The New York Giants were minutes away from a major road win until everything unraveled Sunday in Denver.
Leading 26-8 early in the fourth quarter, the Giants gave up 25 unanswered points, capped by Will Lutz’s 39-yard game-winning field goal as time expired, as the Denver Broncos pulled off a stunning 33-32 victory at Empower Field at Mile High. Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart turned in another strong performance with 283 yards and three touchdowns, adding a rushing score of his own, but his fourth-quarter interception shifted momentum and set the stage for a wild Denver rally.
Broncos quarterback Bo Nix finished 25 of 47 for 228 yards and two touchdowns, adding 48 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground. Nix’s 18-yard touchdown run with 49 seconds remaining gave Denver its first lead of the day before Dart responded with a late drive, punching in a 1-yard rushing touchdown to momentarily reclaim a 32-30 advantage. But Jude McAtamney’s second missed extra point of the game opened the door for Nix and the Broncos, and Lutz drilled the game-winner.
For much of the afternoon, it was all Giants. Dart found Daniel Bellinger for a 44-yard touchdown in the first quarter, then hit Cam Skattebo and Theo Johnson for scores to build what seemed like an insurmountable lead. But after linebacker Justin Strnad intercepted Dart and returned it 21 yards deep into Giants territory, Nix found RJ Harvey for a short touchdown to pull within one score. The defense forced a punt on the next possession, and Denver’s offense took care of the rest.
The loss drops New York to 2-5, while Denver improves to 5-2.
Stats
Giants
- Jaxson Dart: 15 of 32, 283 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 96.2 passer rating
- Cam Skattebo: 16 carries, 60 yards; 3 catches, 34 yards, 1 TD
- Tyrone Tracy Jr.: 9 carries, 46 yards, 1 TD
- Daniel Bellinger: 3 catches, 88 yards, 1 TD
- Theo Johnson: 3 catches, 66 yards, 1 TD
- Wan’Dale Robinson: 6 catches, 95 yards
Broncos
- Bo Nix: 25 of 47, 228 yards, 2 TD; 5 carries, 48 yards, 2 rushing TDs
- J.K. Dobbins: 14 carries, 81 yards
- Courtland Sutton: 5 catches, 65 yards
Key takeaways for the Giants
- Fourth-quarter nightmare: New York’s defense surrendered 33 points in the final frame, blowing an 18-point cushion.
- Dart continues to grow: The rookie looked poised for three quarters, throwing three touchdowns and showing confidence in the pocket.
- Burns stays hot: Edge rusher Brian Burns tallied two sacks and three tackles for loss, continuing his dominant stretch.
- Still searching for consistency: The Giants have now lost three games this season after leading in the second half — a troubling pattern for Brian Daboll’s squad.
Giants injuries
- Safety Jevon Holland left the game in the second quarter with a knee injury.
- Cornerback Paulson Adebo left the game with a knee injury in the second half.
Giants inactives
OL Evan Neal (healthy scratch)
QB Jameis Winston (Healthy scratch – 3rd quarterback)
WR Darius Slayton (Hamstring)
LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (Hamstring)
LB Swayze Bozeman (Ankle)
DL Chauncey Golston (Neck)
C John Michael Schmitz (Concussion)
What’s next?
The Giants travel to Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Oct. 26 for a rematch with the Philadelphia Eagles. That will comes just 17 days after the Giants shocked the defending champion Eagles, and the football world, with a 34-17 victory that set off some national Jaxson Dart-Cam Skattebo hysteria.
