The Giants appear to have a keeper in Malik Nabers.
The rookie wide receiver, whom the Giants selected No. 6 overall in this year’s draft, propelled the team in the first half to the tune of six catches, 66 yards and two touchdowns as they took a 21-7 lead over the Browns into halftime in Cleveland while searching for their first win of the year.
His and Daniel Jones’ performance helped erase a calamitous first 11 seconds of the game, when Eric Gray fumbled away the opening kickoff and the Browns scored on their first offensive play.
Jones finished the half 17-for-19 with 178 yards, two touchdowns and zero turnovers; he did have an interception wiped out due to a roughing the passer penalty by the Browns.
After a Devin Singletary rushing touchdown tied the game in the first quarter, Nabers made a leaping grab in the back left corner of the end zone, just getting his two feet down before touching his hand down out of bounds for his first score of the game, which gave the Giants a 14-7 lead with 1:44 left in the second quarter.
On that drive, Nabers made an impressive grab while stealing the ball from Browns corner Martin Emerson Jr.
Brian Burns then recorded a strip-sack that Elijah Chatman recovered to give the Giants the ball back at the Browns’ 30-yard line shortly before halftime, Burns’ first sack as a Giant.
Four plays later, Jones found Nabers again with 11 seconds left to go up 21-7.
