Cincinnati Bengals Vincent Ray snd Vontaze Burfict force New York Giants Odell Beckham Jr. out of bounds in the first half in week 10 of the NFL at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on November 14, 2016. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Cincinnati Bengals Vincent Ray falls to the ground as New York Giants Jerell Adams scores his first career touchdown with a 10 yard touchdown reception in the first half in week 10 of the NFL at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on November 14, 2016. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Cincinnati Bengals Geno Atkins pressures New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning to get rid of the football in the first half in week 10 of the NFL at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on November 14, 2016. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Cincinnati Bengals Carlos Dunlop grabs the jersey of New York Giants Paul Perkins who the football in the first half in week 10 of the NFL at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on November 14, 2016. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
New York Giants Damon Harrison reacts after Cincinnati Bengals Andy Dalton is sacked in the 4th quarter in week 10 of the NFL at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on November 14, 2016. The Giants defeated the Bengals 21-20. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Move over, Riverboat Ron.
That's right; there's a new high-roller among the head coaching ranks, New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo. His gamble on a key fourth-down play early in the fourth quarter resulted in quarterback Eli Manning connecting with receiver Sterling Shepard for the game-winning touchdown that gave the Giants a 21-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday.
"We were down by six. It's tough to move the ball against that defense," McAdoo said in explaining his decision to go for it. "It's a good defense. I have confidence in our offense and I have confidence in the way we prepare and practice for the green zone. I thought we had a good plan. I liked our stack there."
McAdoo, who has not been afraid to take similar risks, said his decision was aided by seeing how well the team came through in practice leading up to the game.
"I liked our week of preparation down there. That's first and foremost. If we didn't practice well down there, we would've kicked the field goal," he said.
"The play calls we had down there I was comfortable with and confident in. I just let him know ahead of time. When it's goal to go on the 9 and it's tough sledding, you have to find some completions and get a little bit closer to give yourself a chance. I thought Eli played it well and everyone did a nice job on that fourth-down call."
The decision certainly went over well with members of the offense, who were glad to contribute a big play of their own rather than leave it to the defense to carry them through to the end.
That the Giants' offense was able to have more plays (72) than the defense (55) was huge, and it was due, in part, to McAdoo's trust in his offense.
"I think it is just knowing the situation at hand," said receiver Odell Beckham Jr. "(McAdoo) gives us another opportunity to get another play on offense; we have got to do it. It is just something that needs to be done. We came up big on a couple of them today, so I don't mind him going for it at all."
REPORT CARD VS. BENGALS
PASSING OFFENSE: C
Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
The Giants managed 240 passing yards on 28 completions, as they continued to move their receivers around. However, both of Eli Manning's interceptions were a result of poor decisions, including the second one intended for Tavarres King that was thrown into triple coverage. The offensive line found itself going through different looks throughout the game thanks to the Brett Jones' injury that necessitated his replacement, Marshall Newhouse, bouncing back and forth between left guard and jumbo tight end. As a result the line didn't have one of its better pass-blocking showings this week, allowing six quarterback hits and a sack against Manning.
RUSHING OFFENSE: B+
Rashad Jennings runs for a 24 yard gain in the 3rd quarter. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
The Giants' rushing game continued to show more signs of life this week, particularly in the fourth quarter when for the first time during the team's current four-game winning streak the offense closed out the game. Starter Rashad Jennings played his best game of the season, averaging 5.8 yards per carry with three long runs of 25, 24, and 16 yards to help the chains move.
PASS DEFENSE: A-
Cincinnati Bengals Tyler Kroft watches New York Giants Landon Collins intercept a pass in the 4th quarter. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
Take away tight end Tyler Eifert's 71-yard reception early in the game, which came when the Bengals confused the Giants with some unbalanced looks, and no Bengals receiver finished with more than 70 yards. That included big-time threat A.J. Green. That's because the Giants did a nice job between blitzing and showing blitz, which was effective in getting quarterback Andy Dalton off his mark. Add in the solid coverage on the back end of the defense, and the Bengals' passing offense never had a chance. Overall, the Giants' pass rush finished with three sacks, seven passes defensed, and one interception in what was yet another productive showing.
RUSH DEFENSE: A
Andy Dalton is sacked for a 7 yard loss by New York Giants Olivier Vernon in the 4th quarter. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
The Bengals' two-headed threat of Jeremy Hill and Gio Bernard was stifled for a combined 22 carries for 63 yards. The Giants' defensive line -- Olivier Vernon, Damon Harrison, Johnathan Hankins and Jason Pierre-Paul -- combined for four of the team's six tackles for a loss, with Vernon and Harrison finishing first (10) and second (eight) in total tackles respectively.
SPECIAL TEAMS: C+
Take away the two big returns -- an 18-yard punt return and an 84-yard kickoff return by Alex Erickson -- and the Giants' special teams turned in another solid performance despite not winning the starting field position battle. Punter Brad Wing dropped two more punts inside the 20, continuing his fine showing of directional kicking. Punt returner Bobby Rainey breathed some life into the punt return game after Dwayne Harris exited because of a toe injury. Rainey averaged 10.7 yards per return on three returns and made better decisions regarding when to let the ball bounce and when to field it.
COACHING: A
Things might have been very different if Ben McAdoo's decision to go for it on fourth down had resulted in a failed attempt. However, it didn't and because of his gutsy call and confidence in his offense, the Giants squeaked out the one-point victory while keeping pace with the rest of the NFC East. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo threw in a few new wrinkles this week that successfully unnerved Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton. The gist of those wrinkles was to make Dalton think he had less time to throw the ball than he did. Dalton completed just 55 percent of his pass attempts, often rushing his throws.
