NFL

Giants report card: Nice recovery after slow start

Offense

Slow-starting and at times rough to watch. Eli Manning was accurate (22 of 28), but sacked three times, twice when Will Beatty was beaten. Two TDs for Andre Brown, but not many yards (35) and a lift from Peyton Hillis (6-45). Victor Cruz (6-80) and Brandon Myers (5-61, 1 TD) got cooking a bit in second half.

GRADE: C+

Defense

The target was RB Alfred Morris and he was held to 26 rushing yards, largely by Jon Beason’s 17 tackles. Robert Griffin III did some damage with his legs (12 catches, 88 yards) and with his arm (24 of 32, 207 yards) but his longest completion was only 20 yards and he managed only three points after halftime. Justin Tuck (career-high four sacks) was a beast.

GRADE: B-plus

Special teams

Very solid work by Steve Weatherford, who averaged 42 net yards on his six punts. Damontre Moore got penetration and a piece of a Sav Rocca punt late in the third quarter. Rookie Michael Cox botched a kickoff with a fumble, leading to a 10-yard return. Josh Brown hit his only field-goal attempt, from 39 yards.

GRADE: B

Coaching

No panic on the sideline after the quick 14-0 deficit. Perry Fewell’s defensive unit hung in after getting torched early by no-huddle attack. Giants should have put the game away before they did, but Tom Coughlin will take a win any way he can get it.

GRADE: B