EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Instead of cheers, a nervous ripple coursed through the crowd at MetLife Stadium. The kicker had not left the sideline. Yes, the Giants were going for it. From the 3-yard line.
It was a brazen gamble, the Giants facing fourth down, trailing the Cincinnati Bengals by 6 early in the fourth quarter, with momentum having slipped away in the third. But Coach Ben McAdoo elected to trust Eli Manning with the ball, and he delivered — finding Sterling Shepard with enough space on a shallow crossing route to score.
The Giants have gotten awfully good at playing in tight games.