Giants Defense Comes up Big in 22-16 Win Vs. Bears

Now they just have to finish the year strong to see the rewards. But these Giants keep rewriting the endings this year. Chicago, which ranked 31 in averaging 15.7 points per game, notched 16 in the first half alone against the Giants. This week they have the Bears and then they have the Cleveland Browns.

The New York Giants, though, won their fifth straight game Sunday, holding off the Chicago Bears, 22-16. It solidified their hold on an NFC playoff spot. DC Steve Spagnuolo asserted that Cutler is at his most effective when he is spreading the ball around.

Well last week didn’t go according to plan. As has been the case during the Giants’ winning streak, when the defense has needed a big play, Collins has delivered. The Giants had one completion of 48 yards, but no others longer than 20 yards, and the run defense allowed just 3.5 yards per NY rush. It doesn’t take much to get by Chicago either, so as long as NY can continue to play well on defense, it should cover today. And it’s obvious in the way they’re able to overcome adversity and not just fold.

Linebacker Leonard Floyd, who leads National Football League rookie with five sacks, left the game on a stretcher in the fourth quarter with a neck injury. He has been firing on all cylinders after beginning the season putting up abysmal numbers – 75.7 yards per game and zero touchdowns – way outside of his norm. They converted another fourth-and-2 at the Bears’ 33 that led to a 46-yard Robbie Gould field goal to make it 16-9 Bears with 3:38 left in the first half. Giants receiver Roger Lewis Jr. and Bears cornerback Cre’Von LeBlanc left in the first-half with concussions. Cutler was 6 of 16. They are also tough against the run, allowing only 98.4 yards per game.

The biggest improvement the Giants defense made in the second half came against the run.

“I love the way the team responded in the second half”, Beckham said. “Sideline was sacked up, we were fired up for Landon, he made a heck of a play”. With 2 TDs on the game, Eli continued his hot play with his elusiveness and buying enough time to extend the plays avoiding any sacks. “They get excited about the opportunity”. He gets to the line, assesses the defense and makes adjustments as necessary. Both Jennings and Perkins combined to rush for over 100-yds for the second straight game.

Defensively, Pierre-Paul led the way with 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a pass defensed. Because of that, their confidence is beginning to rise, too. “Sure. I’ve been in this city, and it was vicious, the newspapers and all that stuff”, Fox said at his introductory press conference. “Anytime you can end the game on a play like that, that’s encouraging”, Giants head coach Ben McAdoo said. Those guys are playing lights out. “We still have a lot of work to do and we realize that and we look forward to doing it”. “Obviously just seeing everybody and saying hello to everybody, everyone coming up, I didn’t think it would be as hard”.

Yes, by “that game” he really meant that game – Super Bowl XLI. Maybe it wasn’t Fox, but he certainly could’ve stopped that decision because he seems to be making more than his share of personnel decisions on offense, and finding some reason for his continuing to do that is painful and hard. And now they’re convinced that it finally is. If the Giants want to continue their winning streak they will have to overcome some issues with the offensive line.

“He did a great job of getting the ball out quick and he did a great job at mixing up checks, screens, and all types of stuff where we couldn’t get to him”, McPhee said.