The New York Giants came out of the bye-week break on Sunday and beat the Houston Texans 24-16, improving their record to 7-2, their best start since opening 8-1 in 2008.
They relied on Saquon Barkley’s massive legs and Daniel Jones’ increasing maturity. They played defense aggressively and often effectively. There were moments when you wondered if the offense could get anything accomplished and other moments when you could envision a bad loss brewing.
The Giants were in control almost all afternoon down on the field but rarely completely in control on the scoreboard at MetLife Stadium.
This is a new team and this is a new season, and the Giants opened up the second half the way they moved through the first half of their season. They did enough to win, beating the lowly Texans, disposing of an inferior opponent uneasily and yet effectively.
Barkley carried the ball a career-high 35 times to amass 152 yards with a touchdown, as the Giants pounded away at the NFL’s bottom-ranked run defense. Jones was accurate (13 of 17) with the few passes he attempted and tossed touchdowns to tight end Lawrence Cager and wide receiver Darius Slayton.
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