EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Joe Burrow made just enough plays and the Bengals' beleaguered defense stepped up to deliver a much-needed win that gave Cincinnati some hope after a dismal start.

Building scored a 47-yard run during his career on the first possession, and Chase Brown added a game-winning 30-yard touchdown run after his fumble went out of bounds in Sunday night's 17-7 win over the New York Giants.

“We really needed it,” Burrow said after the Bengals improved to 2-4. “I don't want to say that if we lost we would be out, but we would struggle for the rest of the year. We still are, but it was good to get a win. It's great to see our defense step up like that. They've taken some heat in the last few weeks. They played great tonight.”

Evan McPherson kicked the go-ahead 37-yard field goal in the third quarter after a botched snap and hold contributed to him missing a potential game-winning kick a week earlier.

Rookie Tyrone Tracy ran for a 1-yard touchdown for the Giants (2-4), winless, at home for three games, and scored a touchdown. They couldn't take advantage of the Bengals' defense, which finished 31st in the league in scoring.

The Giants struck four times in the first half. In the second game, they turned the game over twice on downs and Greg Joseph missed two field goal attempts.

The high-scoring Bengals suffered a heartbreaking 38-41 overtime loss to Baltimore, their second loss of the season in which Burrow and the offense scored more than 30 points. McPherson's misstep contributed to the loss, but the Bengals also couldn't stop the Ravens and Lamar Jackson.

This time, Cincinnati was led defensively by Trey Hendrickson, who had two sacks, and linebacker Germaine Pratt, who intercepted Daniel Jones near the goal line in the first quarter after former Giant BJ Hill hit Jones while throwing.

“We just knew we had to come out and play our brand of football,” Hill said. “We were better at it. We’re still not perfect and we still have a long way to go, but we can build on this win.”

After Tracy's TD run tied the game, the Bengals quickly regained the lead when Burrow danced in the backfield to buy time to find Ja'Marr Chase on a 33-yard pass to the Giants 37. McPherson converted his go-ahead goal with 41 seconds left in the quarter.

New York had a chance to tie the game shortly after, but Joseph missed a 47-yard attempt when the kick went hard left as it neared the upright.

The Giants had a chance to tie the score late in the fourth quarter, but a pass to Darius Slayton was deflected by DJ Turner.

The Giants, who hadn't scored a touchdown at home in the first 10 quarters this season, finally found the end zone on Tracy's 1-yard run with 5:48 left in the third quarter. It capped a 16-play, 79-play drive that included two fourth-down conversions by Tracy.

Burrow gave the Bengals the lead with his legs. After fighting for a first down on the third play from scrimmage, he wasn't touched on the third-and-18 play as he rumbled 47 yards for a TD.

“I saw an opportunity, saw it was man coverage,” said Burrow, who led the Bengals with 55 yards rushing and four carries. “I was able to sneak through there and find the end zone.”

Burrow's previous long run in his career, which began in 2020, was 23 yards twice.

The Giants played without playmaking rookie receiver Malik Nabers (concussion) and starting running back Devin Singletary (groin) for the second straight week, highlighting Nabers' absence.

“We didn’t score enough points offensively, and that starts with me,” coach Brian Daboll said. “It’s hard to win games when you score seven points and that’s the reality.”

Jones completed 22 of 41 yards for 205 yards and also led New York with 56 yards rushing and 11 carries. Burrow had similar numbers — 19 of 28 for 208 yards — but was good enough when it mattered most.

Injuries

Bengals: Burrow was checked out in the medical tent after a big hit by Brian Burns, but returned the next series.

Giants: Slayton was evaluated for a concussion and returned.

Next

Bengals: Next Sunday at Cleveland.

Giants: Host their former star running back Saquon Barkley and Philadelphia next Sunday.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl