Avoiding a third consecutive loss to open the 2024-25 NFL Season will be the top priority for the New York Giants (0-2) this weekend as they take on the Cleveland Browns (1-1) in the final game of their two game road trip. This game will be broadcast on FOX across several regional zones, so audiences should look at their local network schedule for more information. Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM EST on September 22nd at Huntington Bank Stadium.
Only one of these teams managed to record a win last weekend, as the Browns pulled off an 18-13 road triumph over Jacksonville while New York dropped a heartbreaking 21-18 decision to the Commanders. Cleveland jumped up the AFC North standings with the victory, as both Cincinnati and Baltimore let fourth quarter leads slip away. Meanwhile, the Giants sit in the basement of the tough NFC East after two straight defeats.
Both offenses haven’t had much success through the first couple weeks of the regular season, as neither team has managed to score more than 18 points in a single game. However, both franchises did see improved play from their respective quarterbacks in Week 2, as both Daniel Jones and Deshaun Watson performed noticeably better than they did to start the year.
Matchup Details, Betting Market Information and Where to Watch
Oddsmakers opened this game up with the Giants listed as 6.5-point road underdogs. The spread hasn’t moved at all after early betting, as New York is currently available at +6.5 on most sportsbooks. The total for this matchup is 38.5 points. Viewers hoping to watch the game should note that it will be televised exclusively on FOX. In Canada, the game will also be available on DAZN.
New York Giants Can’t Hold On Late Versus Commanders
Despite a vastly improved performance on both sides of the ball, New York couldn’t find a way to record their first win of the season on the road in Washington last Sunday afternoon. The Giants went up 18-15 to start the fourth quarter after a Wan’Dale Robinson touchdown propelled them into the lead, but a critical third down drop by Malik Nabers forced a punt and allowed the Commanders to kick a game-winning field goal as time expired.
Besides the unforced error, Nabers had one of the best offensive performances league-wide in Week 2, as the rookie exploded for 127 receiving yards and a touchdown on ten receptions. Quarterback Daniel Jones also looked decent, throwing for 178 yards and two touchdowns through the air while also adding five carries for 32 rushing yards on the ground.
On the other side of the ball, the Giants did a great job keeping Washington out of the end zone despite allowing Brian Robinson Jr. to rack up 133 rushing yards on 17 carries. However, they did surrender seven field goals to kicker Austin Seibert after the Commanders stalled in the red zone.
Cleveland Browns Much Better Defensively In Road Victory Over Jags
The Browns got back to .500 overall in Week 2, grinding out a hard-fought 18-13 road victory over Jacksonville after allowing the Cowboys to score 33 points in Week 1. QB Deshaun Watson finally managed to find some results on the ground, averaging four yards per carry while also adding a rushing touchdown. Jerry Jeudy led the way for the receiving corps, hauling in five catches for 73 yards.
The running back tandem of Jerome Ford and D’Onta Foreman led the way on the ground for Cleveland, combining for 106 total rushing yards on 20+ carries. Nick Chubb is still recovering from the season-ending knee injury he suffered in 2023, but is expected to be back in the lineup at some point before the halfway mark of the regular season.
The Browns had a fantastic outing defensively in Week 2, limiting the Jags to well under 350 total yards of offense and just 13 points. Cleveland was especially strong defending against the run, holding RB Travis Etienne Jr. to only 52 rushing yards on 13 total carries.
Our Giants vs Browns NFL Betting Prediction and Pick
At first glance, there doesn’t look to be a lot of value on either side against the spread in this particular matchup as the market looks pretty efficient overall. However, when considering the fact that both of these offenses are still struggling to do much damage on the scoreboard, rolling the dice and taking a shot with the 6.5 points is probably the best play overall.
The Giants definitely seemed to figure out a couple of their issues on offense against Washington last weekend, with Jones repeatedly looking to connect with breakout star Malik Nabers. It should also be noted that veteran RB Devin Singletary also helped the Giants successfully establish the run game, churning out 95 yards and a touchdown on 15 total carries.
Against the Spread Betting Market Tip: Giants +6.5
New York also looked noticeably improved on the defensive side of the ball after getting torched by the Vikings in Week 1, as they kept the Commanders out of the end zone for four consecutive quarters. Of course, a case can easily be made that their improvements on both offense and defense were simple due to a better matchup against a weak opponent, but I still think they can keep pace with a Browns offense dealing with their own issues.
Ultimately, I have faith that the Giants can put up enough points to keep things close against a Cleveland team that is still struggling to find offensive consistency with Watson under center. The Browns have yet to find a permanent solution on the ground without Nick Chubb, while the absence of injured David Njoku gives them one fewer weapon over the middle. After weighing all of these factors together, I fully expect a defensive battle that stays close throughout. Nabers and Jones showed me enough chemistry against Washington last Sunday to take the road underdog and the points here in Week 3 – give me the Giants to cover!
