Cleveland Browns vs N.y. Giants Picks and Predictions September 22nd 2024

Looking to avoid 0-3 start, Giants shift focus to Browns

The Giants and Browns will face off on Sunday, September 22nd at 1:00 ET on FOX. The Giants are +224 on the money line, while the Browns are the heavy favorite at -277. The Browns are favored by -6.5 in this week three non-conference matchup, which is being played at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland. The over/under line is set at 38.5 points.

New York vs. Cleveland Key Information

• Teams: Giants at Browns
• Where: Huntington Bank Field Cleveland
• Date: Sunday, September 22nd
• Betting Odds CLE -277 | NYG +224 O/U 38.5

The Giants Can Win If…

The Giants are now 0-2 after losing 21-18 to the Commanders in a game that was close throughout. New York even held a 12-9 lead at halftime and ended up taking a 18-15 lead early in the 4th quarter, as Daniel Jones found Wan’Dale Robinson for a touchdown. However, the Commanders scored a late field goal to take the lead for good.The Giants didn’t cover the spread in this one, as they were +1.5 point underdogs on the road. The over/under line was set at 43 points, and the teams combined for just 39 points. New York led 6-3 after the 1st quarter and added two more field goals in the 2nd quarter, but Washington’s Jayden Daniels found Zach Ertz for a touchdown just before halftime to tie the game at 12.

The Giants’ offense had 18 first downs and 129 rushing yards on 22 attempts in their 21-18 loss to the Washington Commanders. Daniel Jones completed 16 of 28 passes for 178 yards, two touchdowns, and a passer rating of 100. He was not sacked and didn’t throw any interceptions.

Malik Nabers led the Giants with 127 receiving yards and a touchdown. New York’s running game was led by Devin Singletary, who had 95 yards, averaging 5.9 yards per attempt and scoring one touchdown.

In the Giants’ 21-18 loss to Washington, the defense allowed 210 passing yards and five sacks. Despite this, they struggled to stop the run, giving up 215 rushing yards on 35 attempts. Washington managed 425 total yards, and the Giants’ inability to defend the run contributed to their defensive struggles.Opposing quarterbacks completed 79.3% of their passes against the Giants, who also allowed Washington to convert on 50% of their third down attempts. However, the Giants did not give up any passing touchdowns in the game.

• Across New York’s last three regular season games, their record sits at 1-2. In these matchups, they ended with an ATS record of 1-2 and an over-under mark of 0-3.
• Across New York’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 4-6. This includes going 6-4 vs. the spread along with an over-under mark of 5-5.

The Browns Can Win If…

The Browns are now 1-1 after their 18-13 win over the Jaguars. Cleveland was on the road for this one and they were +3 point underdogs. The Browns led 13-3 at halftime and despite a push from the Jaguars in the 4th quarter, they were able to hold on for the win. The combined 31 points was below the over/under line of 41.5 points.Cleveland got a touchdown from Deshaun Watson in the 1st quarter and a late touchdown pass from Watson to Jerry Jeudy in the 4th quarter to seal the win. In between, Dustin Hopkins made three field goals. The Jaguars made it close with a touchdown to Brian Thomas Jr. in the 3rd quarter and a field goal in the 4th.

The Browns’ offense managed 18 first downs in their 18-13 win over the Jaguars. They struggled on third down, converting only 14.3% of their chances. Deshaun Watson, who threw for 186 yards, led the passing game, while Jerome Ford was the leading rusher with 64 yards, 36 of which came on one run. Watson and the Browns failed to find the endzone through the air, finishing with 172 yards passing.

Jerry Jeudy led the team with 73 yards receiving. The Browns’ running game finished with 125 yards on 29 attempts, averaging 4.3 yards per attempt. Watson was sacked twice and finished with a passer rating of 78.

The Browns’ defense played well on third downs in their 18-13 win over the Jaguars, allowing just a 33.3% conversion rate. They also came up with four sacks and limited Jacksonville to 127 rushing yards on just 21 attempts. Cleveland’s defense was tough to move the ball against through the air, as they allowed just 196 passing yards and held the Jaguars to 46.7% completions.

Despite this, the Jaguars still finished with 323 total yards. Cleveland’s run defense struggled at times, allowing 6.0 yards per attempt, but they were able to keep Jacksonville out of the endzone for most of the game.

• Through their last three games, the Browns have a record of 2-1. In addition, their ATS record over this stretch is 2-1 while posting a 2-1 over-under mark.
• Across Cleveland’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 8-2. Their record against the spread in this stretch is 8-2 to go along with an over-under mark of 3-6-1.

The Lean

Our pick vs. the spread for this week three matchup between the Giants and Browns is to take the Giants to cover as road underdogs. Right now, the Giants are sitting at +6.5 point spreads, and we have them winning this one 19-16.

For the over/under, with the line at 38.5 points, we are leaning towards taking the under, with our projections having this game finishing with 35 combined points.

Latest NFL Picks and Predictions

The New York Giants are entering must-win territory as they prepare to face the Cleveland Browns in Week 3 of the NFL season. With an 0-2 start, the pressure is mounting for the Giants, who will play on the road against a 1-1 Browns team. Falling to 0-3 could significantly reduce New York’s playoff chances, making Sunday’s game a pivotal moment in their season.

Giants Seek Urgent Turnaround After 0-2 Start

After tough losses to the Minnesota Vikings and Washington Commanders, the New York Giants are facing a crucial test against the Browns. Historically, only 6.3% of teams that start 0-2 have made the playoffs over the last four seasons. For the Giants, a third consecutive loss could set their season on a troubling course.

Giants head coach Brian Daboll, however, remains focused on consistency rather than panic. “I want to see consistency like we talk about every week. Go in, prepare the right way, come out, play a good football game,” Daboll said, emphasizing that each week presents a new opportunity.

The urgency within the team is palpable, especially for key players like nose tackle Dexter Lawrence II, who voiced his frustration after the Giants’ latest defeat. “I’m pissed because I hate losing with a passion. I take that hard — losing. I really don’t like it,” Lawrence said, highlighting the high stakes for Sunday’s matchup.

Browns Focus on Discipline After Shaky Start

The Cleveland Browns have had their own ups and downs. After a blowout loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1, they managed to grind out an 18-13 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2. Despite the win, the Browns still face some pressing concerns, particularly their discipline on the field.

Cleveland leads the league in penalties, with 24 through the first two games. Head coach Kevin Stefanski is acutely aware of the problem. “I’m not going to ignore the fact that we have the most called penalties against us in the league,” Stefanski said. The team has made reviewing and correcting these mistakes a top priority ahead of their game against the Giants.

In addition to penalties, the Browns have struggled offensively, averaging just 17.5 points per game. However, Stefanski remains cautious about underestimating the Giants despite their 0-2 start, noting that New York’s losses were closer than their record suggests. “That 0-2 is very misleading to me,” Stefanski said, alluding to the Giants’ special teams issues in Week 2 that contributed to their loss.

Injuries and Special Teams Setbacks for the Giants

One of the Giants’ biggest challenges heading into Week 3 is their special teams unit, which has been hampered by injuries. Veteran kicker Graham Gano, who played through a groin injury in Week 2, was forced out of the game after hurting his hamstring during a 98-yard kickoff return by Washington, which was ultimately negated by a penalty. Gano’s absence was deeply felt as the Giants missed a critical extra point and two two-point conversions, leading to their 21-18 loss.

Adding to their woes, punter Jamie Gillan was thrust into an unfamiliar role, handling the extra point attempt after the team’s first touchdown, which he missed. A key moment came late in the game, when the Giants, tied 18-18, faced a fourth-and-4 at the Commanders’ 22-yard line. With Gano out, they chose to go for it instead of attempting a field goal. Rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers dropped a crucial pass that could have resulted in a first down, and the Commanders went on to win with a 30-yard field goal as time expired.

Taking responsibility for his error, Nabers vowed to learn from the experience. “Once you look back on the record, you are going to feel like one of those losses was mine,” said Nabers, who leads the Giants with 15 receptions in two games. The Giants have since signed Greg Joseph from the Detroit Lions’ practice squad to replace Gano, who was placed on injured reserve.

Browns’ Injury Report Adds Complexity

While the Giants grapple with special teams challenges, the Browns are also facing a growing list of injured players. Star defensive end Myles Garrett (foot), tight end David Njoku (ankle), and cornerback Denzel Ward (shoulder) are among the key players nursing injuries. Njoku is expected to miss his second straight game, while Garrett’s and Ward’s statuses remain uncertain heading into Sunday’s matchup.

Ward, who played just 11 snaps against Jacksonville before leaving the game, was a limited participant in practice this week. His presence is crucial for the Browns’ secondary, especially against a Giants team looking to improve their offensive output, which currently stands at a low 12 points per game.

What to Expect in Sunday’s Game

Sunday’s matchup will likely be decided by how well both teams address their glaring weaknesses. For the Giants, getting their offense to click and shoring up their special teams will be crucial if they hope to avoid an 0-3 start. The Browns, on the other hand, need to clean up their penalties and hope that their injury-hit defense can hold up against the Giants’ attack.

Historically, the Browns have had the upper hand in recent meetings, including a 20-6 victory over the Giants in 2020. However, both teams are vastly different from their last encounter, and the outcome will depend on who can adapt better to their current struggles.

Key Players to Watch

• Malik Nabers (Giants): After his costly drop in Week 2, all eyes will be on Nabers to see if he can rebound and make key plays for the Giants’ offense.
• Myles Garrett (Browns): If Garrett is healthy enough to play, his ability to pressure Giants quarterback Daniel Jones will be a game-changer.
• Dexter Lawrence II (Giants): As the emotional leader of the Giants’ defense, Lawrence’s performance will be key in containing the Browns’ running game and generating pressure on their quarterback.

Conclusion

With their season hanging in the balance, the New York Giants are desperate for a win to avoid the dreaded 0-3 start. The Cleveland Browns, while dealing with their own issues, especially penalties and injuries, have a chance to take advantage of the Giants’ struggles. Sunday’s game will test both teams’ ability to overcome adversity and could set the tone for the remainder of their seasons.

Will the Giants rise to the occasion and save their season, or will the Browns’ gritty resilience and home-field advantage be enough to hand New York another loss? Sunday’s showdown is bound to be a critical moment for both franchises.