In many ways, the Week 6 edition of “Sunday Night Football” felt more like a Big Ten college football game: strong defensive efforts, impressive moments from both rushing offenses and plenty of punts.
The Cincinnati Bengals were able to grind out a 17-7 win over the New York Giants following that formula. Between the two teams, there were 10 punts and two missed field goals – both from the Giants. All three touchdowns in the game were on the ground – a 47-yard scramble score from Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, a 1-yard rush from Giants running back Tyrone Tracy and a 30-yard run from the Bengals’ Chase Brown taking advantage of busted run defense.
“Ugly … real ugly,” Burrow said of the win after the game.
Burrow finished the game 19-of-28 for 208 yards, with no passing touchdowns or interceptions. Daniel Jones was 22-of-41 passing for 205 yards and one interception.
Defensively, Bengals DT B.J. Hill starred with two pass deflections and two QB hits against his former team. Defensive end Trey Hendrickson also recorded two sacks.
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Cincinnati and New York both move to 2-4 after the game as they head into their respective divisional games in Week 7.
The Bengals will face the Cleveland Browns next week, while the Giants take on the Philadelphia Eagles.
Bengals vs. Giants highlights
Final: Bengals 17, Giants 7
Giants’ faint hopes extinguished by another missed field goal
Trailing by 10, New York tried to go for a field goal on second down after entering Cincinnati territory with the clock winding down late in the fourth quarter. The wise coaching decision did not pay off. For the second time in the game, Greg Joseph’s kick hooked wide left, giving the Bengals the ball back with under a minute left, sealing the Giants’ loss.
Cincinnati wins, 17-7.
Giants kicker Graham Gano is eligible to come off injured reserve as early as next week.
Chase Brown seemingly seals Bengals win with late TD
One play after nearly costing his team by fumbling, the Bengals’ running back breaks through the line to a wide-open second level. He sprinted the remaining 25 yards for what was, in total, an almost-untouched, 30-yard touchdown run.
Evan McPherson’s PAT extends Cincinnati’s lead to 17-7 with under two minutes left in the game.
Bengals retain possession after fumble
Giants linebacker Micah McFadden forced a fumble from running back Chase Brown after a big gain, but no player was able to get possession before the ball ended up out of bounds. It’s still Cincinnati’s ball in New York territory as the game hits the two-minute warning.
The Bengals are driving and still lead, 10-7.
Bengals force another turnover on downs
The Giants went for it on fourth down for a fifth time in the game. This time, on fourth-and-2 from the Cincinnati 36-yard line, Daniel Jones threw a pass behind Darius Slayton, who was running a slant route. Bengals cornerback D.J. Turner was able to knock the ball away and get his team the ball back with three minutes remaining in the game.
Cincinnati still leads, 10-7.
Joe Burrow takes brief trip to medical tent
The Bengals’ signal-caller took a hard hit from Giants defender Brian Burns on the final offensive play of Cincinnati’s last possession. The Bengals’ medical personnel had him evaluated in the blue medical tent for a moment, but NBC’s broadcast showed Burrow walking back to the sideline shortly thereafter. He was under center the Bengals’ next possession.
Giants’ potential game-tying field goal attempt goes wide left
The Giants were able to maintain an offensive drive to the Cincinnati 28-yard line before stalling. For the first time in the game, New York sent out its field goal unit on fourth down, but Greg Joseph’s 47-yard attempt sailed wide left of the uprights.
It’s still 10-7 Cincinnati with 10 and a half minutes to play in the game.
Bengals vs. Giants score: End of third quarter
The Giants ran just one play on their ensuing possession — a 15-yard screen pass to rookie tight end Theo Johnson — before the third quarter ended. They’ll have the ball with a first down on their own 30-yard line to begin the fourth quarter.
The Bengals lead 10-7.
Dexter Lawrence sack forces Bengals to settle for field goal
One play after an apparent rushing touchdown was nullified by an offensive holding call, the Giants’ star defensive tackle broke through the Bengals’ pass protection for his seventh sack of the season. The play brought up fourth down and forced Cincinnati to settle for a 37-yard field goal attempt.
Evan McPherson’s first attempt of the game split the uprights to give the Bengals a 10-7 lead with under a minute remaining in the third quarter.
Darius Slayton cleared to return after concussion evaluation
Ja’Marr Chase gives Bengals another big gain
The wide receiver broke free of cornerback Cor’Dale Flott’s coverage downfield for just a brief moment. It was enough for him to haul in Joe Burrow’s pass for a 33-yard gain — the second-most explosive play of the game behind Burrow’s 47-yard touchdown scramble.
The Bengals have put together a response to New York’s scoring drive. They made it into the red zone just a few plays after Chase’s big catch.
Tyrone Tracy caps off Giants’ strong drive with first NFL score
The Giants took advantage of the fumble recovery and a pass interference call in the end zone. They strung together a 16-play, 79-yard drive that included two converted fourth down plays, capped off by their first score of the game. Tracy had 39 yards from scrimmage on the drive and pounded the ball into the end zone to finish off the long scoring drive.
After Greg Joseph’s PAT, the score is tied, 7-7, and the Bengals will take over with just under six minutes left in the third quarter.
Giants’ second fourth down gamble pays off
One possession after a fourth-down attempt failed, New York once again went for it on fourth down from inside its own territory. This time, running back Tyrone Tracy converted the first down on a speed-option play to the right side. The Giants retain possession with just over nine minutes left in the third quarter.
Giants’ fourth down gamble fails but Bengals can’t take advantage, fumbling right back
New York went for it on fourth-and-2 from its own 38-yard line, but an incomplete pass from Daniel Jones intended for Wan’Dale Robinson gave Cincinnati the ball back with a short field.
The Bengals quickly squandered their prime opportunity to score, however. Three plays after taking possession, linebacker Bobby Okereke punched the ball out from the hands of running back Zack Moss, and fellow linebacker Micah McFadden jumped on it. The Giants take the ball back on their own 21-yard line.
Two and a half minutes into the second half, it’s still 7-0 Cincinnati.
Halftime: Bengals 7, Giants 0
There has not been much offense in this week’s ‘Sunday Night Football’ game. Every possession in the second quarter ended with a punt, so the score remains 7-0 Bengals at the end of the first half. Joe Burrow’s long scramble touchdown is still the only score.
Bengals vs. Giants first quarter score
Joe Burrow’s 47-yard scramble touchdown is the sole score on ‘Sunday Night Football’ through 15 minutes of action. The Giants will open the second quarter with the ball as Cincinnati punts for the second time in the game.
Bengals’ Germaine Pratt picks off Daniel Jones to halt Giants drive
Defensive tackle B.J. Hill applied quick pressure on Jones on New York’s first play in the red zone. The quarterback was unable to get a throw off before Hill affected the pass, which left a jump ball floating in the air above the heads of several Bengals defenders. In the end, it was Pratt who came down with it.
Pratt’s pick immediately ends the Giants’ red zone threat, and Cincinnati will now take over at its own 27-yard line.
Joe Burrow escapes Azeez Ojulari’s sack attempt
With the Bengals backed up within their own 15-yard line on third down, Ojulari got off the line fast and had Burrow wrapped up inside the Cincinnati 5. However, the outside linebacker didn’t complete the tackle to secure the sack. It allowed the Bengals’ quarterback to roll out and throw the ball away.
NBC color commentator Cris Collinsworth speculated that Ojulari was worried about getting a penalty on the play, which would explain why he inexplicably let go of the quarterback in the middle of making a tackle.
Joe Burrow gets Bengals on board with long rushing TD
A few plays into the Bengals’ first drive of the night, their gunslinger found an outside lane on the right side and broke away for a 47-yard rushing touchdown on third-and-18. It opened the night’s scoring by giving Cincinnati an early 7-0 lead.
What time is Bengals at Giants?
Start time: 8:20 p.m. ET
The Giants vs. Bengals ‘Sunday Night Football’ matchup will get underway at 8:20 p.m. ET. The Bengals travel to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, to take on the Giants.
How to watch Giants vs. Bengals
TV channel: NBC
The game will air on NBC and Peacock. The game is also available to stream on Fubo.
Mike Tirico (play-by-play) and Cris Collinsworth (analyst) will be on the call, with Melissa Stark adding reports from the field for NBC.
Bengals inactives vs. Giants
DE Cedric Johnson
T Andrew Stueber
DT Lawrence Guy
WR Jermaine Burton
TE Tanner McLachlan
DT Jay Tufele
Giants inactives vs. Bengals
WR Malik Nabers
P Jamie Gillan
RB Devin Singletary
CB Tre Hawkins III
G Jake Kubas
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton
QB Tommy DeVito (third QB)
Giants vs. Bengals predictions, picks
Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the Giants vs. Bengals ‘Sunday Night Football’ matchup will shake out:
Lorenzo Reyes: Bengals 30, Giants 13
Tyler Dragon: Bengals 27, Giants 20
Jordan Mendoza: Bengals 27, Giants 25
Giants vs. Bengals odds, moneyline, over/under
The Bengals are favorites to defeat the Giants, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promos in 2024, including the ESPN BET app and Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.
Spread: Bengals (-3.5)
Moneyline: Bengals (-190); Giants (+155)
Over/under: 48
Not interested in this game? Our guide to NFL betting odds, picks and spreads has you covered with Thursday Night Football odds and Monday Night Football odds.
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Giants vs. Bengals weather update
It’s going to be a cool, cloudy night in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with a high of 68 degrees and a low of 66 degrees during the game. According to the Weather Channel, winds will max out at 5 mph, and chances of precipitation are steady at 15% for the entirety of the game.
NFC East standings
Washington Commanders (4-2)
Philadelphia Eagles (3-2)
Dallas Cowboys (3-3)
New York Giants (2-3)
AFC North standings
Baltimore Ravens (4-2)
Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)
Cincinnati Bengals (1-4)
Cleveland Browns (1-5)
Malik Nabers injury update
The Giants will be without their rising star rookie wideout for their Week 6 matchup vs. the Bengals. Nabers was ruled out as he’s still dealing with concussion symptoms after he suffered one in Week 4. This will be the second straight game that he will miss.
Kayvon Thibodeaux injury update
New York placed pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux on injured reserve as he recovers from wrist surgery. Thibodeaux, who was drafted in 2021, has two sacks in the 2024 season.
Who is the highest-paid NFL player?
The NFL’s top 18 players in average annual salary are all quarterbacks, according to OverTheCap.com. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott became the league’s highest-paid player this year, agreeing to a four-year, $240 million deal. Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is the first non-quarterback on the highest-paid list after striking a four-year, $140 million contract extension this offseason.
Complete list of the league’s highest-paid players
Cris Collinsworth staying at NBC, signing contract extension
The No. 1 team on NBC’s ‘Sunday Night Football’ will stay intact, at least for the foreseeable future.
According to a report from The Athletic, NBC Sports is close to securing a new four-year contract extension with top analyst Cris Collinsworth. The extension will keep him with the network through the 2029-30 season. His current contract runs through the 2026 season.
NBC is scheduled to broadcast two more Super Bowls in the next six years, including Super Bowl 60 in 2026 and Super Bowl 64 in 2030.
Collinsworth, 65, has won seven Emmy Awards for Outstanding Sports Studio Analyst. He makes about $12.5 million a year and has teamed up with Mike Tirico to call games.
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