DENVER BRONCOS 33 – NEW YORK GIANTS 32…
In a game that will be long-remembered for a jaw-dropping, 4th-quarter collapse, the New York Giants lost 33-32 to the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium on Sunday. Unbelievably, the Giants lost 4th-quarter leads of 19-0 and 26-8, as Denver scored all 33 of their points in the final quarter. Two missed extra points by place kicker Jude McAtamney proved devastating, as did the defense collapsing again after the Giants regained the lead with 37 seconds left in contest.
As with the final score, the team stats were relatively even, although the Broncos won the crucial turnover battle 1-0.
The Giants only gained 32 yards and one first down on their first two offensive possessions. Then came a quick-strike, 4-play, 77-yard drive. Quarterback Jaxson Dart connected with wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson on a 23-yard gain. After a couple of defensive penalties, Dart threw a deep pass to tight end Daniel Bellinger for a 44-yard touchdown. With the extra point, the Giants were up 7-0.
The Giants went three-and-out on their fourth possession, but drove the field again with a lengthy, 10-play, 82-yard drive on their fifth possession. Key plays included an 18-yard pass to Robinson, a 29-yard pass to Bellinger, and a 4th-and-1 conversion by Dart. On 3rd-and-11, Dart threw a short pass to running back Cam Skattebo who scored from 13 yards out. Unfortunately, McAtamney missed his first extra point.
The Giants did gain a couple of first downs and 34 yards on their sixth and final possession of the first half, but punted.
Meanwhile, the Broncos could get nothing going on offense. Their first four possessions resulted in a total of 43 yards, three first downs, and four punts. Their only good drive came on their fifth possession when they moved the ball 63 yards in 12 plays. But on 4th-and-goal from the New York 2-yard line, quarterback Bo Nix’s pass only gained one yard as safety Dane Belton made the tackle. The Broncos turned the ball over on downs.
At the half, the Giants led 13-0.
The Broncos punted two more times on their first two drives of the second half, while the Giants also punted once. On New York’s second possession, the Giants drove 59 yards in seven plays, with running back Tyrone Tracy scoring for 31 yards out. In another move that would come back to haunt them, the Giants went for the 2-point conversion and failed. The Giants were up 19-0.
As the third quarter ended and the fourth quarter began, the Broncos put together their first scoring drive, an 8-play, 78-yard affair that ended with a short touchdown pass by Nix. The Broncos also made the 2-point conversion on another pass and the the Giants lead was cut to 19-8. However, the momentum quickly shifted back to the Giants. Gains of 14 yards by Robinson and 18 yards by Skattebo helped to set up a 41-yard touchdown pass to tight end Theo Johnson off a deflected pass on 3rd-and-17. With the extra point, the Giants were now up by 18 points with just over 10 minutes to play.
The Giants defensive collapse continued for the rest of the game. Denver drove 74 yards in 13 plays with Nix running the ball in from seven yards out. Again, the Broncos also converted on the 2-point play. Earlier on this possession, cornerback Andru Phillips was flagged for pass interference on 4th-and-3. The Giants were now up by 10 points, 26-16.
On the ensuing drive, the Giants made a critical mistake with five minutes left in the game. On 3rd-and-5, Dart’s pass to Johnson was intercepted and returned 21 yards to the New York 19-yard line. Four plays later, Nix threw a 2-yard touchdown pass. With the extra point, the Giants were now only up 26-23. Worse, the Giants could not pick up a first down, going three-and-out, and giving the ball back to Denver with 2:42 left in the game.
The first two plays went nowhere. On 3rd-and-11, Nix completed a deep pass for 31 yards. After an incomplete pass, Nix threw to tight end Evan Engram for 20 yards. On the very next snap, Nix ran the ball into the end zone from 18 yards out. The Broncos now led for the first time, 30-26, with less than two minutes to play.
However, the Giants were not dead yet. New York unbelievably converted on a 4th-and-19 from their own 26-yard line to keep their final possession alive. Dart found Robinson for 19 yards, and Denver was also flagged with roughing-the-passer on the play. After two incomplete passes from the Denver 40-yard line, the Giants were bailed out by two Denver penalties, a 38-yard pass interference penalty against wide receiver Beaux Collins and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. On the next snap, Dart scored on a run from 1-yard out. But again, McAtamney missed the extra point. The Giants were up by only two points with 37 seconds to play.
After the kick return, Denver was at their 23-yard line with 33 seconds. Just like in the earlier game against the Dallas Cowboys, Defensive Coordinator Shane Bowen played it scared with a three-man rush. The result was predictable. A 29-yard pass completion, a 5-yard neutral zone infraction, and a 22-yard pass completion. Three plays, 56 yards in 30 seconds. The Broncos kicked the game-winning 39-yard field goal as time expired. Sickening.
Dart finished the game 15-of-33 for 283 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. He also scored a rushing touchdown, but was sacked four times. All of Dart’s completions went to just four players: Robinson (6 catches for 99 yards), Bellinger (3 catches for 88 yards and one touchdown), and Johnson (3 catches for 66 yards and a touchdown), and Skattebo (3 catches for 34 yards and a touchdown). Skattebo also rushed 16 times for 60 yards while Tracy ran the ball nine times for 46 yards and a score.
It was a Jekyll-and-Hyde performance for the defense, pitching a shutout for three quarters, and then completely collapsing in the 4th quarter. Knee injuries to cornerback Paulson Adebo and safety Jevon Holland did not help matters. The defense did not force a turnover, but had two sacks, five tackles for losses, and eight pass defenses.
GAME VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS are available on YouTube.
PRACTICE SQUAD ELEVATIONS, INACTIVES, AND INJURY REPORT…
On Saturday, the Giants activated OLB Victor Dimukeje from the Reserve/Physically-Unable-to-Perform (PUP) List and waived DT Elijah Garcia.
The Giants also activated (standard elevation) WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey and ILB Zaire Barnes from the Practice Squad.
Inactive for the game were WR Darius Slayton (hamstring), OC John Michael Schmitz (concussion), DL Chauncey Golston (neck), ILB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (hamstring), ILB Swayze Bozeman (ankle), QB Jameis Winston (3rd QB), and OG Evan Neal.
CB Paulson Adebo and S Jevon Holland both left the game with knee injuries.
POST-GAME REACTION…
Transcripts and video clips of post-game media sessions with Head Coach Brian Daboll and the following players are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:
- Head Coach Brian Daboll (Video)
- QB Jaxson Dart (Video)
- TE Daniel Bellinger (Video)
- LT Andrew Thomas (Video)
- DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches (Video)
- OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (Video)
- CB Andru Phillips (Video)
- S Jevon Holland (Video)
- PK Jude McAtamney (Video)
WHAT’S UP NEXT…
Head Coach Brian Daboll and select players will address the media on Monday by Zoom.