Giants-Browns final score: New York defeats Cleveland, 27-13

The New York Giants defeated the Cleveland Browns, 27-13, Sunday, winning their sixth straight and keeping the 0-12 Browns winless. The victory, though, certainly didn’t come easily.

The 8-3 Giants didn’t put the game away until there was 5:10 left when Eli Manning hit Odell Beckham Jr. with a 4-yard touchdown pass. Robbie Gould’s extra point gave the Giants a two-touchdown lead, 27-13.

“It was nice to get a win,” said Giants’ coach Ben McAdoo. “We have to get better.”

Beckham set up the six-play, 73-yard drive with a 41-yard catch. Sterling Shepard had a 22-yard run. Beckham ended up with six receptions for 96 yards and two scores. He also returned punts, and had both a 59-yard return for a touchdown and a 27-yard return negated by penalties. Beckham left the game at the end of the first quarter with a thumb injury, but quickly returned.

Manning completed 15-of-27 passes for 194 yards and three scores.

Jason Pierre-Paul had three sacks, seven tackles, a 43-yard touchdown on a fumble recovery and a forced fumble to lead the defense.

“Tremendous effort,” McAdoo said in reference to Pierre-Paul. “Hats off. He was all over the field.”

In all, the Giants sacked Josh McCown seven times and forced three turnovers. Olivier Vernon and Johnathan Hankins each had 1.5 sacks, with Hankins adding a forced fumble.

This is the first time the Giants have won six straight game since 2008.

The Giants currently hold one of the two NFC wild-card spots. Their final five games will be against teams all in the race for playoff berths.

Moments that mattered

Shane Vereen warming up: The Giants’ running back has been on IR since suffering a forearm injury Week 3 vs. the Washington Redskins. He was on the field before Sunday’s game going through warm-ups, and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported that the Giants are hoping to have Vereen back for their Dec. 11 games against the Dallas Cowboys. (Read full story)

Odell Beckham Jr. injury scare: Beckham suffered a thumb injury at the end of the first quarter and went briefly to the locker room. He returned on the Giants’ next offensive possession w/10:39 left in the second quarter.

First-half summary: The Giants took a 14-6 halftime lead on Eli Manning touchdown passes to Dwayne Harris and Beckham. Cody Parkey had a pair of field goals for the Browns. (Full first-half summary)

Eli moves up to No. 8 on all-time passing yardage list: He passed Fran Tarkenton on Sunday, and Tark was paying attention.

JPP finally catches one! Jason Pierre-Paul has had a couple of chances for interceptions this season and been unable to hang on. Sunday. he hung on to one at exactly the right time for the Giants. With the Giants clinging to a 14-6 lead and Cleveland having justr hit a 54-yard pass to Terrelle Pryor, Johnathan Hankins pressured Browns’ QB Josh McCown, the ball fluttered into the air, Pierre-Paul caught it and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown. The play, officially ruled a fumble recovery, gave the Giants breathing room, a 20-6 lead with 11:08 to play.

“I knew one of these days I was gonna catch that ball,” Pierre-Paul said.

What’s next?

The Giants begin a five-game stretch run against team that are all in the playoff chase when they travel to Pennsylvania to take on Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers. That game will be at 4:25 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on FOX.