AT A GLANCE
Fresh off the bye and their best start in a decade, the Giants opened the second half of their season with a 24-16 victory over the Houston Texans. The Giants improved to 7-2 while the Texans fell to 1-7-1.
UP NEXT
The Giants play four home games in five weeks coming out of the bye. Next up is a visit from the Detroit Lions, who improved to 3-6 on Sunday with a 31-30 victory over the Chicago Bears. The Lions lost their previous two meetings with the Giants in 2017 and 2019.
View photos from the Giants' Week 10 win over the Houston Texans.
New York Giants linebacker Jihad Ward (55) tackles Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (31) during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills (10) is sacked by New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams (99) during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
New York Giants tight end Lawrence Cager (83) crosses the goal line to score a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) and tight end Lawrence Cager (83) celebrate with teammates after Cager scored a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
New York Giants tight end Lawrence Cager (83) carries the ball to score a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants tight end Lawrence Cager (83) carries the ball to score a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants tight end Lawrence Cager (83) carries the ball to score a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) carries the ball against Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (24) during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) hands off the ball to running back Saquon Barkley (26) during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) carries the ball against Houston Texans safety Jonathan Owens (36) during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants tight end Lawrence Cager (83) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) runs a pattern against the Houston Texans during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) celebrates with tight end Lawrence Cager (83) after Cager scored a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants tight end Tanner Hudson (88) is tackled by the Houston Texans during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) carries the ball against the Houston Texans during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants safety Dane Belton (24) during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball against the Houston Texans during an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball against the Houston Texans during an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball against the Houston Texans during an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) looks to pass against the Houston Texans during an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) carries the ball for a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball against the Houston Texans during an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) defends against the Houston Texans during an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) reacts after throwing a touchdown pass against the Houston Texans during an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball against the Houston Texans during an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) crosses the goal line for a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) carries the ball for a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) celebrates with wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (17) after scoring a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) breaks free from Houston Texans safety Jonathan Owens (36) to cross the goal line for a touchdown during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) crosses the goal line for a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) crosses the goal line for a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) celebrates with wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins after scoring a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
New York Giants running back Matt Breida (31) reacts after carrying the ball fora first down against the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
New York Giants running back Matt Breida (31) is tackled by the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE OFFENSE
*The Giants stuck with a run-heavy script, rushing 45 times compared to just 17 passes. Coming off a season-low 53 yards rushing in Seattle, Saquon Barkley had 17 carries for 75 yards in the first half alone. He went on to record his 16th career 100-yard game on the ground, finishing with 35 carries for 152 yards (fourth-most of career) and a touchdown.
*Daniel Jones had one of the most efficient games of his career, completing 13 of 17 passes for 197 yards, two touchdowns, no turnovers, and a career-high passer rating of 153.3.
*Holding a 7-3 lead at halftime, Darius Slayton sparked the team with a 54-yard, catch-and-run touchdown on the opening drive of the third quarter. The Giants also found the end zone on their first possession of the game. Slayton finished with three catches for 95 yards, the fifth-highest total of his career.
*The Giants ruled out just two players, both rookies, on Friday's final injury report: tight end Daniel Bellinger (eye) and right tackle Evan Neal (knee).
*On Saturday, the Giants activated offensive tackle Matt Peart from reserve and elevated tight end Lawrence Cager and defensive lineman Henry Mondeaux from the practice squad for Sunday's home game against the Houston Texans. Peart, who was on the physically unable to perform list, returned to practice last month. He suffered a torn ACL last Dec. 26 in Philadelphia.
*Cager, who had just two career receptions with the Jets in 2020 entering Sunday, caught his first touchdown on the Giants' opening drive. Cager, 6-5 and 220 pounds, was released by the Jets on Oct. 15 and picked up by the Giants three days later.
*Claimed off waivers from the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 2, wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins made his Giants debut and caught two passes for 41 yards.
*As expected, wide receiver Kenny Golladay returned after the bye week, suiting up for the first time since Week 4 due to a knee injury. The veteran had no catches on two targets.
WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE DEFENSE
*With safety and defensive co-captain Xavier McKinney sidelined for at least four games after fracturing fingers on his left hand in an off-road accident in Cabo San Lucas last week, Julian Love assumed the green dot on his helmet, which meant he relayed defensive coordinator Wink Martindale's calls to the players on the field. Rookie safety Dane Belton also stepped up in his absence and recorded his first career interception with 9:49 left in an 11-point game.
*Martindale said Houston's Dameon Pierce, a candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year, "might be the angriest runner in the league." So, it was no surprise where the Giants' game plan started on Sunday. Defensive lineman Henry Mondeaux and Dexter Lawrence stuffed him for a loss of one yard on the first play of the game. Pierce finished with 94 yards, 44 of which came on one run.
*The Giants forced three-and-outs on the first three possessions as the Texans ran nine plays for a net loss of three yards in the first quarter.
*In the middle of a career season, Lawrence cause chaos all over the field, recording five tackles (one for loss), a sack, four quarterback hits, and a batted pass at the line of scrimmage. His linemate, Leonard Williams, delivered another blow early in the fourth quarter, stripping the ball from Pierce at the Giants' eight-yard line with Jaylon Smith recovering it.
WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE SPECIAL TEAMS
*Starting cornerback Adoree' Jackson handled punt return duties after Richie James lost two fumbles in the team's last game before the bye week. James also suffered a concussion on the second play but was active on Sunday. Jackson had not returned a punt since 2019 with the Titans.
*Graham Gano made his long field goal attempt from 49 yards to give the Giants a two-possession lead with 1:55 remaining in the game.
INACTIVES
NYG: WR David Sills, ILB Austin Calitro, T Devery Hamilton, T Evan Neal (knee), TE Daniel Bellinger (eye), OLB Quincy Roche
HOU: T Austin Deculus, CB Isaac Yiadom, LB Neville Hewitt (hamstring), TE Brevin Jordan, WR Tyron Johnson
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