Rookies Williams, Beckham Step Up As Giants Snap 7-Game Skid
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CBSNewYork/AP) — The New York Giants had gone so long between wins they had started dreaming of what it might feel like. After beating the woeful Tennessee Titans, they don't need to dream anymore.
Odell Beckham Jr. had 130 yards receiving and Andre Williams ran for 131 more as they became the first rookies to top 100 yards in the same game in team history, and the Giants routed the Titans 36-7 Sunday to snap their seven-game skid.
It was the Giants' first win since Oct. 5, a span made even longer thanks to their bye.
"It does seem like forever," Giants running back Rashad Jennings said. "You forgot how good it feels to win and to validate all of the hard work. Now we get to be on the other side of the excitement for a little bit."
Beckham now is the first rookie in NFL history with at least 90 yards receiving in six straight games. The Giants also sacked the Titans quarterbacks eight times, knocking rookie Zach Mettenberger out of the game. They also came up with three turnovers and turned Tennessee over on downs twice.
New York coach Tom Coughlin wouldn't say he was relieved, just proud to finally win.
"We finally got a win after many weeks of starving and we feel good about that," Coughlin said. "We are going to be joyous and smile a little bit before we get started on Washington, which will be in about 10 minutes from now."
His Giants (4-9) weren't nearly as shy. Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul said it was a relief to end the skid.
"It is all about pride now," Pierre-Paul said. "We have a losing season, or a losing record or whatever, but all we have to do now is finish strong. At the end of the day as professionals, we have to do our job and we did that."
"I have been dreaming about this win for about seven weeks now," safety Antrel Rolle said. "I am just glad that we came out and did what we know we are capable of, which is to go out here and start a game fast and finish even faster. It is a great team win. The coaches, the players, the organization and everyone was behind us. The fans still come out and support us for these games although we have had a disappointing season. We just have to continue to keep going out there and fighting."
The Titans (2-10) now know exactly how the Giants felt coming into this game. They now have lost seven straight and 11 of 12.
"It's disappointing," Titans tight end Delanie Walker said. "We've only won two games, and we're still playing the same way. We always say we're going to change, and nothing changes."
Here are some things to know about the Giants' big win:
MULTI-THREAT BECKHAM
The rookie now has 723 yards receiving over his past six games, joining Bill Groman (1960) as the only rookies to reach 700 yards or better in a six-game span. The Giants also made sure to get the ball into the hands of their electrifying rookie a couple different ways: letting him throw and run. Beckham was happiest about the pass on the opening drive taking a toss from Manning, sprinting to his right and then throwing to the end zone incomplete where Rueben Randle was in double coverage.
"He threw it about 65 yards pretty effortlessly," Eli Manning said. "It was close to a hit. We hit a couple of reverses, so we tried to get them with the pass, but they played it pretty well. He makes it look pretty easy."
METTENBERGER'S SHOULDER
The Titans started rookie Zach Mettenberger at quarterback after he sprained his right, throwing shoulder last week in a loss at Houston. Being sacked a fifth time by the Giants wound up hurting that shoulder again, forcing the rookie from the game early in the fourth quarter. An MRI exam is planned for Monday, but Mettenberger appeared to be in pain when he talked with reporters.
"Yeah, it doesn't feel good right now, but honestly I can't tell you," Mettenberger said.
NEW YORK'S OTHER ROOKIE
Williams got the start with Rashad Jennings' ankle keeping him out of practice all week. Jennings only had to carry twice with the rookie running 24 times for 131 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown that was the Giants' longest run all season. Williams had only the second 100-yard rushing game this season to go along with the 176 yards Jennings ran for against Houston on Sept. 21 against Houston.
THIRD QUARTER WOES NO MORE
The Giants had been outscored 109-34 in the third quarter this season. Against the Titans, the Giants wound up with a 10-7 advantage thanks to Williams' TD run. The Titans' big obstacle is simply falling behind before scoring, having been outscored 84-0 in their past four games combined before their first point.
INJURIES AND MORE INJURIES
The Titans were without offensive tackles Taylor Lewan and Michael Oher for a second straight week and had to play Terren Jones, signed Tuesday, when Byron Stingily's ankle wouldn't let him return. Tennessee also lost cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson to a dislocated shoulder, while safety Daimion Stafford had a concussion.
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