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The game started out so promisingly for the New York Giants.
Electing to receive the opening kickoff, the Giants marched down the field in short order. Their opening drive was nothing short of a thing of beauty as Eli Manning hit Will Tye, Odell Beckham Rashad Jennings, Roger Lewis Jr, and Sterling Shepard to put the Giants in scoring position, before hitting rookie tight end Jerell Adams for a 10 yard touchdown — the first of his career.
The Bengals answered with a funky formation that saw three offensive linemen split out wide, and resulted in a 71 yard catch and run to Tyler Eifert. That drive quickly ended in a touchdown to A.J. Green.
What looked like a rollicking shootout quickly settled down as both defenses asserted themselves.
Back-up guard and center Brett Jones, already filling in for an injured Justin Pugh, left the game with a strained calf. The Giants’ patchwork offensive line struggled mightily to block the Bengals’ pass rush, and Geno Atkins wrecked more than his share of plays, including a sack on an attempt to convert a fourth down.
The Giants’ offense adjusted in their final drive, once again marching down the field, this time culminating in a 10 yard touchdown to Odell Beckham Jr.
Setting yet another record, Odell Beckham became the fastest receiver to 3,500 yards in league history, accomplishing the feat in just 36 games. He has 8 receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown in the first half.
The Bengals will get the ball to start the second half.