Giants vs. Bengals: Lines, injuries, where to watch
Leonard Williams #99 of the New York Giants reacts after sacking Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first half at MetLife Stadium on Nov. 2 in East Rutherford, N.J. Credit: Getty Images/Sarah Stier
Sunday’s game
GIANTS (3-7) AT BENGALS (2-7-1)
PAUL BROWN STADIUM, 1 p.m.
VITALS
Line: Giants by 6; O/U 44
TV: Ch. 5 (Kevin Kugler, Chris Spielman)
Radio: WFAN-660 AM (Bob Papa, Carl Banks, Howard Cross); Sirius 111; XM 346
INJURY UPDATE
Giants: QUESTIONABLE: CB Brandon Williams (ankle).
Bengals: DOUBTFUL: WR Mike Thomas (hamstring); QUESTIONABLE: RB Giovani Bernard (concussion), CB Mackensie Alexander (hamstring), LB Markus Bailey (hamstring).
FEATURED MATCHUP
The Giants only have one player on the roster with more than three sacks this season (Leonard Williams with five) but they have still managed to put plenty of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Their 25 sacks as a team are tied for 11th in the NFL. The Bengals, meanwhile, have allowed 36 sacks, second-most in the NFL. They also have a familiar name at right tackle in former Giant draft pick Bobby Hart.
"He’s grown up in this league," Bengals coach Zak Taylor said of Hart. "He probably came to New York as a young player and sometimes you need to get beat up a little bit, and you need a change of scenery, and Bobby, I’ve been really proud of the way he’s handled himself. He’s matured and been a big piece of the offensive line for us. We expect a lot out of Bobby down the stretch of this season."
QUOTABLE
"It’s ironic since it’s Iron Bowl week, but most of the Auburn players I’ve been fortunate enough to coach have all been tough dudes like Darius." – Joe Judge, a former Alabama assistant, grudgingly extolling the toughness of WR Darius Slayton and other Auburn products.
INTANGIBLES
The Giants have been underwhelming against backup quarterbacks this season, and they’ll be facing one on Sunday with Joe Burrow out for the season. Nick Mullens started for San Francisco’s Jimmy Garoppolo in Week 3 and threw for 343 yards and a touchdown in a 49ers victory. On Oct. 11, Andy Dalton replaced the injured Dak Prescott and led the Cowboys on a pair of field goal drives in the last two minutes in Dallas’ 37-34 victory. Against Washington on Nov. 8, Alex Smith replaced another injured starter, Kyle Allen, and threw for 325 yards (although the Giants held on to win that one thanks to two late interceptions).
NUMBER, PLEASE
699: Regular-season wins for the Giants in their history. Their next victory will make them the third NFL franchise to reach 700, joining the Bears (774) and Packers (763). The Giants’ all-time regular-season record is 699-615-33.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
