New York Giants 36 – Tennessee Titans 7

Odell Beckham – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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The New York Giants defeated the Tennessee Titans 36-7 on Sunday afternoon at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee. The win ended the Giants’ 7-game losing streak and improved the team’s overall record to 4-9. The last time the Giants won a game was the October 5 game against the Atlanta Falcons.

The Giants dominated the game from start to finish, out-gaining the Titans in first downs (19 to 12), total net yards (402 to 207), net yards rushing (142 to 61), net yards passing (260 to 146), and time of possession (34:43 to 25:17).

The Giants’ defense actually shutout the hapless Titans’ offense, with the only Tennessee points coming on a 23-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter. Not counting the kneel down at the end of the first half, the Titans had 12 possessions. They missed one field goal, punted six times, committed three turnovers, and twice turned the ball over on downs.

The New York defense accrued eight sacks, forced two fumbles (recovering one), picked off two passes, and scored when linebacker Devon Kennard forced a fumble late in the 1st quarter that defensive Markus Kuhn returned 26 yards for the touchdown. Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie also scored on a 36-yard interception return, but the score was wiped out due to penalties on defensive end Damontre Moore and safety Antrel Rolle.

The Giants received the ball to start the game and drove 78 yards in 14 plays. Unfortunately, the drive stalled inside the Tennessee 10-yard line and New York settled for a 20-yard field goal. After a three-and-out by the Titans, quarterback Eli Manning and wide receiver Odell Beckham hooked up on plays of 50, 7, and 15 yards, the latter being a touchdown pass on 3rd-and-3. New York 10 – Tennessee 0.

Both teams exchanged punts and then came the play where Kuhn scored to give the Giants a 17-0 advantage. Tennessee had their most impressive drive of the game on the following possession, reaching the NYG 24-yard line, but missed a 42-yard field goal attempt.

The Giants then drove 67 yards in 16 plays but disappointingly had to settle for another short field goal after facing a 1st-and-goal from the 4-yard line and a 2nd-and-goal from the 1-yard line. After a quick three-and-out, the Giants got into field goal range again, driving 45 yards in just over a minute to kick a 36-yard field goal with seven seconds left before intermission.

At the half, the Giants led 23-0.

Tennessee went three-and-out at the start of the 3rd quarter. Running back Andre Williams picked up nine yards on the Giants’ first two plays of the half, then broke off a 50-yard touchdown run on 3rd-and-1 as New York went up 30-0.

After another Tennessee punt, the Titans scored their only points of the day on an ill-advised pass by Manning that was returned 23 yards for the score. After both teams exchanged punts, the Giants went up 33-7 on a 52-yard field goal by Josh Brown.

Early in the 4th quarter, post-possession fouls by Moore and Rolle wiped out Dominique-Cromartie’s 36-yard interception touchdown. But the pick did set up New York’s final points as Brown hit from 42 yards out with 11:22 to play.

The Titans went for it on 4th-and-5 from the Giants’ 45-yard line on their next possession but cornerback Mike Harris sacked quarterback Jake Locker to end the drive. After a three-and-out by the Giants, a deep pass by Locker was intercepted by safety Quintin Demps at the Giants’ 19-yard line. Tennessee’s last possession ended on 4th-and-9 from the Giants’ 25-yard line when Moore sacked Locker.

Offensively, Manning was 26-of-42 for 260 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. He was not sacked. The leading receivers were Beckham (11 catches for 130 yards and 1 touchdown), wide receiver Preston Parker (5 catches for 60 yards), and tight end Larry Donnell (4 catches for 28 yards). Williams rushed for 131 yards and one touchdown on 24 carries.

Defensively, the Giants had eight sacks: defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (2), Kennard (2), Moore (2), Harris (1), and linebacker Jameel McClain (1). Kuhn recovered one fumble for a touchdown. Dominique-Cromartie and Demps each had interceptions.

Josh Brown was 5-for-5 on field goal attempts, including from 20, 19, 36, 52, and 42 yards.

Video highlights of the game are available at NFL.com.

Post-Game Notes: Inactive for the Giants were LB Jacquian Williams (concussion), LB Mark Herzlich (concussion), CB Jayron Hosley, RB Chris Ogbonnaya, OT James Brewer (concussion), and OG Eric Herman.

WATCH: Coach Tom Coughlin reacts to the #Giants 36-7 win over the Titans #NYGvsTEN http://t.co/5O8Kp3IdRh

— New York Giants (@Giants) December 7, 2014