Giants fans across the country had their alarms set bright and early Sunday morning to catch Big Blue when they faced off against the Carolina Panthers in Allianz Arena in beautiful Munich, Germany.
The Giants came into the game with high hopes & expectations, despite a 2-7 record.
The Giants started off hot with former Panthers DE Brian Burns sacking his former teammate, Bryce Young, 40 seconds into the game. Burns mentioned to reporters all week that he felt “a little extra motivated” to be going against his former team, but is grateful for where he is now in his career.
A Disappointing First Half
The Burns sack ended up being one of the few Giants highlights from the first half.
The Panthers jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead thanks to Panthers rookie tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders catching his first career TD seven minutes in to the first quarter. The Panthers established the run game early, as Panthers RB Chubba Hubbard (signed to a four year-133 million dollar deal earlier this week) rushed for 61 yards in the first quarter, good for 12 YPC. He finished with his sixth career 100+ yard game, and forced a career high seven missed tackles in the first half as well.
Despite the early deficit, the G-men found themselves an opportunity to cut into the seven point lead, but Giants K Graham Gano, who is playing in his first game since Week 2 after a hamstring injury, missed a 43 yd FG. The first half was capped off by a Daniel Jones red-zone INT with under :30 remaining in the half. A ball that looked destined for no one bounced off his linemens head and right into the hands of the Panthers.
Need for Jones
The Giants received the second half kickoff with Jones under center.
With the help of a 32 yard breakaway Tyrone Tracy Jr. TD, the Giants found themselves down a field goal halfway through the third quarter, with Tracy clearing his 73.5 yard rushing total line a few minutes into the half.
Hubbard increased the Panthers lead after a dominating drive capped off by a one yard TD rush from the RB, giving the Panthers a 17-7 lead with less than 3:00 remaining in the third quarter.
Giants fans began the fourth quarter holding their breath in uinson, as star WR Malik Nabers needed to be helped off the field by training staff after a collision to the head. He was able to walk off under his own power, but this was still a concerning sign for the rookie who missed a few games earlier this season with a concussion. That same 96 yard drive was capped off by a Daniel Jones rushing TD, cutting the deficit to three with about eight minutes left.
One Last Shot
The Giants could not keep the momentum rolling, though.
Daniel Jones threw ANOTHER red zone interception, this time down three with a field goal tying the game.
The defense forced a quick three & out and Tracy Jr. was able to go 100+ yards for the third time in his short NFL career (three of last six weeks). But in good old fashioned Giants football, they we’re forced to punt.
The Giants we’re able to get the ball back with 2:23 left on their own 22 yard line, no timeouts, only needing a FG to tie. On a drive that featured Jones completing six straight throws, Graham Gano drilled a 42-yard field goal, sending the game to overtime.
OT
The Giants won the toss and elected to receive. But on the first play from scrimmage, former Giant A’shawn Robinson stripped Tyrone Tracy Jr., giving the Panthers the ball and the chance to win with just a field goal from 36 yards.
Eddy Pineiro was able to give Bryce Young his first consecutive wins in the NFL, sending the Giants on a long and sad trek home. Having the game in your hands all to end to a turnover on the first play of OT is crushing for a Giants team who suffered their fifth straight game.
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