Giants vs. Bears score, takeaways: Brian Daboll, Daniel Jones move to 3-1 after outlasting Chicago

New York bounces back in Week 4 despite multiple quarterback injuries

The New York Giants moved to 3-1 on Sunday, as they defeated the Chicago Bears 20-12. As the final score indicates, this was a low-scoring affair that was dominated by defense, and a few splash plays coming on the ground. Giants quarterback Daniel Jones scored the only two touchdowns of the game with his legs, finishing with 68 rushing yards on six carries. However, he did suffer a left ankle injury in the second half, and his replacement, Tyrod Taylor, exited with what the team confirmed to be a concussion. The Giants had to go Wildcat formation for a series, but they still found a way to fight back into the win column. 

Saquon Barkley continued his magnificent 2022 campaign, as he rushed 31 times for 146 yards, while adding 16 yards through the air. With the wide receiver issues the Giants have, Barkley has established himself as the engine that makes this offense go, and he made several clutch plays Sunday afternoon that kept New York on the field. 

For the Bears, they did a bit more through the air this week. Justin Fields reached a season high in passing yards on his first six passing attempts, and finished completing 10 of 21 passes for 163 yards. Darnell Mooney reappeared in the offense, and caught four passes for 94 yards. With David Montgomery out due to injury, Khalil Herbert took over at running back Sunday. He rushed for 77 yards on 19 carries, and caught a pass for 24 yards as well.

Let's take a deeper look at what went down in New Jersey Sunday. 

Why the Giants won

The 'boots and Barkley are the answer to this question. It was fascinating to watch the Giants offense in the first half, as head coach Brian Daboll kept dialing up these play-action bootleg rollouts, and they worked like a charm nearly every time. The Bears bit on play-action more often than not, which allowed for Jones to use the rollout as a sort of option play. He could take off into open space with his legs, or dump the ball off to a tight end streaking across the middle. 

It was off of these bootleg plays that Jones scored both of his rushing touchdowns. 

Jones couldn't run the offense alone, of course, as Barkley racked up 105 yards from scrimmage just in the first half, and finished with 162 scrimmage yards. The 14 points scored in the first half basically put the game away for the Giants. That's not considered a fast start against many opponents, but it was against the Bears.

Why the Bears lost

It must have been maddening for Bears fans to watch bootleg after bootleg work in the first half. Head coach Matt Eberflus is supposed to be a defensive-minded guy, but he didn't adjust until he got his defense back in the locker room at halftime. 

Another reason why the Bears lost this game was because of their struggles in the red zone. They went 0-for-3 when inside the 20, and seemed like they were playing for field goals the entire matchup. There was even an instance on third-and-6 where Chicago dialed up an underneath tight end screen on the Giants' 14-yard line that went for a loss of 3 yards. I mean, what? 

Turning point

With both Jones and Taylor injured, the Giants went three-and-out in the shadow of their own goal post up eight points with about two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Here, they needed punter Jamie Gillan to come in and fire off a nice boot. He did exactly that, and Bears rookie returner Velus Jones Jr. muffed the kick. It was recovered by the Giants, who took more time off the clock and put the game on ice.

Play of the game

If you weren't aware, Barkley is back. He came into this week with the most scrimmage yards in the NFL, and had another impressive performance Sunday. Check out this broken screen play, where he broke a tackle in the backfield, then reversed field and turned it into a 15-yard gain on third-and-9. Playmaker.  

Giants forced to go Wildcat

After Jones suffered his ankle injury in the third quarter, Taylor took over under center. Jones was listed as questionable to return, but was forced to once Taylor appeared to suffer a concussion. Jones had to be on the field since he could call in the plays with his helmet, but he didn't line up at quarterback immediately. Instead, he took the spot of a wide receiver while Barkley and Co. went Wildcat. 

Jones did play a few snaps at "quarterback," but he did not throw a single pass after suffering his injury. It's something to keep an eye on in practice next week.

What's next

The Bears will stay on the road next week to take on the 3-1 Minnesota Vikings -- who are coming off of a thrilling victory over the New Orleans Saints in London. As for the Giants, they travel to London next week to take on the Green Bay Packers. 

[Oct 2, 2022 at 3:52 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

TURNING POINT OF THE GAME

[Oct 2, 2022 at 3:38 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

With Taylor out it looks like the Giants are running wild-cat! 

[Oct 2, 2022 at 3:37 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Jones returns to the game, but as a wide receiver! Still looks like he's walking gingerly 

[Oct 2, 2022 at 3:21 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Team is listing Jones as questionable to return. 

[Oct 2, 2022 at 3:21 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Wow Tyrod Taylor is in. But we have a quarter break coming here so we will see what happens. 

[Oct 2, 2022 at 3:18 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

I'm going to guess that Daniel Jones is going to come back and play, but this injury is going to clearly affect how he runs the ball. Both of New York's touchdowns have come from him running. 

[Oct 2, 2022 at 3:15 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

So interesting. If the Bears or Giants are facing a third and relatively long, neither will attempt to move the chains. Just HB draws or underneath screens. Now it looks like Daniel Jones is limping. 

[Oct 2, 2022 at 3:12 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Jaquan Brisker is a defensive PLAYMAKER. He was assigned to the bootleg and capitalized. Versatile defender who can do several different things, and you can tell he's getting better. 

[Oct 2, 2022 at 3:11 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Darius Slayton totally ailed out on that drop. It was PI, but he should have caught it! 

[Oct 2, 2022 at 3:07 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

This second half has gone Bears FG, Giants punt, Bears punt. Not too much going. Let's see if Saquon can break one here. 

[Oct 2, 2022 at 2:58 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Great open-field tackle by Vildor and that's going to force a Giants third down. Clear emphasis on patrolling the playaction rollouts this quarter

[Oct 2, 2022 at 2:55 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

These bootlegs for the Giants are turning into option plays. Jones has been so open on his feet he's taken advantage. On that play, the Bears kept contain, but Jones dropped it off to his tight end for a gain. Play called back due to an ineligible man downfield, but still something to watch. 

[Oct 2, 2022 at 2:52 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Another field goal for the Bears. Stopped again in the red zone (0-3). 9 plays, 58 yards. 14-12 Giants. 

[Oct 2, 2022 at 2:52 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

A third and 6 underneath tight end screen in the red zone is not something I would call....

[Oct 2, 2022 at 2:50 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Another huge gainer to Darnell Mooney. He has 92 yards on 3 catches now! Justin Fields looks good off of playaction too. 

[Oct 2, 2022 at 2:42 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

HALFTIME in New Jersey:

Total yards: CHI 187 NYG 204
First downs: CHI 12 NYG 11
Rushing yards: CHI 89 NYG 143

Justin Fields: 5/11 117 yds

Daniel Jones 6 of 10 for 61 yards (2 rushing touchdowns)

Saquon Barkley 12 carries 90 yards (15 yds receiving) 

[Oct 2, 2022 at 2:29 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Another instance of Daniel Jones' teammates not helping him

[Oct 2, 2022 at 2:22 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Money Badger is BACK. Three field goals. Not sure field goals will win this contest, however. 

[Oct 2, 2022 at 2:21 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

The Bears offensive line has hurt this team today. Allowing sacks and pressures and then committing penalties. Field goal coming for the Bears. 

[Oct 2, 2022 at 2:20 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Rain is coming down in The Meadowlands. Something to watch. 

[Oct 2, 2022 at 2:17 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

That's a great defensive play by Fabian Moreau. Former Washington cornerback. 

[Oct 2, 2022 at 2:12 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Disaster for the Giants. Daboll was gonna have a chance to call some more play-action rollouts and work in the 4 minute offense, but Richie James muffs the punt. Bears now have great field position. 

[Oct 2, 2022 at 2:03 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Daniel Jones with his second touchdown of the day. I know this is shocking, but it came off of a play-action rollout. 

I mean, literally every passing play is a roll-out.

[Oct 2, 2022 at 2:01 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Saquon is insane! 

[Oct 2, 2022 at 1:59 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Brian Daboll really loves these rollouts with Daniel Jones. And the Giants are giving them up again. 

[Oct 2, 2022 at 1:57 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

How great is it to see Saquon Barkley running wild and free again? A gain of about 30 yards. He is the engine of the offense.