Stafford throws for 2 TDs as Lions beat Beckham, Giants

So far, so good for Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions. Eli Manning and the New York Giants are heading in the opposite direction.

Stafford threw for two touchdowns, rookie Jamal Agnew broke the game open with an 88-yard punt return and the Lions beat the Giants 24-10 on Monday night.

The Lions (2-0) sacked Eli Manning five times and Stafford put together another big game while sending the Giants (0-2) to a second straight disappointing performance. Star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. returned from a sprained left ankle, but New York still struggled offensively.

"We did a nice job of getting in the end zone early and our defense did what they do," Stafford said.

Stafford found Marvin Jones for a 27-yard touchdown in the first quarter and passed to Eric Ebron for a go-ahead 7-yarder in the second. Matt Prater added a 56-yard field goal just before halftime that bounced off the upright, helping the Lions to a 17-7 lead at the break.

Ezekiel Ansah had three sacks as Detroit joined Atlanta and Carolina as the only unbeaten teams in the NFC through Week 2. The Lions made the playoffs last season, but finished the year with four straight losses.

Beckham, a three-time Pro Bowler who missed the season opener, had four catches for 36 yards in limited action.

Manning threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Evan Engram on the first play of the second quarter, but the rookie tight end was called for unsportsmanlike conduct for a seemingly obscene gesture. It allowed the Lions to get the ball at the Giants 45 after the kickoff went out of bounds and Stafford drove them for a second score.

New York closed to 17-10 on Aldrick Rosas' 25-yard field goal early in the second half, but it wasted a chance for a TD. The Giants had first-and-goal at the 1 and then got pushed back to the 11 on a holding penalty on a first-down run.

"We talked about playing complete, complimentary football. By no stretch of the imagination did we do that tonight," said Ben McAdoo, who led the Giants to their first playoff berth since 2011 last season in his first year as head coach. "We've got to do better. We've dug ourselves in a hole. No one feels sorry for us. We've got to find a way to get better and get better in a hurry."

Agnew then helped clinch the game for Detroit with his big return with 12:56 left, faking out New York punter Brad Wing on his way to the end zone. It was the fifth-longest punt return in team history.

Manning was 22 for 32 for 239 yards for New York, while Stafford was 15 for 21 for 122 yards. The NFL's highest-paid player threw for four touchdowns in Detroit's season-opening victory against Arizona.

INJURIES

Lions SS Tavon Wilson (shoulder) left in the second half. ... The Giants lost starting RT Bobby Hart on the opening series. LG Justin Pugh moved to tackle and Brett Jones replaced him. Giants also played without starters MLB B.J. Goodson (lower leg) and CB Janoris Jenkins (ankle-hand). Backup LB J.T. Thomas (groin) was ruled out early in the second half.

MEMORY LANE

The Giants held a halftime ceremony to honor the 10th anniversary of their 2007 Super Bowl championship team. Coach Tom Coughlin and Hall of Famer Michael Strahan brought the Lombardi Trophy onto the field. New York beat the previously undefeated New England Patriots in the title game.

UP NEXT

Lions: host the undefeated Falcons on Sunday afternoon.

Giants: at Philadelphia for Sunday afternoon game.

Record-setting Witten, Cowboys top Giants 19-3 in opener

Jason Witten scored the only touchdown while breaking the franchise record for yards receiving and the Dallas defense shackled a New York offense missing Odell Beckham Jr. in the Cowboys' 19-3 season-opening victory over the Giants on Sunday night.

Ezekiel Elliott had a rugged 104 yards rushing and another 36 receiving two days after a judge halted his six-game suspension over a domestic violence case, although last year's NFL rushing leader had already been cleared to play the opener.

Dak Prescott was turnover-free while throwing for 268 yards as the Cowboys dominated the NFC East rival that swept them during a 13-3 season that topped the NFC and was fueled by the sensational rookie years for the quarterback-running back duo. Dan Bailey kicked four field goals.

Eli Manning didn't have Beckham in his 200th straight start after his dynamic top target sprained his ankle in a preseason game. The Giants were outgained in the first half 265-49 while falling behind 16-0.

Manning was 28 of 37 for 211 yards with an interception and connected with new receiver Brandon Marshalljust once, late on a desperation drive with the outcome already settled.

Witten scored the Cowboys' first touchdown on a 12-yard catch and finished with seven catches for 59, breaking Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin's club record of 11,904 yards. Witten, already the franchise leader in catches, now has 1,096 receptions for 11,947 yards.

A 35-year-old in his 15th season, Witten is the only tight end other than Tony Gonzalez with at least 1,000 catches and 10,000 yards.

The Giants had a nearly 10-minute drive to start the second half but settled for Aldrick Rosas' 25-yard field goal after a second-down sack of Manning, Dallas' third of the game and the first of Charles Tapper's career.

Anthony Brown all but sealed the win for the Cowboys when he was the first to get his hands on a throw from Manning and won a tug-of-war with Roger Lewis Jr. for the interception midway through the fourth quarter.

Elliott had to work for his yards after the crowd cheered loudly when he was introduced and kept up the "Zeke" calls while he made his trademark feed-me gesture after first downs. His biggest play was a 30-yard catch-and-run, easily the most open field he saw against one of the league's best run defenses a year ago.

DID YOU SEE THAT?

Dallas receiver Cole Beasley made a crazy catch in the fourth quarter to keep a drive alive. He got his hand on a wobbly ball as he was approaching the sideline and reached behind his head with his left hand, trapping the ball against his shoulder pads and helmet.

STILL NO RUN GAME

Just like a year ago when the Giants finished 30th in rushing offense, they couldn't help Manning when he was under more pressure than he's been used to in recent years against the Cowboys. Paul Perkins had 16 yards on seven carries as the Giants were outgained 129-35 on the ground.

INJURIES

Cowboys: CB Orlando Scandrick left in the second quarter with a hand injury and didn't return.

UP NEXT

Giants: Home against Detroit (1-0) on Monday night next week.

Cowboys: At Denver on Sunday.

Giants' 4 interceptions key in 17-10 win over Rams in London

The New York Giants capitalized on four interceptions of Case Keenum to defeat the Los Angeles Rams 17-10 Sunday in the first NFL game played at London's home of English rugby, a sold-out and raucous Twickenham Stadium.

Keenum, coming off the best start of his career, had the Rams at the Giants' 15-yard line with 50 seconds left when he lobbed a pass in the left corner of the end zone thatDominique Rodgers-Cromartie easily picked off. Keenum's intended target, Brian Quick, failed to get the quarterback's audible and cut off his route early.

Keenum, who finished 32 of 53 for 291 yards and one touchdown, has thrown an interception on the Rams' final offensive play of the last three games. That likely will fuel debate on a potential quarterback change to overall No. 1 draft pick Jared Goff.

Fisher said he had no intention of switching quarterbacks during the bye week.

"The windows are tight and the throws have to be more precise," Fisher said of Keenum's throws. "I'll make changes at receiver before I make a change at quarterback."

The win kept the Giants (4-3) in good shape in the ultra-competitive NFC East, where no one has a losing record. The Rams (3-4) lost their third straight.

The Giants entered Sunday with the worst turnover differential in the NFC at minus-10. Then tight end Larry Donnell coughed up the ball on the Giants 35, leading to the Rams' lone touchdown, a 10-yard grab by Tavon Austin.

But the Rams were unable to build on that early edge and instead hit the self-destruct button. Keenum threw two interceptions, both off high-sailing deflections, to safety Landon Collins, and two more in the end zone to cornerback Rodgers-Cromartie. RB Todd Gurley struggled, carrying 15 times for 57 yards, his longest run an 8-yarder.

Collins returned his first pick 44 yards for a second-quarter touchdown, making several Rams miss tackles before he bowled over center Tim Barnes to draw the Giants even.

"I must have run at least 100 yards on that play," said a beaming Collins, who until Sunday had only one interception in his two-year career.

Collins' second pick set up the winning drive, which featured a 22-yard catch by Odell Beckman Jr. to the Rams 6. Rashad Jennings scored from the 1 for the Giants' only offensive touchdown.

Eli Manning had a pedestrian day, going 24 of 37 for 196 yards and no touchdowns. The Rams managed 20 first downs to the Giants' 13.

Manning said the pass rush and multiple coverage looks meant it was "tough to get into a great rhythm and hit a bunch of big plays."

"It's not one that we're necessarily going to put on our highlight tape of how we're supposed to win games, but it's a team game," Jennings said. "The defense bailed us out."

The Rams' final two possessions ended in the end-zone interceptions by Rodgers-Cromartie, the pro-Giants crowd of more than 74,000 roaring their approval.

HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE?

Los Angeles was the home team, but officials struggled to whip up a pro-Rams environment at Twickenham, where the big-screen TVs advised "Quiet please, offense at work" when the Rams had the ball - and the crowd kept up a deafening din during the Rams' two doomed final drives.

LOPSIDED START

The Giants took the field looking jet-lagged, Rams the savvy travelers. That perhaps reflected the fact Los Angeles chose to fly overnight from Detroit the previous Sunday for a full week in England, while the Giants did most of their preparations at home before arriving Friday in London.

The Giants gained a single first down in the first quarter on an 11-yard completion to Sterling Shepard. The Rams, by contrast, controlled 11:36 of the first-quarter clock, gained seven first downs with a balanced attack, and scored on their first two drives to lead 10-0 with less than 10 minutes gone.

GIANTS RUNNING WOES

New York struggled for a seventh straight week to move the ball on the ground and Giants finished with 36 yards rushing on 20 carries for a paltry 1.8 average.

GIANTS KICKER

New Giants kicker Robbie Gould made a 29-yard field goal in his only attempt and converted two extra points. He replaced Josh Brown, who was placed on the NFL's commissioner exemption list after more information surfaced about his abusive behavior toward his then-wife.

Gould, cut by the Bears in September, got the surprise recruitment call Thursday as he was taking his 3-year-old son swimming. Their first question: Did he have a valid passport?

"Getting a fresh start and being in a place like New York and playing for the Giants, as one of the charter franchises, is something special," he said.

INJURY SCARE

Giants kick returner Dwayne Harris suffered what looked like a serious injury when returning the final punt of the first half. He lay still on the ground for several minutes, was immobilized and carted off the field as teammates prayed. But he returned to field the first punt of the fourth quarter. Neither team reported any other serious injuries.

Beckham's career day, late 66-yard TD lead Giants

Odell Beckham Jr. reined in some of the emotions, the exaggerated behavior, the penalties and on-field feuds. Then he did what he does best - make big plays.

A banged-up Beckham turned a short fourth-and-1 pass into a winning 66-yard catch and run with 1:24 to play Sunday as the New York Giants snapped a three-game losing streak with a stunning 27-23 victory over the hurting Baltimore Ravens (3-3).

Beckham caught eight passes for a career-best 222 yards and two touchdowns despite having to leave the field in the first half with a hip pointer in carrying the Giants (3-3) to their 700th win in franchise history.

"I am going to go out there and play the same way every time," Beckham said of his many problems on the field this season. "I don't think I played any different besides me being injured. It was the same passing. I think because I was hurt I couldn't express it as much as I wanted to."

That's debatable. After catching a 75-yard scoring pass in the third quarter, Beckham imitated a triple jumper - playing off a line in a commercial in which he appears. He then went to the Giants' sideline and smashed the kicking net with his helmet. When it flopped to the ground, he laid under it.

After his winning catch, he took off his helmet and drew a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

The Ravens (3-3) got to the Giants 24 in the waning seconds, thanks to a questionable roughing-the-quarterback penalty on Joe Flacco, but the Giants broke up a pass in the end zone.

The Giants were on the verge of a fourth straight loss after Terrance West scored on a 2-yard run with 2:04 to play, giving the Ravens a short-lived 23-20 lead.

West's second short touchdown run came three plays after Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was flagged for a questionable pass interference at the New York 8.

But Beckham came through on a call Eli Manning changed at the line of scrimmage. Cornerback Tavon Youngeither slipped or was hurt covering him.

Ravens safety Eric Weddle said Beckham should not have gotten inside on the quick cross from right to left.

"Hey, Odell made some amazing plays, you got to credit him," Weddle said. "We held him down in the first half. We had some guys go down. The guys behind them have to step up. That's why we're here. We play an aggressive style defense. We man guys up. We just didn't get it done."

Beckham did.

"He is a playmaker, he is a game changer and he did exactly that today," said linebacker Jonathan Casillas, who stopped West on fourth-and-goal from the 1 earlier in the quarter.

Flacco (26 of 48 for 307 yards) drove the Ravens to the Giants 24 in the waning seconds. But his final pass was knocked down in the end zone.

Manning (32 of 46 for 403 yards) also a threw 24-yard touchdown pass to Roger Lewis Jr . Josh Brown had field goals of 21 and 31 yards, the latter set up by a 43-yard catch by Beckham.

Justin Tucker kicked field goals of 23, 39 and 35 yards in Marty Mornhinweg's first game as Baltimore offensive coordinator.

BYRD HONORED

Before the game, the Giants held a moment of silence for former Jets defensive end Dennis Byrd. The 50-year-old Byrd, who walked again after being paralyzed in a game, was killed in an automobile accident Saturday. The Giants and Jets have played in the same facility for more than three decades.

INJURIES

The Ravens came into the game without five starters: WR Steve Smith Sr., T Ronnie Stanley, G Marshal Yanda, Returner Devin Hester Sr. and LB C.J. Mosley. CB Jimmy Smith did not play in the second half because of a concussion.

DELAYS

Fans were delayed getting into MetLife Stadium because of an investigation into a fatal accident that happened around 3:30 a.m. on the major road next to the facility. It was not cleared until roughly two hours before game time.

NUMBERS

Manning's TD pass to Lewis was the 300th of his career. The win was his 100th. His 32 completions tied for the fifth-highest total of his career. He now has completed 3,846 passes, moving him past Drew Bledsoe (3,839) and into eighth place on the NFL's all-time list. Beckham's 222 yards receiving were the second most in Giants history: Del Shofner had 269 yards vs. Washington on Oct. 28, 1962.

NEXT UP

In a scheduling oddity, the Ravens are back at MetLife Stadium to play the Jets next Sunday.

The Giants head to London, where they will be the visitors against the Rams in an early game on Sunday, with a 9:30 a.m. EDT kickoff.

Offense choppy, Packers D gets to Giants in 23-16 win

The Green Bay Packers appear to have the makings of a defense that could power a deep run into the playoffs.

It's the offense, for once, that is looking to maintain consistency.

Aaron Rodgers threw two touchdown passes, and the offensive line pushed around the New York Giants' front and powered the ground game in a 23-16 win on Sunday night over the New York Giants.

Rodgers was 23 of 45 for 259 yards and also threw two interceptions. Jordy Nelson and Davante Adams each had highlight-reel touchdown catches to help the Packers (3-1) build an 11-point halftime lead.

But the offense was mired by uncharacteristic drops, and couple of big plays were called back by penalties. Mason Crosby kicked three field goals, including two in the fourth quarter.

"It is all about winning," Rodgers said before adding, "We had a lot of opportunities tonight. ... We have to execute in the passing game as well as we're doing up front in the run game."

The Packers' defense, though, kept limiting the Giants.

New York's Eli Manning was 18 of 35 for 199 yards and was sacked three times.

"Defense, particularly our young guys in the secondary, did a heck of a job," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "Run defense was there, pass rush was there. We were able to play good red zone defense."

The Giants (2-3) looked out of sorts until a hurry-up drive that ended with Beckham's 8-yard touchdown catch with 2:54 left.

"We didn't make enough throws or contested catches. We need to play and execute better," coach Ben McAdoo said.

EYES ON ODELL

Beckahm's first touchdown catch of the season stood on replay review after the receiver jumped high in the air for Manning's pass and was ruled inbounds after straddling the back line of the end zone.

Beckham raised his both arms in the air in celebration after watching the replay on the Lambeau Field video board. He finished with five catches for 56 yards.

Perhaps more importantly for the Giants, Beckham didn't throw an attention-grabbing tantrum like the meltdowns he had the previous two weeks against Minnesota and Washington.

STAT LINE

Randall Cobb was the Packers' most consistent receiver with nine catches for 108 yards. With the Giants missing starting safety Nat Berhe because of an injury, Cobb excelled in his specialty of working the middle of the field and turning short passes into long gains.

Cobb appeared to be OK on the sideline after taking a hit to the back of his head or neck on a 13-yard catch on third-and-10 with about 2 minutes left.

SHAKING IT UP

The Packers' 16-play, 75-yard drive to open the game took up the first 8:42 of the game, the team's longest scoring drive by time on the season that ended with a touchdown . Coach Mike McCarthy threw different wrinkles at the Giants by using different personnel combinations on the opening drive, instead of sticking with the usual three-wide receiver combination of Nelson, Randall Cobb and Adams, with Eddie Lacy in the backfield.

HEY ROOKIES

Two rookies teamed up for a turnover late in the first half for the Packers that set up a field goal. LinebackerKyler Fackrell, a third-round draft pick, forced a fumble after sacking Eli Manning on second-and-10 from the Giants 39. Defensive tackle Kenny Clark, the Packers' first-round pick this year recovered the fumble at the 31 with 1:15 left. Crosby kicked a 44-yard field goal with 3 seconds left to give Green Bay a 17-6 lead.

ON THE CORNER

Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins had two interceptions in the first half, one coming on third-and-6 at the Giants 21 after a pass deflected off Nelson's hands . It was Jenkins' first two-interception game since his rookie season with St. Louis, when he had two against Arizona on Nov. 25, 2012.

INJURY REPORT

Giants: The battered secondary lost CB Eli Apple to a groin injury in the second quarter. The rookie missed New York's 24-10 loss last week at Minnesota because of a hamstring injury, and had been listed as questionable for the Packers game. ... Dwayne Harris was taken to the locker room two separate times in the second half, for X-rays on his jaw and toe. ... DT Damon Harrison was in the locker room for an unknown injury for much of the Packers' game-opening touchdown drive. He returned for the Giants' second defensive series.

Packers: Backup S Chris Banjo (hamstring) limped off after the opening kickoff of the second half. ... Lacy left late in the third quarter with a left ankle injury. He had 81 yards on 11 carries, including 77 yards on nine carriers in the first half.

Vikings deny Beckham, mystify Manning in 24-10 win vs. NYG

Minnesota's defense denied Odell Beckham Jr. all night and forced two turnovers that led to 10 points, and the Vikings mystified Eli Manning yet again during a 24-10 victory Monday over the New York Giants.

Sam Bradford threw a touchdown pass to tight end Kyle Rudolph for the third straight game and kept his turnover-free streak since joining Minnesota intact, helping the Vikings (4-0) lead from start to finish after falling behind in each of their first three wins and record their first 4-0 start since 2009. The Vikings, Eagles and Broncos are the only remaining unbeatens.

"I think they like to compete. I think they like to go out there and prove to everybody that they can be talked about with other good teams in this league," Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said.

Beckham, who has yet to score this season, was smothered by cornerback Xavier Rhodes and had a career-low 23 yards on three catches.

"It's not a one-on-one game. It's 11-on-11, and we got beat 11-on-11 today," Beckham said.

Victor Cruz and Sterling Shepard were quiet, too, and Manning was erratic as ever while finishing 25 for 45 for just 261 yards. Rhodes picked him off in the third quarter , the 15th interception for Manning in eight career starts against the Vikings. He's 2-6 with only five touchdown passes.

Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon each ran for a touchdown as the Vikings rushed for a season-high 104 yards to strike their best balance of the season as they continue to craft a post-Adrian Peterson strategy without their injured veteran running back. Bradford went 26 for 36 for 262 yards, thriving with quick-release throws behind an offensive line that protected better than it had in any of the previous three games.

"I didn't get hit, hardly at all," Bradford said. "The game ball should go to those guys."

The Vikings, who have allowed only 50 points in four games and rank second in the league in that category, have an NFL-best turnover margin of plus-10. The Giants (2-2) dropped to minus-8 for the season, including a muffed punt in the first quarter by Dwayne Harris that was forced by Vikings wide receiver Cordarelle Patterson in his new role on the coverage team.

"A good team on the road, especially this team, you can't give them two possessions," Giants coach Ben McAdoo said. "The message is getting through. I just think we need to take care of the ball."

RUDOLPH

Rudolph's wife, Jordan, was scheduled to give birth to twins by induction on Tuesday morning. He joked he wanted a second touchdown catch, one for each of his soon-arriving children. Bradford might as well be their godfather with the way he's connected with his sure-handed tight end.

"We kind of had a bond early," Bradford said, adding: "He's just such a big target."

MONDAYS WITH MOSS

Former Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss, at the game as an analyst for ESPN, blew the ceremonial Gjallarhorn prior to kickoff to get the crowd going early. Fifteen years ago, Moss caught three touchdown passes on a Monday night game as the Vikings beat the Giants 28-16.

"This is a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful place," Beckham said. "The atmosphere they created, I love it. You live for it, you thrive in it, and tonight we didn't have that opportunity."

STRUGGLING SECONDARY

The Giants defensive backs are so depleted by injuries that wide receivers were playing safety in practice this week. Andrew Adams, promoted from the practice squad last week, started at safety for Nat Berhe. Trevin Wade had trouble all game, starting at cornerback for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Wade was beaten byCharles Johnson for receptions of 30 and 40 yards, had a pass interference penalty on Rudolph and got away with one on an early incompletion to Adam Thielen.

WALSH, WIDE LEFT

Blair Walsh's 46-yard field goal attempt failed early in the third quarter, already his fifth miss (three field goals, two extra points) of the season. The interception by Rhodes gave him the chance to make a 44-yarder less than 3 1/2 minutes later.

INJURY UPDATE

Giants TE Larry Donnell (concussion) was blown off his feet in the second quarter by blitzing Vikings LBAnthony Barr and quickly ruled out for the rest of the game. Donnell was obviously woozy as he walked slowly to the sideline.

Vikings RT Andre Smith (right elbow) was hurt in the first quarter and was replaced by Jeremiah Sirles.

UP NEXT

The Giants play at Green Bay (2-1) on Sunday night.

The Vikings host Houston (3-1) on Sunday afternoon.

Redskins avoid 0-3 start thanks to INTs, Hopkins' 5th FG

All the Washington Redskins needed to avoid a dreaded 0-3 start was a couple of fourth-quarter interceptions by backups and five field goals from a guy who had never made that many in a game.

Dustin Hopkins kicked a 37-yard field goal with 1:51 to play and the defending NFC East champion Redskins got a much-needed 29-27 win over the penalty- and error-prone New York Giants (2-1) on Sunday.

"We needed to get that first win bad," said cornerback Greg Toler, who played most of the game after starter Bashaud Breeland hurt an ankle early. "We couldn't lose the first three, and we hung in there and got some real contributions from everybody. You get everyone stepping up. The coaches treat all of us the same, coaches us up whether first- or second- or third- or fourth-string like we are starters."

The guys who really stepped up were linebacker Su'a Cravens and cornerback Quinton Dunbar.

After Hopkins put Washington ahead, the Giants got a first down at their own 39 with 69 seconds to play. On the next play, Manning went over the middle to Shane Vereen and Cravens dived in front of the halfback and picked it off.

Earlier in the quarter, Dunbar jumped a seam pattern pass to tight end Will Tye in the end zone and intercepted it, ending a Giants drive at the Washington 15 courtesy of an Odell Beckham catch-and-run. It kept Washington ahead 26-24.

Josh Brown would put New York ahead with a 30-yard field goal midway through the quarter, but Washington came back.

It was a game marked by Giants mistakes. They turned the ball over three times and had 11 penalties for 128 yards.

"Any time you lose against any team, no matter where they are at, it is a tough one to swallow," receiver Victor Cruzsaid. "Especially one like this where we had some opportunities to put some points on the board, but you win some and you lose some, you have to learn from the losses and move on."

The worst of the Giants' penalties was a third-down hit to the helmet by Olivier Vernon that kept the Redskins' game-winning drive alive.

"Everyone loves touchdowns. I love touchdowns," Hopkins said. "When they call on me, I do the best I can to put the team in a position to win, whether they send me out there five times or once, it's OK."

Shane Vereen scored on a 1-yard run, Manning threw a 23-yard TD to Shepard and Orleans Darkwa scored on a 2-yard run for New York.

Kirk Cousins threw touchdown passes of 44 yards to DeSean Jackson and 55 to Jamison Crowder as the banged-up Redskins handed new Giants coach Ben McAdoo his first loss.

This was an NFC East matchup that see-sawed the entire second half after Washington rallied from a 21-9 deficit.

BECKHAM VS. NORMAN: The fourth quarter was wild with the matchup of Beckham and Redskins cornerback Josh Norman, leading to big plays by Beckham, an ejection of Giants center Weston Richburg and a personal foul against Norman for a big hit on Sterling Shepard.

"We got it in us. We are fighters, fighters to the end. Scrapping. Savagery as they come," Norman said. "Real gritty, all the way down to the bone and gristle. Fight, fight, fight."

In the end, Washington made the big plays in avoiding the 0-3 start. Only three teams since 1990 have made the playoffs after losing three in row to start the season.

INJURIES GALORE: The Redskins lost four players to injuries in the game: C Kory Lichtensteiger (ankle), G Shawn Lauvao (calf), CB Bashaud Breeland (ankle) and S DeAngelo Hall (knee). The Giants had CBs Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (groin) and Eli Apple (hamstring) leave.

SPECIAL TEAMS: It was an exciting day for the guys from specials. Crowder's 50-yard punt return and a 31-yard fourth-down pass by punter Tress Way to Dunbar set up two of Hopkins' field goals. Dunbar, however, muffed a punt that led to Vereen's TD early in the game. The

Giants had a blocked punt by Romeo Okwara nullified with just over 11 minutes to play by a personal foul againstAndrew Adams, who was added to the roster Saturday.

NEAR-COSTLY GAMBLE: The Redskins lost a cheap-shot field goal at the end of the first half when they elected to run a play from the Giants 4 with 6 seconds left. Jason Pierre-Paul had a sack and forced fumble on Cousins and the clock ran out.

NUMBERS: Cousins finished 21 of 35 for 296 yards. Manning was 25 of 38 for 350. The Giants gained 457 yards in failing to gain their 700th franchise win. The Redskins gained 403 yards and had the ball for 33:26.

Eli to Cruz sets up Giants win again, 16-13 over Saints

 If you missed Victor Cruz's clutch return to the NFL last week after missing more than a season, the 29-year-old New York Giants receiver offered an encore in Week 2.

Cruz, who had a winning fourth-quarter touchdown catch against Dallas last week, hauled in a 34-yard third-down pass from Eli Manning to set up Josh Brown's winning 23-yard field goal as time expired and the Giants got off to their first 2-0 start since 2009 with a 16-13 win over New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

"I just wanted to work my way in, catch things that are in front of me, make the plays that are presented to me," said Cruz, who had four catches for 91 yards. "To make the game-winning catch a week ago and today to make a pretty decisive catch on the sideline to seal the game, I couldn't draw it up any other way. I just go out and play the game and I think I'm getting better as the weeks go on."

Brown's third field goal capped an 11-play, 70-yard drive that featured two key third-down passes by Manning and a pass interference call on a pass toOdell Beckham Jr.

The game was also redemption for the Giants' defense. After allowing Drew Brees to throw for 511 yards and an NFL-tying seven touchdowns, New York limited him to one touchdown, 263 yards passing and 288 yards in total team offense in handing the Saints their second straight loss.

"It always comes down to a few plays but literally, we needed one more play in each of those games, and we are potentially sitting there at 2-0," said Brees, who did not complete a pass longer than 23 yards.

The Saints rallied to tie it twice in the fourth quarter. A 17-yard touchdown pass from Brees to Willie Snead IV evened things at 10 early in the quarter. After Brown, who returned from a one-game suspension, gave New York a 13-10 lead with a 19-yard field goal on the next series, Brees led an eight-play, 47-yard drive that ended with Will Lutz kicking a 45-yarder to tie it with 2:54 to play.

The Giants dominated the first half, but they were in danger of falling behind just before halftime when James Laurinaitis recovered Manning's fumble at the New York 25 after he was sacked by Michael Mauti.

An offensive pass interference on first down forced Lutz to attempt a 38-yard field goal. Defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins came up the middle and blocked it and Janoris Jenkins jogged 65 yards for a go-ahead touchdown with 2:30 left in the half.

Lutz hit a 39-yarder late in the half to get the Saints on the board.

The Saints forced three turnovers, and still only scored 13 points.

"It's very satisfying," Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie said. "That guy's a Hall of Famer. Anytime we can perform like that, you've got to give credit to yourself."

SPECIAL TEAMS: The last time the Giants returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown was Dec. 7, 2008, when Kevin Dockery returned one 71 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles. Coincidentally, Gene Steratore was also the referee in that game.

SECONDARY CONCERNS: The Saints are hurting at cornerback. Delvin Breaux is out with a broken leg, and fellow starter P.J. Williams left in the first quarter against New York with a possible concussion and concern about his spine. Recently signed Sterling Moore and reserves DeVante Harris and Ken Crawley finished the game.

MORE BREES: Brees finished 29 of 44. The 37-year-old passed Dan Marino (61,361 yards) for No. 3 in NFL history.

VICTOR: The chants of "Cruzzz" greeted Cruz in his first game at MetLife Stadium since 2014. However, the 29-year old who caught the game winner against Dallas last weekend, fumbled at the end of a 40-yard catch after being hit by Crawley, spoiling his biggest play, until he came through at the end.

GIANTS BIG THREE: Cruz, Beckham and rookie Sterling Shepard combined for 294 yards and no touchdowns.