Get an instant postgame recap of the Giants' preseason matchup with the Jets:
AT A GLANCE
The Giants didn't score a touchdown in the first two weeks of the preseason, but they got two from their defense alone in the third time out, propelling them to a 32-31 victory over the Jets in the MetLife Bowl.
UP NEXT
The Giants wrap up the preseason on Thursday night in New England with their annual game against the Patriots. Clubs must reduce their active rosters to a maximum of 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 2, eight days before the Giants open in Dallas.
WHAT WE LEARNED ON OFFENSE
• Thanks to a 19-yard catch by rookie tight end Evan Engram and a 15-yard run by Paul Perkins, Eli Manning and the first-team offense moved the chains on their opening drive. However, that ended when Sheldon Richardson pressured Manning, who was intercepted at the Jets three-yard line. Brett Jones relieved Jerry on the next drive. The Giants later took a look at an offensive line group that, from left to right, included Chad Wheeler, Justin Pugh, Weston Richburg, D.J. Fluker, and Bobby Hart.
• After safety Landon Collins notched the first overall touchdown of the preseason for the Giants, running back Orleans Darkwa scored the first offensive touchdown on a one-yard rush late in the first quarter. It was set up by a 17-yard catch from Roger Lewis on a fourth-and-three play where the receiver took a big hit.
"I thought the offense did a good job," Manning said. "We moved the ball. Every time we had a possession, we got some first downs and got into their territory. I've got to do a better job with the interception and not throw that pass. I have to realize the pressure and throw it away or take the sack. But besides that, I thought the offense made some nice plays."
• Josh Johnson entered the game at quarterback with a 19-3 lead and 10 minutes to go in the first half. Johnson played just the final series of last week's game in Cleveland after Geno Smith was No. 2 behind Manning. The two have been rotating back and forth with the second and third teams in the competition to back up Manning, who finished the night seven of 14 for 121 yards with the interception. Smith, a former Jet, came in with 8:30 to play in the third quarter. Rookie Davis Webb, who did not play in Cleveland on Monday night, quarterbacked the final seven minutes of the game. Â
• Wide receiver Travis Rudolph, an undrafted rookie who took first-team snaps with Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall injured, had a nice spin-and-catch in traffic that he turned into a 57-yard gain late in the first half. He didn't stop there, racking up a team-high 81 yards on three catches.
WHAT WE LEARNED ON DEFENSE
• Safety Darian Thompson blitzed off the blindside on the second play of the game and sacked Christian Hackenberg, who never saw him coming. On the next play, defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul broke up a pass at the line of scrimmage, forcing a three-and-out.
• On the Jets' second possession, Pierre-Paul tackled running back Matt Forte in the end zone for a safety.
• The Giants waited two full preseason games to score their first touchdown of the year, so why not leave it to the defense? All-Pro safety Landon Collins, who looks like he's already in midseason form, returned an interception off Hackenberg 23 yards for a touchdown with 4:44 left in the first quarter.
• Cornerback Donte Deayon notched another touchdown for the defense, returning a ball that Janoris Jenkins dislodged from Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson for 36 yards to the house.
• The Jets got to the Giants' backups and outscored them 28-3 in the second half, including an 85-yard catch-and-run touchdown by running back Bilal Powell. However, the defense buckled down on a two-point conversion that would have put the Jets ahead by one point with 1:26 left in the game.
WHAT WE LEARNED ON SPECIAL TEAMS
• The kick-off continued between Aldrick Rosas and Mike Nugent. Rosas made his lone attempt from 24 yards while Nugent nailed two 50-yarders (long of 54).
• Second-year wide receiver Sterling Shepard, who had two catches for 47 yards, fielded the first punt of the game. Rudolph and Ed Eagan took over from there.
DID NOT PLAY
WR Tavarres King, WR Odell Beckham Jr., WR Brandon Marshall, WR Dwayne Harris, CB Michael Hunter Jr., LB Mark Herzlich, LB Keenan Robinson
LINEUP CHANGES
Roger Lewis started for Beckham at wide receiver; Shane Smith for Jacob Huesman at fullback.
GAME CAPTAINS
QB Eli Manning, DT Damon Harrison (former Jet), LB Jonathan Casillas, RB Shane Vereen, DE Kerry Wynn, LS Zak DeOssie
INJURY REPORT
DT Jay Bromley (left knee sprain), QB Eli Apple (ankle), RB Shaun Draughn (concussion, neck), S Duke Ihenacho (knee), OL Adam Gettis (foot)
