Giants Rally For 20-16 Win Over Steelers
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Rashad Jennings is taking advantage of his opportunity to be a key part of the New York Giants' running game.
Jennings ran 73 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter and Curtis Painter's scoring pass with 2:50 left gave the Giants a 20-16 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in a preseason game Saturday night.
Howard Jones had given the Steelers a 16-13 lead when he picked up backup quarterback Ryan Nassib's fumble and went 28 yards for a touchdown with 10:16 to go. But Painter led a 12-play, 80 yard drive and threw a 3-yard TD pass to Corey Washington for the victory.
Eli Manning played four series and was 0 for 2 for the Giants. They opened the preseason last week with a 17-13 victory over Buffalo in the Hall of Fame game.
The Giants focused on their running game after a week in which David Wilson was forced to retire because of a neck injury. Peyton Hills missed the game because of an ankle injury.
Jennings, who signed a four-year, $10 million deal with the Giants in March, finished with 85 yards to lead the team.
Ben Roethlisberger played only one series for the Steelers (0-1). His was 1 for 2, with the completion a 46-yarder to rookie third-round pick Dri Archer to the Giants 14. Running back Le'Veon Bell started the drive with gains of 9 and 8 yards.
The seven-play, 70-yard drive ended with the first of Shaun Suisham's three field goals, a 26-yarder for a 3-0 lead.
``I thought it was a good, solid first series,'' Roethlisberger said. ``Obviously, it helped that we had a huge play to Dri. But we moved the ball down the field and got points on the board.''
Jennings' long touchdown run came on the next play from scrimmage.
``It was a well-executed play,'' Jennings said. ``Eli made sure we were in the right play, it was a hat on a hat, a gaping hole in the offensive line.''
Early in the second quarter, the Giants took advantage of a 21-yard punt by Brad Wing and started their drive at the Steelers 35. Josh Brown made a 45-yard field goal for a 10-3 lead.
Bruce Gradkowski took over for Roethlisberger was 8 for 12 for 66 yards.
Nassib replaced Manning in the second quarter. On his second drive, he completed his first five passes, including a 12-yarder to Rueben Randle. Brandon McManus' 46-yard field goal with 38 seconds left in the first half gave the Giants a 13-3 lead.
Charles James fumbled a punt with 7:37 left in the third and the Steelers' Howard Jones recovered at the Giants 21. The Giants' defense held and Suisham made a 38-yard field goal to make it 13-6.
Suisham added a 32-yarder 59 seconds into the fourth quarter to make it 13-9.
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