Giants Week 3 report card: Defense swarmed Deshaun Watson all day

Grading the Giants’ 21-15 win over the Browns on Sunday:

Offense

Can we split this up into two grades — first and second half?

There were touchdowns on three of four possessions in the first half and Daniel Jones (24 of 34, 236 yards, 2 TDs, passer rating of 109.4) was making like a point guard and distributing the rock.

Looking for Malik Nabers (8-78, 2 TDs) is always a smart move.

The kid can sky and he alertly knocked a deflected ball down to prevent a turnover.

Things really got bottled up after halftime.

Another bad fumble by Devin Singletary (16-65).

TEs Theo Johnson (1-13) and Daniel Bellinger (1-17) finally got on the board.

LT Andrew Thomas did not let Myles Garrett (one tackle, three QB hits) wreck the game, which is not easy to do.

Line play was a bit leaky in pass protection in the second half.

Grade: B

Defense

This was a big-boy performance and Deshaun Watson never knew what hit him.

There were eight sacks and nine different players had a hand in them.

Dominant Dexter Lawrence had an early sack and then got his second chasing Watson in the second quarter, forcing an intentional grounding penalty.

Watson (21 of 37, 196 yards, 2 TDs) heard boos from his home crowd.

First impact play with his new team for Brian Burns on a strip-sack.

Giants linebacker Brian Burns, right, forces Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) to fumble the ball, which the Giants recovered, on Sept. 22, 2024. AP

Quarterback Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns is hit by Cor'Dale Flott #28 of the New York Giants during the fourth quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium on September 22, 2024. — Quarterback Deshaun Watson #4 of the Browns is hit by Cor’Dale Flott #28 of the Giants during the fourth quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Sept. 22, 2024. Getty Images

Browns ground game (69 yards) went nowhere. CB Deonte Banks on his first snap was beaten by a step by Amari Cooper for a 21-yard TD in a rough outing.

Kudos to rookie Elijah Chatman for his first NFL sack.

Azeez Ojulari had a huge fumble recovery midway through the fourth quarter and added one sack and two QB hits.

Grade: A

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Special teams

Eric Gray fumbled away the opening kickoff, which is an inexcusable way to start a game.

Bryce Ford-Wheaton had a lunging tackle on James Proche on Jamie Gillan’s 57-yard punt to limit the return to a mere three yards.

Gillan’s net average was 51.6 yards but he over-hit a 67-yarder that bounced into the end zone in the fourth quarter.

New kicker Greg Joseph could have iced the game but he missed a 48-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

Grade: B-minus

Coaching

Incredibly gutsy move by Brian Daboll to go for it on his own 43-yard line, down 7-0, midway through the first quarter and his boldness was rewarded.

Daboll’s play-calling was expertly diverse in the first half and you could tell he was feeling it.

Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen ratcheted up the pressure on Watson and it definitely rattled the veteran quarterback.

Grade: A-minus