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Two interceptions each by by Landon Collins and Dominique Rodgers-Croamrtie, one returned 44 yards for a touchdown by Collins, were the difference Sunday as the New York Giants defeated the Los Angeles Rams, 17-10, at Twickenham Stadium in England.
The Giants are 4-3 and have won two straight heading into their bye week. The Rams are 3-4.
Head coach Ben McAdoo called it a “gutsy win.”
"I thought it was a gutsy win," McAdoo said. "For our guys they played hard, they played through a lot and hung together. Defense did a great job coming up with the ball -- four times for us -- and we hung in there on offense. We found the way to get the win."
The Giants got off to their typical slow start, falling behind, 10-0, before a 29-yard Robbie Gould field goal and Collins’ 44-yard interception return knotted the score at halftime.
“Tremendous effort by Landon,” McAdoo said of his pick six. “He looked like a running back.”
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Collins intercepted Case Keenum for a second time with 12:20 left in the fourth quarter, collecting a pass that had been tipped by linebacker Keenan Robinson and returning it to the Los Angeles 35-yard line. Six plays later, the Giants took a 17-10 lead on a 1-yard run by Rashad Jennings with 9:27 left.
The Giants survived a final Los Angeles drive that reach their own 15-yard line when Rodgers-Cromartie intercepted Keenum in the end zone with :42 left. DRC had interceptions on each of the final two Los Angeles possessions.
The Giants ended the game with four interceptions and three sacks, both season highs.
Eli Manning went 24-of-37 for 196 yards. Victor Cruz had five catches for 55 yards, Odell Beckham had five catches for 49 and Sterling Shepard had five for 32. The Giants had only 38 yards rushing.
Moments that mattered
Two plays and a FUUUUUMBLE! It took two plays for the Giants to turn the ball over, with Larry Donnell fumbling after receiving a short pass from Eli Manning. That was the Giants’ 14th turnover in seven games and gave Los Angeles the ball at the Giants’ 35-yard line. The Rams turned that into a 7-0 lead less than four minutes into the game on a 10-yard touchdown pass to Tavon Austin.
Story of our season. Bottom of the league in turnover ratio. SMH @Giants @bigblueview @BigBlueUnited pic.twitter.com/985vkZMNG4
— #StandUp7 (@RobHazer) October 23, 2016
Robbie Gould debuts: Gould hit a 29-yard field goal with 8:15 left in the second quarter in his first appearance as a Giant. That made the score 10-3, Rams.
THAT PLAY by Landon Collins: The Giants basically sleep-walked through the first 22 minutes of the game until Collins electrified everyone with a 45-yard interception return for a TD after a tipped pass by Tavon Austin. Collins broke at least five tackles during an incredible return that tied the game at 10-10 with 7:31 left in the half.
Highlight: Landon Collins with the interception and incredible 44-yard return for a touchdown! #NYGinUK https://t.co/gGxNwyL7xv
— New York Giants (@Giants) October 23, 2016
Collins’ second interception: The Giants’ safety grabbed another tipped pass at the Giants’ 47 and returned it to the Rams’ 35 with 12:20 left in the game. The Giants turned that into a 1-yard Rashad Jennings’ touchdown run and a 17=10 lead with 9:27 left.
DRC’s interceptions: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie got the Giants’ third interception of the game. This one came on a deep ball from Keenum to Austin in the end zone with the Rams looking for a game-tying score. He also got their fourth of the day with :42 left, sealing the win with another end zone grab, this one uncontest, after a miscommunication between Keenum and wide receiver Brian Quick.
What’s next?
The Giants have their bye week.When the return to action in two weeks they will host the NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles in a 1 p.m. ET game at MetLife Stadium.