AT A GLANCE

The Giants kept the high-powered Bengals offense in check for a large part of the game, but it wasn't enough in a 17-7 loss on Sunday Night Football. The Giants fell to 2-4 on the season while the Bengals improved to 2-4.

UP NEXT

The Giants host the Philadelphia Eagles, who improved to 3-2 on Sunday with a 20-16 victory over the Browns. The Giants broke a five-game losing streak to the NFC East rivals, including one in the postseason, in their most recent matchup – a 27-20 win in the 2023 season finale.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE OFFENSE

Once again, the Giants played without their top receiver and rusher. Rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers, who was still the NFL leader in receptions entering Week 6, missed his second consecutive game since suffering a concussion against the Cowboys on Sept. 26. Running back Devin Singletary, meanwhile, was limited in practice this week with a groin injury and was eventually downgraded to out.

Rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr., a fifth-round draft pick, ran for 129 yards on 18 carries in his first career start last Sunday. It was tougher sledding against Cincinnati, who held him and fellow running back Eric Gray to 10 yards on five carries in the first half. Tracy got going after the break, however, and finished with 50 yards and his first NFL touchdown on 17 rushing attempts. The converted wide receiver also tied Darius Slayton for the team lead in receptions (six) and receiving yards (57).

The Giants were unsuccessful on their first trip to the red zone, where Daniel Jones threw an interception to linebacker Germaine Pratt. Jones was hit by former Giants defensive lineman B.J. Hill as he attempted to throw the ball away on the play.

Jones finished 22 of 41 for 205 yards and the interception while being sacked twice.

With a Giants takeaway in between, Brian Daboll kept the offense on the field for a pair of fourth-and-two situations from their own territory on back-to-back possessions to start the second half. On the first attempt from the Giants 38, cornerback Mike Hilton deflected a pass intended for wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson.

After Micah McFadden got the ball back for the Giants, Tracy took a pitch from Jones and gained four yards for a successful conversion. Tracy kept the drive alive with another fourth down conversion before punching in a one-yard touchdown run for the Giants' first points of the game with 5:48 left in the third quarter. The play was set up by an 18-yard pass interference penalty drawn by Darius Slayton in the end zone.

The fourth down drama didn't end there. After the Bengals retook the lead, Jones converted a fourth-and-short on a quarterback sneak early in the fourth quarter. It led to a potential game-tying field goal attempt, which Greg Joseph missed wide left with 10:27 left in the fourth quarter.

Overall, the Giants were 5 of 15 on third down conversions and 3 of 5 on fourth down. The final fourth down attempt was thwarted by Bengals cornerback DJ Turner II on a pass intended for Darius Slayton. Cincinnati took over on downs with 3:01 to play and a 10-7 lead.

Cincinnati's defense had allowed 29.0 points per game before Sunday, second-most in the league.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE DEFENSE

Outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux missed his first game since his 2022 rookie season after suffering a wrist injury against the Seahawks that required surgery this week. The third-year pro was subsequently placed on injured reserve. Azeez Ojulari stepped up in his place and notched two sacks in his 26^th career start.

The Giants entered Week 6 with a league-leading 22 sacks, the second-most in franchise history through five team games (26 in 1985). They added four to the ledger on Sunday night. Brian Burns got things going with his third sack in four games and finished the game with two tackles for loss.

Dexter Lawrence had a key sack on third-and-goal from the 11 after the Giants had tied the game. Cincinnati was forced to settle for a field goal as it took a 10-7 lead into the fourth quarter.

Entering Sunday, Cincinnati's Joe Burrow had the highest completion percentage (72.3) and passer rating (113.6) by any quarterback to start 1-4 or worse in the first five games of a season since 1950. But it was his legs that neutralized the Giants to start the game. Burrow kept alive the opening drive of the game with a 10-yard scramble on third-and-six only to follow it up with a 47-yard touchdown run.

The Giants gave up just seven points in the first half (and 17 overall) to the Bengals, who were averaging 35 points per game in their last three outings.

Linebackers Bobby Okereke and Micah McFadden teamed up for a Giants takeaway in the third quarter, with the former forcing a fumble and the latter recovering it.

Running back Chase Brown broke the dam with a 30-yard touchdown run to give Cincinnati a 10-point lead with 1:52 remaining in the game.

Starting safety Jason Pinnock injured his knee on Burrow's long touchdown run but returned to the game.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT SPECIAL TEAMS

With kicker Graham Gano already on injured reserve, left-footed punter and holder Jamie Gillan appeared on Friday's injury report with a hamstring injury on his kicking leg. He was ruled out on Saturday and the Giants signed veteran Matt Haack to take his spot on Sunday. Haack had punted 432 times in 99 regular-season games for the Dolphins (2017-2020), Bills (2021), Colts (2022), and Browns (2023). Haack was called to punt four times in his 100^th game and averaged 46.8 yards with two downed inside the 20.

Greg Joseph, who had made all eight of his field goal attempts in the last two games, missed a 47-yarder that would have tied the game with 10:27 left in the fourth quarter. He also missed a 45-yard attempt, also wide left, in the closing seconds of the game.

Punt returner Ihmir Smith-Marsette suffered a foot injury in the second quarter and was replaced by veteran cornerback Adoree' Jackson.

IN-GAME INJURY REPORT

CIN: None

NYG: S Jason Pinnock (knee), WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (foot), WR Darius Slayton (evaluated for a concussion and cleared)

INACTIVES

CIN: DE Cedric Johnson, T Andrew Stueber, DT Lawrence Guy, WR Jermaine Burton, TE Tanner McLachlan, DT Jay Tufele

NYG: WR Malik Nabers (concussion protocol), P Jamie Gillan (left hamstring), RB Devin Singletary (groin), CB Tre Hawkins III, G Jake Kubas, WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (shoulder), QB Tommy DeVito (3rd)

ROSTER MOVES

CIN: The Bengals elevated cornerback Jalen Davis and center Trey Hill from the practice squad to the active roster. Davis and Hill both are classified as standard elevations. As practice squad players being elevated to the active roster for the game, they automatically will revert to the practice squad on Monday.

NYG: The Giants placed outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (wrist) on injured reserve, signed punter Matt Haack, and activated wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins and running back Dante Miller from the practice squad (standard elevation).