NY Giants vs Cleveland Browns: Live score, how to watch, predictions

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Malik Nabers: See what NY Giants rookie says about wearing No. 1

Malik Nabers talks about Giants asking permission from Ray Flaherty's family to unretire No. 1 and what he believes makes him a special player

CLEVELAND - For the ninth time spanning five different coaching regimes, the New York Giants are starting the season in an 0-2 hole.

They'll need a big performance on the road against the 1-1 Cleveland Browns to avoid 0-3, the record Big Blue stumbled out of the gates to in Joe Judge's final season in 2021.

The Giants are only one game off the lead in the NFC East thanks to surprising losses for the Cowboys and Eagles last week, but until they get in the win column themselves, all the talk will remain on how Brian Daboll and Co. can stop this season from going down the drain.

Keep checking back for live updates and analysis throughout the day:

Browns were driving until disaster struck when running back Jerome Ford lost the football. Azeez Ojulari, in his first extended playing time this season, was again the man on the spot. He has 1.5 sacks and recovered the fumble to give the Giants the ball back with 7:40 left.

The Browns are not dead yet. Watson hits Cooper for his second TD of the game, and rather than kick the PAT, Kevin Stefanski keeps the offense on the field. The Browns make it stand up, too, scoring on a pass to Jeudy and now the game is back in the hands of the offense.

The Browns' offensive line has been through the wringer today, and now they are down two more starters: LT Jed Wills and RG Wyatt Teller, both with knee injuries. Guard Joel Bitonio, a good player, has kicked out to left tackle and Brian Burns is giving him fits.

The Giants have seven sacks for the first time since the 2016 season.

GIANTS

Passing: Daniel Jones 17-of-19, 178 yards, 2 TDs

Rushing: Tyrone Tracy 4-18, Jones 3-15, Devin Singletary 6-3, TD

Receiving: Malik Nabers 6-66, 2 TD, Wan'Dale Robinson 4-45, Singletary 4-43, Tracy 2-17, Darius Slayton 1-7

Sacks (5): Dexter Lawrence 2, Brian Burns, Elijah Chatman, Micah McFadden/Azeez Ojulari

BROWNS

Passing: Deshaun Watson 8-of-11, 67 yards, TD

Rushing: Jerome Ford 4-4, D'Onta Foreman 1-3, Jameis Winston 1-1, Watson 1-(-1)

Receiving: Amari Cooper 2-37, TD, Elijah Moore 1-12, Jerry Jeudy 2-6, Jordan Akins 1-6, Cedric Tillman 1-4, Ford 1-2

Malik Nabers has two touchdown catches and Brian Burns recorded his first sack to set up the second one, stripping Deshaun Watson for a fumble late in the first half and the Giants cashed in.

The team that was trailing 7-0 after two plays, including a fumble on special teams, is now dominating. Daniel Jones is cooking, the defensive front is all over Watson to the tune of five sacks in the first half - including two by Dexter Lawrence - and Nabers is putting on a show.

Replay assist gets Dexter Lawrence his second sack

Dexter Lawrence chased Deshaun Watson out of the pocket and forced an intentional grounding penalty, but not initially. The officials first said Watson's throw away from outside the tackle box as he scrambled to the Browns' sideline made it back to the line of scrimmage.

A replay assist confirmed Watson did not get the ball beyond the line, so Lawrence was credited with his second sack and the Browns were again forced to punt.

The Giants need to keep coming after Deshaun Watson and the interior of the Browns' line. Back-to-back sacks by Micah McFadden and rookie defensive tackle Elijah Chatman followed up Dexter Lawrence's second sack of the season on the previous drive.

That's how you respond to a terrible start. Devin Singletary scores from one yard out to cash in a 13-play, 81-yard drive that spanned 7:44. The biggest play of the possession: Brian Daboll gambling on a fourth-and-1 from his own 43. Malik Nabers got two yards on a jet sweep and Daboll called several screens that hit on the drive, taking advantage of pressure being applied by DC Jim Schwartz's defense.

A big roughing the passer penalty negated a Daniel Jones interception that went right to DePaul graduate and Browns safety Ronnie Hickman. May have been miscommunication between rookie tight end Theo Johnson and Jones.

Could not have drawn it up any worse for the Giants.

Eric Gray fumbled the opening kickoff. The Browns recovered.

One play later, 11 seconds in and the Giants are trailing.

Deshaun Watson threw a perfect pass to Amari Cooper, who beat Tae Banks despite tight coverage on the left side of the end zone. Great footwork by Cooper to get both down in the end zone and make the play count.

Browns DE Myles Garrett sprinting to the Giants' warmup lines to say hello to Giants RT Jermaine Eluemunor.

They were teammates at Texas A&M. Might see Garrett try Eluemunor as he moves up and down the line, starting with LT Andrew Thomas.

Garrett (foot) and Eluemunor (neck) were limited participants in practice at points this week, but neither were on the final injury report.

GIANTS

• QB Tommy DeVito (emergency 3rd QB)
• CB Nick McCloud
• OL Jake Kubas
• CB Tre Hawkins III
• OLB Boogie Basham
• S Anthony Johnson
• OLB Benton Whitley

BROWNS

• OL Jack Conklin
• QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (emergency 3rd QB)
• RB Pierre Strong Jr.
• CB Kahlef Hailassie
• G Javion Cohen
• WR Jamari Thrash
• TE David Njoku

Burns (groin) is on the field during shirts and shorts warmups testing his groin with the training staff. Joe Schoen and John Mara watching from afar. Now Schoen, defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux chatting it up.

Body language looked positive throughout. Then Burns moved over to the agility ladder and appeared to be moving well.

Special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial surprisingly floated the idea that rookie Jude McAtamney, on the practice squad with an International Pathway Program exemption, was competing with newcomer Greg Joseph to see who would kick for the Giants against the Browns.

In reality, it would have been a shock if McAtamney beat out the veteran for several reasons, but perhaps the biggest was this: if the Giants believed McAtamney was ready to kick in an NFL game, they would've brought him up to the active roster last week and not welcomed the relative fiasco that unfolded due to Graham Gano's hamstring injury.

The Giants essentially confirmed Joseph would be their kicker against the Browns when they announced their two practice squad elevations for game day Saturday afternoon: linebacker Ty Summers, called up for the third straight week as a core special teamer, and cornerback Art Green, up from the PS for the first time.

Joseph, 30, has played in 67 regular season and four postseason games for Cleveland (2018), Tennessee (2019) and Minnesota (2021-23). He has also spent time with Miami, Tampa Bay and Green Bay, which signed him as a free agent in March but cut him on Aug. 28. Joseph joined the Lions' practice squad on Sept. 11 and came to the Giants six days later.

His career totals include 100 field goals in 121 attempts (82.6%) and 146 of 162 extra points for 446 points. Joseph scored more than 100 points in each of his three seasons with the Vikings, topping out at 135 points in 2021 when he tied for sixth in the NFL. Joseph is a familiar face to the Giants when he ruined Christmas Eve for them two seasons ago by nailing a game-winning field goal from 61 yards out for the Vikings against them.

Gano was placed on injured reserve this week and will have to miss at least four games before being eligible to return. He expects to kick again this season, but the Giants have not yet committed to using an IR-designated to return, nor are they required to state their plans.

Sounds like Giants outside linebacker Brian Burns is good to go despite his questionable tag after popping up on the injury report following Friday's practice, two individuals with knowledge of the situation have indicated to NorthJersey.com. Burns' groin tightened up during practice, so the Giants backed off, remaining hopeful that he would be available to play against the Browns.

Burns is still seeking his first official sack as a Giant, even though he recorded one in the fourth quarter against Washington that was negated due to a disputed holding penalty.

NY Giants vs. Browns injury updates

The Giants won't see Browns right tackle Jack Conklin, who was downgraded to out Saturday with a hamstring injury. He had been eyeing a return after missing the first two weeks. Cleveland should get starting left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. back against the Giants. This would represent his first game since suffering a knee injury last season.

Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett is not on the injury report, but he told reporters in Cleveland on Friday that he has been dealing with similar injuries in both of his feet that could eventually require surgery. Garrett, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, has a strip sack in each of the first two games.

For the Giants, cornerback/special teamer Nick McCloud did not make the trip. He is dealing with a knee injury and will miss his second consecutive game, although there is a chance McCloud could be ready to return for Thursday night against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium.

NY Giants vs Browns time today

• Date: Sunday, Sept. 22
• Time: 1 p.m.
• Location: Huntington Bank Field, Cleveland, Ohio

What channel is NY Giants vs Browns game on today?

• TV channel: FOX

Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

NY Giants vs Browns history

• Series record: Browns lead, 28-22-2
• Giants' last win: Nov. 27, 2016 (27-13)
• Browns' last win: Dec. 20, 2020 (20-6)

NY Giants vs Browns prediction

The pick: Giants 20, Browns 17

Here's why: Desperation. Had the Browns lost last week and if both teams were winless, I'd lean to Cleveland. But the Browns didn't exactly play a clean game against the Jaguars for their first win. They lead the league in penalties committed by a big margin and I'm not convinced Deshaun Watson has fixed his problems. Toss in the fact that the Browns' best players (Myles Garrett's foot and Denzel Ward's shoulder) are not at 100 percent. I'm going to play a hunch here that the Giants feel the urgency of the moment and play their best game in a while.

STAFF PREDICTIONS: NY Giants vs Cleveland Browns predictions: Our expert picks for Week 3 of NFL season

NY Giants vs Browns betting odds

Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Saturday:

• Spread: Browns by 6.5
• Over/under: 39.5

NY Giants vs Browns weather update

Partly cloudy, high of 80, 1 percent chance of rain.

NY Giants 2024 schedule

• Sept. 8 vs. Vikings, L 28-6
• Sept. 15 at Commanders, L 21-18
• Sept. 22 at Browns, 1 p.m.
• Sept. 26 vs. Cowboys, 8:15 p.m.
• Oct. 6 at Seahawks, 4:25 p.m.
• Oct. 13 vs. Bengals, 8:20 p.m.
• Oct. 20 vs. Eagles, 1 p.m.
• Oct. 28 at Steelers, 8:15 p.m.
• Nov. 3 vs. Commanders, 1 p.m.
• Nov. 10 vs. Panthers (in Germany), 9:30 a.m.
• Nov. 24 vs. Buccaneers, 1 p.m.
• Nov. 28 at Cowboys, 4:30 p.m.
• Dec. 8 vs. Saints, 1 p.m.
• Dec. 15 vs. Ravens, 1 p.m.
• Dec. 22 at Falcons, 1 p.m.
• Week 17 TBD vs. Colts
• Week 18 TBD at Eagles
• WEEK 18 · TBD

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