The New York Giants picked up another hard fought win on Monday Night Football as they defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 21-20. It was the Giants fourth win in a row and they are now 6-3 and in position to make the playoffs for the first time since winning Super Bowl XLVI.
The victory was a complete team effort, but some players stood above the rest and deserve game balls.1. Rashad Jennings
The Giants running game had been nonexistent for the past month as they averaged less than 70 rushing yards a game. But that changed on Monday as the Giants rushed for 122 yards on 27 carries. Most of those yards came from Rashad Jennings who carried the ball 15 times for 87 yards. He also got two key first downs on the Giants final drive to help them ice the game.
2. Odell Beckham Jr.
Beckham showed again why many consider him the best receiver in the NFL. He had a game-high 10 receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown. The touchdown was his fifth one over the last four games. He also became the fastest receiver to get to 3,500 career receiving yards.
3. Landon Collins
For the third game in a row, Collins collected an interception, and this one was huge as it ended a Bengals drive in the fourth quarter. Collins also tallied five tackles and defended a pass in the end zone that was intended for Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert. After winning NFC Defensive Player of the Week in the Giants previous two games, he’s on his way to earning his first trip to the Pro Bowl.
4. Olivier Vernon
Vernon had his best game as a Giant as he had a team-high 10 tackles and a sack. Despite battling through injuries, Vernon was able to get pressure on Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, and he had two key tackles for a loss.
5. Head coach Ben McAdoo
Yes, coaches don’t play, but McAdoo’s aggressive decision to go for it on 4th-and-goal at the 3-yard line with 14:05 remaining in the game and the Giants trailing 20-14, is the main reason the Giants are 6-3 and not 5-4. Most coaches in that scenario would play it safe and kick the field goal. But McAdoo had faith in his offense and it paid off as
Most coaches in that scenario would play it safe and kick the field goal. But McAdoo had faith in his offense and it paid off as Eli Manning connect with Sterling Shepard for the game-winning score.