It is not often that Eli Manning needs to hit the X-ray room after a game, but he did following Sunday’s 23-20 overtime loss to the Jets. Manning did not disclose what part of his body needed to get checked out.
“Just to see if anything was broken,’’ Manning said, “but it’s all good.’’
Manning did take a big hit by linebacker David Harris on a 2-yard scramble late in the third quarter but said that was no issue. The X-rays came back negative, and the Giants’ indestructible quarterback goes on after his 178th consecutive regular-season start. Manning did not win the quarterback duel with Ryan Fitzpatrick, and his offense was able to produce only 13 points in four quarters and OT.
“We’ve just got to find a way to make critical plays in the game and in the fourth quarter,’’ Manning said, “and we haven’t been able to make enough of them to win these tight games.’’
Rookie LT Ereck Flowers was forced out in the third quarter with a sprained ankle. That meant Justin Pugh had to move from left guard to left tackle and Dallas Reynolds came off the bench to play left guard. … With Bobby Hart making his first career start, it was the first time since the 1970 merger the Giants started two rookies at offensive tackle. … The Giants had their five-game winning streak to the Jets ended. … Odell Beckham Jr. has five consecutive games with at least 100 receiving yards, a franchise record. Beckham also now has the most receptions (169) in his first two seasons of any player in NFL history.
Jason Pierre-Paul, for the first time, lined up often at left defensive end, moving from the right side. He notched his first fumble recovery of the season.
“He got me a few times, but he’s a hell of a player, man,’’ Jets RT Breno Giacomini said. “His get-off is the best get-off I’ve seen in a long time. He’s just a great player. Credit to him, he was balling today.’’
Dwayne Harris became the first Giants player in 60 years with a punt and kickoff return for a touchdown in the same season. He joins Emlen Tunnell (1951) and Jimmy Patton (1955) as the only Giants with that rare double. … Rueben Randle did not start the second half; he was replaced by Hakeem Nicks. … For the first time this season, the Giants had Beckham back on punt returns along with Harris. … Pugh, on how tough it is to lose to the Jets: “Yeah, because you see ’em around town. I got to see ’em at charity events, I feel like I was getting after some of their guys up front and I was feeling good about it. Hey, they won the game, hats off to them, they beat us. It’s a tough one, yeah, for sure. For sure. It’s no fun.’’