Giants squeak out win over Panthers to start 2-0 for first time since 2016
Graham Gano knocked down 57-yard game-winning field goal
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}It was not pretty at all – which has been fitting for the New York Giants over the last decade – but they'll take what they can get.
The G-Men took down the Carolina Panthers 19-16 on Sunday to start off 2-0 for the first time in six years.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones throws against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Last week, with their win over the Tennessee Titans, it was their first time winning in Week 1 since 2016.
After last week's insane 164-yard performance, Saquon Barkley was quiet in the first half – he had just three rushing yards on five carries.
But in the second half, he kicked it up a notch. On his 16 second-half carries, he got 69 yards on the ground, giving the Giants offense chances for the rest of the afternoon.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Daniel Jones also struggled early on, and got away with an awful throw that should have been a pick-six to end the first half. But for the second week in a row, he did just enough.
After the Panthers took a 13-6 lead early in the second half, Jones turned it up a bit. In the Giants' ensuing drive, he completed four of his passes for 58 yards, capping off the drive with a 16-yard game-tying touchdown to rookie tight end Daniel Bellinger.
Daniel Bellinger of the New York Giants scores a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 18, 2022. (Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Both teams exchanged punts for the next five drives combined, but Graham Gano sought revenge on his old Panthers squad. He drilled a 51-yard field goal to give the Giants a 16-13 lead in the fourth, and after Carolina matched, Gano bettered himself. He knocked down a 57-yard field goal with just over two minutes left in the game.
The Giants then forced a punt, and Jones was able to rush for a first down on 3rd and 6 to run the clock out, giving the Giants the victory.
For the second week in a row, Richie James led all Giants wide receivers in catches – he matched last week's total with five on Sunday for 51 yards.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Gano knocked down all four of his field goal attempts on the afternoon, while the Panthers' only touchdown was to DJ Moore in the third quarter.
Jones finished 22-for-34 for 194 yards, while Baker Mayfield completed just 14 of his 29 passes for 145 yards.
The Giants have an easy schedule coming up – they will host the Dallas Cowboys, without Dak Prescott, on Monday night in Week 3, and then host the Chicago Bears the following week.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}New York Giants kicker Graham Gano reacts after kicking a field goal against the Carolina Panthers, Sept. 18, 2022, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (AP Photo/John Munson)
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The Giants have not started 3-0 (or 4-0) since 2009. They started that season 5-0, but lost eight of their final 13 games, going 8-8 and missing the playoffs.
But with Brian Daboll at the helm, things may be different at 1925 Giants Drive.