Giants.com brings you an instant recap of the team's Week 12 win over the Browns:
AT A GLANCE
Off to their best start since 2008, the New York Giants extended their winning streak to six games with a 27-13 victory over the winless Cleveland Browns. Big Blue is now 8-3 as the NFC East tries to keep pace with the 10-1 Dallas Cowboys.
UP NEXT
The Giants continue their tour through the AFC North in Week 13 with a trip to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who improved to 6-5 with a 28-7 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Thanksgiving Day. The Giants are 44-29-3 in the all-time series that dates back to 1933 and won their only matchup at Heinz Field, 21-14, in 2008.
WHAT WE LEARNED: OFFENSE
With Justin Pugh, Brett Jones, and Marshall Newhouse injured, Adam Gettis, who was on the practice squad until Nov. 9, made his first career start and became the fourth different Giant to start at left guard this season…The Giants punted on their first four drives that resulted in 80 yards on 24 plays…Thanks to a fumble recovery by the defense in Browns territory, Eli Manning broke through with a 13-yard touchdown to WR Dwayne Harris. It was his first reception of the season after a 2015 campaign that included career highs in catches (36), yards (396), and touchdowns (four)…WR Odell Beckham Jr. left briefly in the first half with a thumb injury but returned to finish with six catches for 96 yards and two touchdowns…Beckham's first score was set up by a 37-yard reception by WR Victor Cruz in the two-minute drill before halftime…Manning completed 15 of 27 passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. He also moved ahead of Pro Football Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton for eighth place on the career passing yards list.
WHAT WE LEARNED: DEFENSE
After trading punts for much of the first half, LB Devon Kennard broke the stalemate midway through the second quarter by recovering a fumble that DT Damon Harrison forced on Browns RB Isaiah Crowell. The Giants got the ball back on the Browns 31 and led to Harris' touchdown on the ensuing possession…Coming off his first multi-sack performance since 2014, Pierre-Paul had his second in as many games with a career-high three on Browns QB Josh McCown. Pierre-Paul also had a 43-yard fumble return for a touchdown after a strip-sack by DT Johnathan Hankins…DE Olivier Vernon notched a sack for the fourth-straight game…The Giants finished with a season-high seven sacks.
WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE SPECIAL TEAMS
Brad Wing averaged 47.4 yards on nine punts and landed five inside the 20, including two inside the 5 and another inside the 10…Bobby Rainey handled punt and kickoff returns in place of special teams ace Dwayne Harris. Rainey muffed a punt late in the first half that the Browns recovered at the Giants 30 and turned into a field goal…The Giants then went to Beckham, who returned three punts for an average of 11.7 yards with a long of 19 yards…K Robbie Gould missed an extra point attempt wide right after missing two last week.
INACTIVES
NYG: LG Justin Pugh (knee), OL Brett Jones (calf), OL Marshall Newhouse (knee), DB Leon Hall, QB Josh Johnson, WR Tavarres King, DT Jay Bromley. CLE:
QB Cody Kessler (concussion), QB Joe Callahan, DB Tramon Williams (knee), OL Gabe Ikard, OL Jonathan Cooper, WR Jordan Payton, DE Tyrone Holmes.
LINEUP CHANGES
NYG:Adam Gettis for Pugh at LG.CLE:
None.
GIANTS GAME CAPTAINS
* *LB Devon Kennard, RB Rashad Jennings, and LB Kelvin Sheppard were the game captains. QB Eli Manning, LB Jonathan Casillas, and LS Zak DeOssie are season-long captains.
INJURY REPORT
NYG:WR Odell Beckham Jr. (thumb, returned), DE Owa Odighizuwa (knee, returned), S Nat Berhe (concussion), LB Mark Herzlich (concussion), CB Eli Apple (cramps). CLE: OL John Greco (foot), RB Duke Johnson (stinger, returned).
