Giants Do Just Enough to Stop Darnold & Panthers

 GIANTS 25 - PANTHERS 3 

It wasn't pretty, but the Giants got the job done against the woeful Carolina Panthers. The score 25-3. And for at least one week, Joe Judge, David Gettleman and company won't have to hear about job security. 

After getting plastered by the Rams 38-11 last week, Judge changed things up. The Giants started practicing in pads again, and the focus turned to getting this season -- that seemed destined to hit the third rail -- back on track. 

It also helped matters that the G-Men were going up against a Panthers team that is now 0-4 since dynamic running back Christian McCaffery left a week 3 match-up against Houston with a hamstring injury. 

Sam Darnold has been terrible since Carolina lost McCaffery. It didn't get any better on Sunday for the former Jets signal caller, who threw for only 111 yards and an interception and was promptly benched by head coach Matt Rhule in the fourth quarter. 

Guess, it wasn't all the Jets fault for Darnold's deficiencies? 

The turning point of the game came early second quarter when ex-Jet Leonard Williams got some pressure on his ex-teammate, Darnold in the end zone, and the quarterback threw the ball into the dirt, generating an intentional grounding penalty for a safety, cutting Carolina's lead to 3-2. 

The Giants would take a 5-3 lead on their ensuing possession on a Graham Gano field goal with 12:57 to play before the half. 

While the Giants were sloppy at times in this game, Daniel Jones was overall solid. He even caught a 16-yard pass from Dante Pettis with 4:53 to go in the third quarter that helped keep the chains moving on an impressive 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, that culminated with Jones hitting Pettis from five yards out to make it 12-3. 

Devontae Booker was equally impressive on the ground for Big Blue. With no Saquon Barkley, Booker ran for 51 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown that put the game firmly away at 25-3. 

The Giants face the Kansas City Chiefs next Monday night. And there is question right now as to whether quarterback Patrick Mahomes will play after sustaining a nasty head injury in the Chiefs 27-3 loss to Tennessee on Sunday.