FULL GALLERY: Texans remain winless after Manning, Barkley lead Giants
Published 4:40 pm Sunday, September 23, 2018
Giants quarterback Eli Manning rolls to his left as running back Saquon Barkley gives him a block during the second quarter Sunday. (I.C. Murrell/The News)
Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph and Giants wideout Odell Beckham Jr. chat it up after a play during the second quarter Sunday. (I.C. Murrell/The News)
Giants quarterback Eli Manning is sacked by Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney during the first half Sunday. (I.C. Murrell/The News)
Giants rookie running back Saquon Barkley recovers after a rush for first down against the Texans on Sunday. (I.C. Murrell/The News)
Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. gains a first down and dodges a tackle from Kareem Jackson as Justin Reid closes in during the second quarter Sunday. (I.C. Murrell/The News)
Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson stiff-arms Giants safety Landon Collins on a big keeper during the second quarter Sunday. (I.C. Murrell/The News)
Texans running back Lamar Miller breaks a big run as Connor Barwin (53) and Ray-Ray Armstrong (55) of the Giants break a big gain Sunday. (I.C. Murrell/The News)
Donte Deayon (38) of the Giants pounces on a Texans fumble before Jordan Akins (88) gets to it Sunday. (I.C. Murrell/The News)
Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins maneuvers around a block by quarterback Deshaun Watson against the Giants in the third quarter Sunday. The play, however, was called back due to a penalty. (I.C. Murrell/The News)
Texans defensive ends Christian Covington (95) and J.J. Watt (99) celebrate after Watt’s second sack against the Giants on Sunday. (I.C. Murrell/The News)
Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins moves upfield against the Giants in the fourth quarter Sunday. (I.C. Murrell/The News)
Rockets guard James Harden chats with unidentified persons on the Texans’ sideline Sunday. (I.C. Murrell/The News)
Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson is brought down by a host of Giants on Sunday. (I.C. Murrell/The News)
Texans coach Bill O’Brien reacts to an official after calling timeout just before the play clock expired Sunday. (I.C. Murrell/The News)
Texans wideout DeAndre Hopkins hauls in a touchdown catch that gets called back as Giants defenders Curtis Riley (35) and Landon Collins (21) close in Sunday. (I.C. Murrell/The News)
Texans receiver Will Fuller turns upfield for a touchdown play against the Giants in the fourth quarter Sunday. (I.C. Murrell/The News)
Wide receiver Will Fuller V powers into the end zone to pull the Texans within 20-15 of the Giants in the fourth quarter Sunday. (I.C. Murrell/The News)
Giants running back Saquon Barkley keeps his footing on a fourth-quarter run against the Texans on Sunday. (I.C. Murrell/The News)
Giants rookie Saquon Barkley is brought down by the Texans’ Benardrick McKinney during a fourth-quarter drive Sunday. (I.C. Murrell/The News)
HOUSTON (AP) — Eli Manning threw for 297 yards and two touchdowns and rookie Saquon Barkley added a score as the New York Giants got their first win with a 27-22 victory over the struggling Houston Texans on Sunday.
The Giants (1-2) were up by 14 at halftime but had trouble moving the ball in the second half and the Texans (0-3) had cut the lead to five before Manning threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Sterling Shepard with about two minutes left.
Deshaun Watson threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Lamar Miller with 1 second left to cut the lead to 27-22, but New York recovered the onside kick.
Watson threw for 385 yards and two scores, but his interception was one of two second-half turnovers by the Texans, off to their worst start since dropping their first four games of 2008.
Odell Beckham Jr., had nine receptions for 109 yards and Barkley finished with 82 yards rushing as the Giants came one point shy of matching their points total from their first two games combined.
A 54-yard field goal got Houston within 20-9 in the third quarter. The Texans forced a punt and were driving again when Miller caught a short pass and fumbled after a hit by Donte Deayon. The Giants recovered but couldn’t move the ball and had to punt after a drive that featured a sack by J.J. Watt. The defensive end, who played just eight games in the 2016-17 seasons because of injuries, finished with three sacks, three tackles for losses, four quarterback hits and a forced fumble.
But the Texans turned over the ball again, this time when Watson was intercepted in the end zone by Alec Ogletree.
Houston cut the lead to 20-15 when Will Fuller grabbed a 6-yard pass from Watson with about 7 1/2 minutes remaining, but the 2-point conversion failed.
After leading the NFL in yards rushing through the first three games, the Texans couldn’t get anything going on the ground. They finished with 59 yards rushing, and Miller managed just 10 yards on as many carries.
The Texans led 3-0 after a 23-yard field goal by Ka’imi Fairbairn on their first drive. The Giants took their first lead this season when Barkley shed multiple tackles on a 15-yard run that made it 7-3.
New York added two field goals before Manning connected with Rhett Ellison on a 16-yard touchdown to push the advantage to 20-3 late in the second quarter.
Watt had a strip sack on third down to make the Giants settle for the second field goal. Watt hadn’t had a sack since Sept. 18, 2016 before taking Manning down on that play.
Houston cut the lead to 20-6 at halftime after a 28-yard field goal.
INJURY UPDATE
New York tight end Evan Engram (knee) left in the second quarter. … Giants CB Antonio Hamilton injured his groin in the first quarter and didn’t return. … Houston WR Bruce Ellington injured his hamstring in the first quarter and didn’t return. … Texans G Senio Kelemete (knee) left in the second quarter.
UP NEXT
• Giants: Host New Orleans next Sunday.
• Texans: Visit the Colts next Sunday.
