Giants will be without key piece vs. Bengals

This is an interesting matchup, as the Giants (5-3) take on a Bengals (3-4-1) team that has mimicked the Arizona Cardinals in a lot of ways, high expectations, low results a lot of the times and a lot of trying to figure out what the hell is going on.

The Bengals (3-4-1) have been plagued with inconsistency throughout the season.

Even though Hill has shared reps with fellow running back Giovani Bernard, his contributions on offense are key in close football games. A win on Monday Night solidifies their position and shows that this team is for real. This game will feature two of the best wide receivers in football as Odell Beckham Jr. and A.J.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) runs against Cleveland Browns cornerback Jamar Taylor, left, in the first half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati.

We’ve entered the third season of the annual South Point-lined Play of the Day competition, effective July 1.

As Paul Schwartz of the New York Post wrote on November 13, 2016, “The Giants will be on a major run or have their momentum slammed shut after this one”.

Cruz was injured while making a 40-yard reception down the right sideline against the Eagles.

On the opening drive for the Giants, they gashed the Bengals’ defense easily.

The Bengals missed a couple more opportunities early in the fourth quarter on the drive where Sterling Shepard caught a three-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal. With Eifert appearing back to full health, look for him to be heavily involved moving forward. However, Jones is reporting that Cruz’s absence is a precautionary move as the Giants are planning ahead with the rest of the season in mind.

The Giants held a 14-10 halftime lead but the Bengals made a fast start to the second half at MetLife Stadium when Alex Erickson broke free for an 84-yard kickoff return to give the Bengals first-and-10 on the Giants 13.

“I can tell everybody got upbeat since they came back from the bye”, cornerback Adam Jones said.

The second half started in a similar manner as the first. According to NEP, Manning ranks 21st of the 32 quarterbacks to throw at least 100 passes on the season.

The interception was Kirkpatrick’s second of the season after he didn’t have one in 2015.

Undrafted rookie Roger Lewis was already splitting snaps with Cruz last week, so he is in line for more playing time against the Bengals. Defensive lineman Will Sutton left early in the third quarter with an ankle injury. Unable to score a touchdown, the Bengals resorted to Mike Nugent, who just managed to squeeze a field goal through the uprights from 38 yards out.

-Matt Forte, Jets, had 20 carries for 98 yards in New York’s 9-6 loss to Los Angeles. Last week Perkins had 11 caries, but only managed 32 yards. Jennings has scored only once, but did miss three games midway through the season with a thumb injury.

Last week against the Eagles, the Giants had just 54 yards rushing the ball. However, over the last few weeks has seen players on both sides of the ball pick their game up.