New York Giants 27 – Green Bay Packers 13

Jason Pierre-Paul Returns an INT for a TD – © USA TODAY Sports Images

New York Giants Win Fourth Game in a Row, Defeat Green Bay Packers 27-13: The New York Giants beat the Green Bay Packers 27-13 on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants have now won four games in a row after starting the season 0-6. The 4-6 Giants still trail the 6-5 Philadelphia Eagles and 5-5 Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East.

The Packers actually out-gained the Giants in total net yards (394 to 334) with 339 net yards passing. But the Giants held advantages in first downs (19 to 16), rushing yards (78 to 55), and time of possession (35:14 to 24:46). Green Bay also turned the football over three times while the Giants turned it over once, and the Packers also failed to convert on a fake punt and turned the football over on downs.

New York received the football first to start the game, picked up two first downs, but then was forced to punt. The Giants then scored 10 points on their next two possessions. The Giants first drove 42 yards in five plays with QB Eli Manning hitting WR Rueben Randle from 26 yards out for the score. The good field position on that scoring drive was also set up by a 32-yard punt return by Randle. The Giants then followed that up with an 11-play, 56-yard drive that set up a 40-yard field goal for PK Josh Brown.

Meanwhile, the Packers went three-and-out on their first two possessions of the game and fell behind 10-0. On Green Bay’s third possession, the Packers drove 76 yards in seven plays to set up a 24-yard field goal. Giants 10 – Packers 3.

New York responded with an impressive drive, moving the ball from their own 11 to the Green Bay 14-yard line. But on 3rd-and-11, WR Louis Murphy ran the wrong route and Manning’s throw was intercepted by the Packers and returned to the Green Bay 21-yard line. The Packers crossed midfield with less than a minute and half to play, but punted. The Giants went three-and-out and punted. With only 43 seconds left, the Packers moved 24 yards in four plays to set up a successful 57-yard goal.

At the half, the Giants led 10-6.

Green Bay received the football to start the second half. The Packers crossed midfield, but that drive was halted when LB Jon Beason intercepted QB Scott Tolzien at the Giants’ 41-yard line, returning the football to midfield. Manning then hit WR Hakeem Nicks for 35 yards down to the 15-yard line. The Giants’ drive stalled there and New York settled for a 28-yard field goal. Giants 13 – Packers 6.

The Packers moved the ball past midfield on their second possession of the half, but the Giants’ defense then held. On 4th-and-7, the Packers attempted a fake punt from the Giants’ 43-yard line. Green Bay was stopped just short of the first-down marker by LB Spencer Paysinger, turning the ball over on downs.

The Giants took a 20-6 lead on the ensuing possession by driving 63 yards in 10 plays, with RB Brandon Jacobs scoring from one yard out. However, that apparently comfortable lead was quickly erased as the Packers drove 83 yards in just five plays to cut the lead to 20-13 early in the fourth quarter.

The Giants went three-and-out. Momentum had definitely swung in Green Bay’s favor. But on the very first play of the Packers’ fourth possession of the half, DE Jason Pierre-Paul intercepted Tolzien’s pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown. The Giants were again back up by two scores, 27-13 with less than 11 minutes to play.

The Giants’ defense forced a three-and-out. And while New York did not score on the ensuing possession, they were able to pick up two first downs and take almost four minutes off of the clock. Down by two touchdowns, the Packers started from their own 17-yard line with 4:32 to play. Using the no huddle, Green Bay did reach reach the Giants’ 34-yard line in seven plays. However, on the first play after the two-minute warning, S Antrel Rolle intercepted Tolzien at the Giants’ 13-yard line. New York went three-and-out. Green Bay got the ball back with 37 seconds left but the closest the Packers got was the New York 35-yard line as time expired.

Offensively, Manning finished the game 25-of-35 for 279 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. His leading receivers were WR Victor Cruz (8 catches for 110 yards), Nicks (four catches for 50 yards) and Randle (three catches for 37 yards and a touchdown). RB Andre Brown rushed for 66 yards on 18 carries (3.7 yards per carry). Jacobs only had nine yards on five carries, but he did score a touchdown and converted twice on 4th-and-1.

Defensively, the Giants had no sacks, but were able to get some heat on Tolzien. Beason, Pierre-Paul, and Rolle all had interceptions. The leading tacklers, with eight a piece, were CB Terrell Thomas, Beason, and LB Jacquian Williams. The Packers were held to only 55 yards rushing. RB Eddie Lacy was held to 27 yards on 14 carries.

On special teams, P Steve Weatherford rebounded with a strong performance, averaging 53 yards on five punts (42.2 yard net). Randle returned his only chance for 32 yards. RB Michael Cox was the new kickoff returner, but only averaged 17.5 yards per kickoff on two chances. Josh Brown hit both his field goal chances. And the Giants stopped the fake punt short of the first-down marker.

Video highlights are available at NFL.com. The video of Head Coach Tom Coughlin’s post-game locker room speech is available at Giants.com.

Head Coach Tom Coughlin’s Post-Game Press Conference: The transcript and video of Head Coach Tom Coughlin’s post-game press conference are available at Giants.com.

Player Post-Game Media Sessions: Transcripts and video of post-game media sessions with the following players are available at Giants.com:

• QB Eli Manning (Video)
• RB Andre Brown (Video)
• RB Brandon Jacobs (Video)
• WR Victor Cruz (Video)
• WR Hakeem Nicks (Video)
• DE Justin Tuck (Video)
• DE Jason Pierre-Paul (Video)
• LB Jon Beason (Video)
• S Antrel Rolle (Video)

New York Giants Post-Game Notes: Inactive for the Giants were QB Ryan Nassib, RB Peyton Hillis, TE Adrien Robinson, OC Dallas Reynolds, DT Markus Kuhn, LB Allen Bradford, and CB Corey Webster (groin/ankle).