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 The Giants scored 20 points in the final 17:05 in the game to
rally from a 20-10 deficit and boost their record to 3-2. It's the
first time since Dec. 30, 2012, that the Giants boast a winning
record in the regular season.
Beckham, whose absence due to his hamstring injury started on the
second day of training camp and continued into Week 4 of the season,
expressed relief at having gotten his first NFL game in the books.
"Words can't even describe it," Beckham said of his successful NFL
debut. "To be out there smiling and have to deal with the adversity
I've had, I just want to thank God for giving me the opportunity to
play and all me to score in my first game. It's great to get that
under your belt and get that off your chest."
Giants quarterback Eli Manning completed 19 of 30 passes for 200
yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, and Falcons quarterback
Matt Ryan was 29-for-45 for 316 yards, one touchdown and one
interceptions. Wide receiver Julio Jones had 11 catches for 105
yards for Atlanta.
The Giants drew first blood, capping their second possession of the
game with a 3-yard touchdown catch by receiver Rueben Randle.
Following that scoring drive, the Giants were unable to get much of
anything done, especially on defense against a Falcons offensive
line that had three new starters this week. That line helped block
for running back Steven Jackson's a 10-yard touchdown run in the
first quarter to tie the score 7-7.
"I thought our guys battled today," said Ryan of his offensive line.
"I thought in the first half we did a really nice job mixing the run
and the pass. We just got out of rhythm across the board in the
second half."
Atlanta added a pair of first-half field goals from kicker Matt
Bryant to take a 13-10 lead at the half. Bryant's first score came
following yet another Giants special teams error.
Preston Parker, who was inserted into the game for regular kickoff
returner Quintin Demps, fumbled a kickoff late in the first quarter
to give Atlanta the ball at the Giants' 21. When the ensuing drive
stalled, Bryant converted a 20-yard field goal for the 10-7 lead.
Atlanta widened its lead in the third quarter when, on third-and-4,
Ryan hit running back Antone Smith on a 74-yard touchdown pass to
make it 20-10.
The Giants, who started to show life on both sides of the ball in
the second half, then scored 20 unanswered points to take back the
lead.
In addition to Beckham's touchdown reception, the points included
running back Andre Williams' 3-yard rushing touchdown, and field
goals of 50 and 26 yards by kicker Josh Brown, who earlier in the
game converted on a 49-yarder.
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Beckham's contributions to the offense -- he caught four out of five
targets for a team-leading 44 yards -- were impressive considering
that he worked with Manning on a limited basis last week in
practice.
"We're only on four days of practice together, and there's a lot of
routes we have not thrown," Manning said, noting that the route on
which Beckham scored his touchdown was one such route they had never
worked on before.
"We still have a lot of work to do. We have to get in practice get
on the same page and the timing of things so I can understand his
body movements and his speed and the things I need to do to so we'll
be on the same page," Manning added.
Atlanta, who came into the game averaging 32.8 points per game, the
second-best mark in the NFL, has now been outscored 95-58 in its
three losses this season, all on the road.
"It's a concern," said head coach Mike Smith of the Falcons'
misfortunes on the road. "You play half of your games at home and
you play half of them on the road. We where we haven't been as
efficient as we need to be on the road, and to get where our
expectations are as a football team, you have to hold steady on the
road, and we haven't done that."
NOTES: Atlanta is 0-3 on the road and has lost its last five
regular-season games on the road. The last time the Falcons won away
from home was on December 1, 2013, a 34-31 victory over the Buffalo
Bills. Atlanta has also lost its last nine outdoor road games. ...
Giants LB Devon Kennard was active for the first time since Week 1,
when he tweaked his hamstring on his very first play in that game.
Meanwhile, LB Jon Beason (foot/toe), who had expressed optimism of
being able to play this week, was inactive. ... Starting G Justin
Blalock and WR Harry Douglas were both inactive for the Falcons. ...
The Giants had a couple of new injuries pop up this week. LB Spencer
Paysinger suffered a hamstring ailment and did not return. Also, RB
Rashad Jennings suffered a sprained left knee in the third quarter
and did not return. He said he doesn't anticipate missing
significant time, but Jennings will undergo a MRI on Monday to
determine the extent of his injury.
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