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The Giants are tied for last int he league in defensive interceptions with one.

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This season, NFL defenses have intercepted 195 passes. Of that total, the New York Giants have contributed just one, tying them with the Cleveland Browns for the lowest number in the league.

That’s a far cry from the first two years under head coach Brian Daboll when the Giants posted six picks in 2022 and a league-leading 18 (tied with the Ravens and Saints) in 2023.

To make matters worse for the 2024 Giants, who one would think would have more interceptions given how they lead the league in sacks and pressures, they haven’t had an interception in eight straight games.

So what gives?

“(Opposing teams) are just throwing good balls. We're not getting to them. That's the best way I can answer that,” said defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence II.

The stat is definitely a bug in the craw of defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, who said he doesn’t think the defense has created enough opportunities to be in a position to pick off the ball but notes that while he’d like to see more takeaways through the air, the sacks are just as big of a deal.

“I would say that's a major point of emphasis. I mean, I'd agree with you. You would think if you're able to affect,” Bowen said about the lack of interceptions.

“But again, if you're getting the sack numbers, they're not putting it up in the air either. So hopefully, we can take advantage of those times where we're able to get some pressure, get them off the spot, make them uncomfortable back there. If there are opportunities that aren't great throws, we can take advantage of them.”

Bowen said it all starts with stopping the run on early downs, something the Giants haven’t had much success with lately. The Giants' run defense has allowed opponents 142.6 rushing yards per game, putting them 29th in the league.

But in their last three games, opponents have averaged a whipping 195 rushing yards per game, dead last among the 32 NFL teams.

Stopping the run, Bowen surmised, should create more opportunities for opponents to throw the ball. And the more they have to throw the ball, the more opportunity to snap that eight-game slide without an interception.

“We got to get them in some passing situations–get in some favorable situations for us where we can rush, we can cover,” Bowen said.

“Play with vision, affect the quarterback. Continue to make the plays that are there. Hopefully get some balls tipped in the air that we can catch. Just got to create those opportunities for ourselves and when they present themselves, we got to be able to make them.”

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Published 5 Hours Ago|Modified 11:35 AM EST

PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.

By TOM CANAVAN AP Sports Writer

East Rutherford, N.J. — Jayden Daniels didn't need to throw a Hail Mary on the final play — or do anything spectacular, really, to lead his Washington Commanders past the bumbling New York Giants.

The sensational rookie made plays with his arm and legs and got a solid supporting effort from his defense as the Commanders again showed the rest of the NFL they're for real by beating the Giants 27-22 on Sunday. Washington moved to 7-2 for the first time since 1996.

Daniels hit Terry McLaurin on scoring passes of 1 and 18 yards in the first half, and Austin Ekeler, filling in for the injured Brian Robinson, scored on a 1-yard run as the Commanders completed a season sweep of the Giants (2-7).

Commanders coach Dan Quinn said his biggest concern against the NFC East rival Giants was whether his team would recover from the emotional win over the Bears, which ended when Noah Brown caught Daniels' deep throw that was tipped to him in the end zone with no time left.

"It was like a historic win for us last week at home in the fashion it went," Quinn said. "How do you recognize it and yet fill the tanks back up knowing you're heading back into a division game? I thought it showed a lot of maturity from the team and poise to say, 'That was cool, now we got to get right back into the next process.'"

Daniels was in control throughout, finishing 15 of 22 for 209 yards. He iced the game with a 42-yard pass to Olamide Zaccheaus after New York got within five.

"I'm just happy for the fan base," said Daniels, who added that his focus remains one game and one week at a time. "They can be so proud of the product we are putting out on the field."

Austin Seibert, who kicked seven field goals in the Commanders' 21-18 win in September, added two more, and linebacker Dante Fowler had a big strip-sack early to set up the opening touchdown. The Giants have lost four straight and fell to 0-5 at home.

"Tough game, competitive game," Giants coach Brian Daboll said. "In the end just didn't make enough plays to get the outcome we wanted."

Daniel Jones threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Chris Manhertz and powered his way through two tackles on a 2-yard fourth-quarter TD run for New York. He added a late 35-yard TD pass to rookie Theo Johnson, but the Giants missed both 2-point conversion attempts. Jude McAtamney kicked a 31-yard field goal in the Irishman's NFL debut.

The Giants were their own worst enemy. Jones' fumble on the sack by Fowler was ruled an incomplete pass on the field, but Washington challenged the call and won. The play started at the Washington 29 and ended with Bobby Wagner recovering the fumble at the New York 31.

New York also had a major missed tackle on a third-and-18 play late in the second quarter, leading to a first down that set up McLaurin's 18-yard TD on the next play. And the Giants had a TD called back by an offensive pass interference on fourth-and-1 from the Washington 3 while trailing 21-7.

Jones finished 20 of 26 for 174 yards. Malik Nabers, Daniels' LSU teammate, had nine catches for 59 yards. Nabers had a friendly exchange with Daniels after an incomplete pass in the fourth quarter.

Nabers would not say what the two discussed. He was willing to comment on Daniels' play.

"Nothing different. Leading his team to a win — he's going to do that every time he steps on the field," Nabers said.

Injuries

Washington: Robinson was inactive with a hamstring injury. ... DT Philarian Mathis was evaluated for a concussion in the fourth quarter.

Giants: WRs Darius Slayton and Ihmir Smith-Marsette were both evaluated for concussions late.

Up next

Commanders: Host Pittsburgh next Sunday.

Giants: Travel to Germany, where they will face Carolina next Sunday in Munich.

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By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer

East Rutherford, N.J. — Malachi Corley thought he scored his first NFL touchdown for the New York Jets — but the rookie wide receiver dropped the ball before he crossed the goal line.

And it rolled out of the end zone. So, no touchdown, a turnover for the Jets and one huge rookie mistake.

“First of all, you can’t do that,” interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said he told Corley. “Second of all, you owe us one.”

With the Jets — who went on to beat Houston 21-13 on Thursday night — at the Texans 19 early in the second quarter, Corley took the toss from Aaron Rodgers and zipped down the right sideline. Corley sped into the end zone, but just before he crossed the goal line, he dropped the ball out of his right hand to celebrate.

A video review showed he had not gotten into the end zone before he dropped it. So, Corley was credited with an 18-yard run and a fumble. And because it rolled out of the end zone, it was a touchback and a turnover.

The play left the crowd at MetLife Stadium — which was only about three-quarters full on Halloween night — stunned.

“Definitely frustrated, to be honest,” Ulbrich said about his initial reaction. “And angry at the same time. But, what an amazing opportunity for this kid to grow and learn from. I promise you 10 years from now when he’s still playing in this league that will never happen again.”

Corley was a third-round draft pick out of Western Kentucky who has seen little action this season. He entered with just a 4-yard catch in four NFL games.

The early touchdown celebration was reminiscent of DeSean Jackson's gaffe while he was a rookie with Philadelphia during a “Monday Night Football” game in the 2008 season. He celebrated a touchdown against Dallas prematurely by flipping the football behind him at the 1-yard line before he got into the end zone.

Rodgers said during his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Friday that the Jets had actually shown the players the mistake last week by Atlanta's Kyle Pitts, who pulled up near the end zone at the end of a 49-yard touchdown and safety Antoine Winfield knocked the ball out of Pitts' hand. Officials ruled that Pitts had crossed the goal line before the ball came loose.

“So it's definitely on his radar,” Rodgers said of Corley. “Great play call, great execution. The only thing I'd just say to Malachi, and I said this to him on the sideline: 'Why would you ever even drop the ball? That's your first touchdown. You celebrate with that thing, you run to the sideline with that thing.'"

And then, Rodgers told him, he should've handed the ball to one of the team's equipment crew members to make sure he had his touchdown keepsake secured.

“And you say: 'I want this back. I'm just giving this to you right now, but this is mine,'” Rodgers said. “I mean, it's his first touchdown. But listen, he was excited. It's a play that happened. It sucks, it's disappointing. Nobody feels worse than he does, but it's kind of a crazy thing.”

During a video call Friday, Ulbrich echoed Rodgers' sentiment that Corley should've never let go of the football.

“Never make it close,” the interim coach said. “Like, we don’t put anything in the hands of the ref, ever, so that is 100% on us as coaches, making sure we emphasize it, and the player executing that you squeeze that ball hard enough to pop it until you absolutely are in the end zone.”

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Garrett Wilson made a dazzling one-handed 26-yard go-ahead touchdown catch early in the fourth quarter and the New York Jets snapped a five-game losing streak by beating the Houston Texans 21-13 on Thursday night.

Aaron Rodgers had three touchdown passes, including another earlier one-handed score by Wilson and a 37-yard throw to recently acquired Davante Adams, and the Jets (3-6) won for the first time in four games under interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich, a University of Hawaii alumnus.

Coach Ulbrich on his first win as Head Coach: pic.twitter.com/YBabDQEjRe

— New York Jets (@nyjets) November 1, 2024

With the Jets trailing 10-7 and facing third-and-19 from the Texans 26, Rodgers tossed the ball up toward Wilson in the end zone. The star wide receiver jumped and reached up with his right hand with both legs spread in in the air — looking like the Michael Jordan “Jumpman” logo.

The play was initially called an incomplete pass, but a video replay review confirmed that Wilson’s shin was down in the end zone and a touchdown was called to give the Jets a 14-10 lead with 12:54 left.

It sent the MetLife Stadium crowd into a frenzy after the fans had little to cheer for until that point.

Wilson's catch was reminiscent of the Giants' Odell Beckham Jr.'s one-handed grab against Dallas in 2014.

(after review) HOLY ONE-HAND GARRETT FREAKING WILSON TOUCHDOOOOOWN❕❕❕#HOUvsNYJ on @NFLonPrime pic.twitter.com/htLVwK7TA6

— New York Jets (@nyjets) November 1, 2024

It also helped make up for a Jets touchdown that wasn't when rookie Malachi Corley made a mental mistake that negated his first NFL score.

With the Jets at the Texans 19 early in the second quarter, Corley took the toss from Rodgers and zipped down the right sideline. Corley sped into the end zone, but just before he crossed the goal line, he dropped the ball out of his right hand to celebrate.

A video review showed he had not gotten into the end zone before he dropped it. So, Corley was credited with an 18-yard run and a fumble. And because it rolled out of the side of the end zone, it was a touchback and a turnover.

Rodgers finished 22 of 32 for 211 yards. His 37-yard touchdown pass to Adams, who earlier was cleared after being checked for a possible head injury, put the Jets up 21-10 with 2:56 left. It was Adams' first touchdown catch since being acquired from Las Vegas earlier this month.

Ka'imi Fairbairn made a 29-yard field goal with 39 seconds left to make it an eight-point game, but Adams recovered the onside kick and the Jets were able to take a knee and seal the win.

C.J. Stroud was 11 of 30 for 191 yards for the Texans (6-3), who played with injured receivers Stefon Diggs and Nico Collins. It was the first of three consecutive prime-time games for Houston, with a Sunday night home matchup against on Nov. 10 next and a Monday night meeting at Dallas on Nov. 18.

Fairbairn missed two field goals for Houston. With the Texans trailing 14-10, Fairbairn made it a one-point game when he kicked a 43-yarder — but Eric Watts was called for unnecessary roughness on the attempt, so Houston opted to accept the penalty and keep the ball.

The Jets made a defensive stand and the Texans were forced to try a 27-yard attempt, but Fairbairn doinked his kick off the left upright — keeping it 14-10.

Joe Mixon's 3-yard touchdown run capped a 98-yard drive for the Texans, who took a 7-0 lead with 3:21 left in the second quarter.

One play after Stroud was banged up on a sack by Solomon Thomas, Fairbairn was wide right on a 56-yard attempt.

The Jets tied it on their opening possession of the second half when Rodgers completed a 21-yard pass to Wilson, who snagged the ball with one hand and ran into the end zone for the tying touchdown.

Riley Patterson, who signed to the active roster hours before the game to replace the injured Greg Zuerlein, hit the left upright on the extra point, but the ball deflected inside and cleared the crossbar.

Fairbairn made up for his earlier miss by kicking a 54-yarder that put the Texans back up, 10-7 with 4:11 left in the third quarter.

College Sports

AP

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Notre Dame came into its nationally ranked showdown with Navy looking to create turnovers and the Midshipmen uncharacteristically complied.

Jeremiyah Love ran for 102 yards, 2 touchdowns and extended his streak of rushing for a TD to eight games as No. 12 Notre Dame took advantage of six turnovers and beat previously unbeaten and No. 24 Navy 51-14 on Saturday.

"That was a point of emphasis. This team is No. 2 in the country in turnover margin," Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said after the Irish (7-1) beat Navy (6-1) for the seventh straight time. "To be plus-6 in turnovers is a straight reflection of complimentary football."

Navy coach Brian Newberry said the Irish were a better team in every way, and he was blunt saying playing at MetLife Stadium roughly 5 miles from New York City might have been too big a stage for the Midshipmen.

"Sometimes you want something so bad you play outside yourself and I think we did that today," said Newberry, whose team had not lost a fumble all season.

Love scored on runs of 64 and 2 yards, and quarterback Riley Leonard ran for a touchdown and threw two more in this 97th meeting between the rivals.

"I'm still trying to figure out whether we got it or not," Leonard said. "Having that little bit of fear of there's always more in the tank. It's been a work in progress obviously, but I think we're getting better every week."

The Midshipmen lost five fumbles and had six turnovers overall that led to 28 points for the Irish, with Jaylen Sneed recovering a Blake Horvath fumble in the end zone for a touchdown.

Love's shorter TD run, a 6-yard TD pass from Leonard to Kris Mitchell and a late 4-yard TD run by Kedren Young also followed turnovers, including two on muffed punts.

Leonard finished 13 of 21 for 178 yards, adding a 37-yard TD toss to Beaux Collins in helping the Irish win their sixth straight following a stunning loss to Northern Illinois in Week 2.

The Irish led 31-7 at the half and never were threatened.

Horvath scored on a 47-yard run for Navy and finished with 129 yards on 14 carries. Eli Heidenreich scored on a short run for the other touchdown.

"When you look at almost every single turnover or fumble, it was something we did," Horvath said. "They almost didn't touch the ball. That is the most frustrating piece from our point. We wanted it really bad and we bit ourselves."

Notre Dame outgained Navy 466-310 with the 51 points being the most allowed by the Midshipmen this season.