The Cleveland Browns suffered a tough loss to the New York Giants, who notched their first victory of the season by sacking Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson eight times and hitting him 17 times during the game. This was a surprise given that the Giants are not known for heavy blitz packages, instead relying on pressure from their defensive linemen. Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen made adjustments to their game plan by sending pressure up the middle, where Dexter Lawrence was able to dominate. This approach caught the Browns off guard, leading to a dominant defensive performance by the Giants.
The Giants’ defensive success was led by Dexter Lawrence, who had two sacks during the game. In total, nine different players contributed to the eight sacks recorded against Watson. Watson’s struggles were compounded by his tendency to hold onto the ball for too long, leaving him vulnerable to the Giants’ pass rush. Brian Burns, in particular, had a standout performance with a strip-sack on Watson that resulted in a turnover and eventually a Giants touchdown. Despite dealing with a late-week injury, Burns was determined to play and made a significant impact on the game.
Rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers made history by becoming the first player in NFL history to record 20 receptions and three touchdown receptions in his first three games. Nabers credited his success to hard work and the creative play-calling of offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. He expressed his gratitude for the trust the offense has placed in him and his role in helping the team become an explosive offensive unit. Meanwhile, rookie cornerback Dru Phillips, who had been a standout player on defense, suffered a calf injury in the first quarter, adding to the Giants’ injury concerns.
The Giants faced additional injury challenges during the game, with cornerback Adoree’ Jackson leaving in the second half due to a calf injury and linebacker Micah McFadden and wide receiver Darius Slayton also dealing with injuries that forced them out temporarily. Despite the setbacks, McFadden was able to return to the game. The team was already short-handed with starting cornerback Nick McCloud unavailable for the second consecutive game. The Giants were able to persevere through these injuries and put together a strong defensive performance to secure their first victory of the season against the Browns.
The Giants’ success came as a result of their ability to adjust their defensive strategy to create pressure on Deshaun Watson, despite typically relying on their defensive linemen rather than deploying heavy blitz packages. With Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns leading the charge, the Giants were able to disrupt the Browns’ offensive rhythm and capitalize on turnovers to secure the win. Rookie standout Malik Nabers continued to impress with his performance on offense, setting records in his first few games in the NFL. Despite injury challenges, the Giants were able to overcome adversity and deliver a strong performance on both sides of the ball to clinch their first victory of the season.
