Instant Analysis: Giants defeat Browns, 21-15

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT SPECIAL TEAMS

It was an inauspicious start to the game when Cleveland’s Tony Brown II stripped the ball from Giants returner Eric Gray on the opening kickoff. Grant Delpit recovered the fumble, and on the very next play, Amari Cooper caught a perfect 24-yard pass from Watson in the end zone for a 7-0 lead with just 11 seconds off the game clock.

This week, the Giants placed kicker Graham Gano on injured reserve and signed veteran Greg Joseph, whom fans know well. Joseph spent three seasons with Minnesota and set the franchise record with a 61-yard field goal as time expired in a 27-24 victory over the Giants on Dec. 24, 2022.

Joseph, who made his NFL debut with the Browns in 2018, was 11 of 12 on field goal attempts at Cleveland’s Huntington Bank Field and 9 of 12 on extra points entering Sunday. Earlier in the week, special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial said Joseph was competing with practice squad rookie Jude McAtamney for the job.

On Sunday, it was Joseph who got the call. The new Giant made three extra points but missed a 48-yard attempt wide right that would have given the Giants a nine-point lead with 3:00 left in the game.

NYG: CB Dru Phillips (calf), CB Adoree’ Jackson (calf), WR Darius Slayton (thumb), LB Micah McFadden (back)

CLE: G Wyatt Teller (knee), OT Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee), OT James Hudson (shoulder)

NYG: QB Tommy DeVito (3^rd), S Anthony Johnson, CB Tre Hawkins III, CB Nick McCloud (knee), OLB Benton Whitley, OLB Boogie Basham, G Jake Kubas

CLE: QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (3^rd), RB Pierre Strong Jr. (hamstring), CB Kahlef Hailassie, G Javion Cohen, T Jack Conklin (knee), WR Jamari Thrash (illness), TE David Njoku (ankle)

NYG: The Giants activated cornerback Art Green and linebacker Ty Summers from the practice squad (standard elevation).

CLE: The Browns signed former Giants running back Gary Brightwell and tight end Blake Whiteheart to the active roster from the practice squad. The team also elevated cornerback Tony Brown II and tight end Geoff Swaim.