opening Gallman 1-yard TD run on 4th and goal. But the Bengals immediately tied the game on the ensuing kickoff. Brandon Wilson sprinted 103-yards for a touchdown return on the longest play in Bengals franchise history.
The Giants mounted an encouraging drive again midway through the second quarter, but Engram fumbled at the Bengals' 17-yard line. Bell punched the ball out and returned it to Cincy's 45-yard line. Allen then got the Bengals inside field goal range, thanks in part to soft coverage from Patrick Graham's Giants defense on 3rd and 18. And Randy Bullock converted from 44 yards for a 10-7 Bengals lead.
Gano, who missed a tackle on Wilson's kick return, evened the score with 21 seconds remaining with a 49-yard field goal. It was Gano's first field goal attempt since testing positive for COVID-19 on Nov. 16, the day after signing his contract extension.
Jones made some solid throws and plays on Sunday, including a deep shot dropped by wideout Darius Slayton. He also made about five dangerous throws prior to his injury, including a late first half throw behind Engram that should have been intercepted but was dropped by Bengals corner Mackensie Alexander.
The Giants obviously hope their young quarterback can get healthy quickly, though. They not only want to continue evaluating him. They also believe he is their best chance at holding first place and making a real run.
