The New York Giants are still alive.
Andre Brown ran for 115 yards and one touchdown in his season debut, as the Giants overcame a slugglish start to post a 24-20 win over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday at the Meadowlands. New York has now won three consecutive games following an 0-6 start.
This won't be a game remembered for its beauty. The two teams combined for five turnovers and some truly uninspired quarterback play. But that doesn't matter for the Giants, as they keep their faint playoff hopes alive.
- The Giants have finally found their answer at running back. Brown looked healthy and ran with purpose, setting career highs in carries (30) and rushing yards. We might have seen the last of Peyton Hillis in a Giants uniform.
- Pump the brakes on Terrelle Pryor as franchise savior talk in Oakland. The QB has looked bad for the past 10 quarters. He was tentative in the pocket against the Giants, and his knee injury shows how limited he is when not a threat to run.
- Eli Manning remains an issue for the Giants. He missed throws all day long and threw a grisly pick six to Tracy Porter, Manning's 16th interception in nine games. Victor Cruz's body language on that play and on a later Eli red zone misfire spoke volumes. How could New York not be frustrated with its quarterback?
- Rashad Jennings ran the ball well for the Raiders, and perhaps should have had a bigger role in Oakland's attack with Pryor struggling. Consider Jennings' second half as an audition for a potential starting job in 2014.
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