Giants-Bears final score: Giants win, 20-12, improve to 3-1

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants improved to 3-1 on Sunday with a ground-and-pound style 20-12 victory over the Chicago Bears (2-2).

The Giants saw both quarterbacks, Daniel Jones (ankle) and Tyrod Taylor concussion, injured during the second half. That led to Saquon Barkley taking a few Wildcat snaps in the fourth quarter. Jones, obviously limited, played the final couple of series. He was limited to handing off or lining up as a wide receiver while Barkley played quarterback.

Head coach Brian Daboll said it was “a tough physical game” and that the Barkley at quarterback stuff was “the best thing to do” under the circumstances.

Leading 20-12, the Giants salted the game away when Gary Brightwell recovered a muffed punt by Velus Jones Jr. of the Bears at the Chicago 37-yard line with 2:01 to play. The Giants hung on despite Graham Gano missing a 37-yard field goal with :17 left.

The Giants ran for 262 yards. That is the most for the Giants since they ran for 308 yards vs. Carolina on Dec. 21, 2008. Saquon Barkley had 31 carries for 146 yards. That’s Barkley’s 14th career 100-yard rushing game. Jones had 6 carries for 68 yards, including touchdown runs of 21 and 8 yards. Jones passed for only 71 yards, completing 8 of 13.

Daboll said the Giants had planned to be run-heavy on offense.

“It’s always good when things work out the way you want them to work out in the game,” he said. “I thought our line did a good job. We ran the ball inside, We ran the ball outside; had a couple of scheme runs in there that we liked this particular week. And then 26 (Saquon Barkley) – I’ve said it since OTAs – is a really good football player. So, that along with Daniel’s, what did he have – about 70 or something around there? That’s the way we wanted to play this game. And it worked out.”

Highlights

Jones’ first rushing touchdown.

Saquon doing Saquon things, with help from his quarterback.

Jones’ second rushing touchdown.

Injury news

• Quarterback Daniel Jones left the game late in the third quarter with a left ankle injury. Tyrod Taylor took over on the Giants’ final third-quarter possession. Taylor left with a possible concussion sustained when he ran for a first down during his second series. Jones returned, but was obviously hampered. Saquon Barkley took a number of Wildcat snaps at quarterback.
• Evan Neal (neck) was replaced at right tackle by Devery Hamilton in the second half.
• Cornerback Aaron Robinson, in his first action after missing two games due to an emergency appendectomy, suffered a knee injury. He was ruled out after appearing to get folded under a Chicago offensive lineman while trying to defend a second-quarter running play.
• Safety Julian Love was ruled out in the second quarter with a concussion. Love was pulled from the game by the NFL’s concussion spotter. That could be considered significant after what happened recently with Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins.
• Defensive tackle Henry Mondeaux was carted off late in the second quarter with an ankle injury.
• Wide receiver Kenny Golladay left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury.

Giants inactives

WR Wan’Dale Robinson (Knee)
CB Nick McCloud (Hamstring)
CB Justin Layne (Concussion)
WR Kadarius Toney (Hamstring)
DL Leonard Williams (Knee)
ILB Austin Calitro
OT Tyre Phillips

The Giants elevated defensive tackle Henry Mondeaux and wide receiver Marcus Johnson from the practice squad for Sunday’s game.

What’s next?

Make sure you are up early and ready to go next Sunday. The Giants will be at Tottenham Spur Stadium in England to face the Green Bay Packers. Game time is 9:30 a.m. ET.