Joe Barro ran for 12 TDs and the Bengals defense outscored the Giants, 17-7.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Joe Burrow made enough plays and the stout Bengals defense stepped up and got a much-needed win that gave Cincinnati some hope after a disappointing start.

the burro Made a career-long 47-yard run on the opening possession, and Chase Brown added a game-clinching 30-yard touchdown run one play that luckily went out of bounds in Sunday night's 17-7 victory over the New York Giants.

“We really needed it,” Barro said after the Bengals improved to 2-4. “I don't want to say that if we had lost we would have been out of it, but we'll be scratching and clawing for the rest of the year. We're still really in but it was good to get the win. It's great to see our defense step up like that. They've taken some heat over the past few weeks. They played great tonight.”

Evan McPherson contributed to a fumbled snap and hold after a 37-yard field goal in the third quarter that he missed on a potential game-winning kick a week ago.

Rookie Tyron Tracy ran for a 1-yard touchdown for the Giants (2-4), who are winless in three games and have scored one touchdown. They failed to take advantage of a Bengals defense that ranked 31st in the league in scoring.

The Giants punted four times in the first half. In the second, they turned it into two downs and Greg Joseph missed two field goal attempts.

The high-scoring Bengals suffered a heartbreaking 41-38 overtime loss in visiting Baltimore, their second loss this season in which the Burrows and offense were outscored by more than 30 points. McPherson's missed kick contributed to the loss, but the Bengals couldn't stop the Ravens and Lamar Jackson.

This time, Cincinnati was led defensively by Trey Hendrickson, who had two sacks, and linebacker Jermaine Pratt, who intercepted Daniel Jones near the goal line after former Giant BJ Hill hit Jones on a throw in the first quarter.

“We just knew we had to come out and play our kind of football,” Hill said. “We were better at it. We're not perfect yet, there's still a long way to go, but we can build on this win.”

After Tracy's TD run tied the game, the Bengals quickly retook the lead when Barrow danced through the backfield to find Ja'Mar Chase for a 33-yard pass to the Giants 37. McPherson converted his forward pitch. 41 seconds left in the quarter.

New York then had a chance to tie the game, but Joseph missed a 47-yard attempt when the kick took a hard left as it was near the uprights.

The Giants had one more chance to tie it late in the fourth quarter, but a crossing pass to Darius Slayton was broken up by DJ Turner.

The Giants, who hadn't scored a touchdown in their first 10 quarters this season, finally found the end zone on Tracy's 1-yard run with 5:48 left in the third quarter. It capped a 16-play, 79 drive that featured two fourth-down conversions by Tracy.

Baro put the Bengals ahead with his legs. After scrambling for the first time on the third play from scrimmage, he was untouched as he rumbled 47 yards for a TD on third-and-18.

“I saw an opening, saw it in man coverage,” said Barro, who led the Bengals with 55 yards on four carries. “I was able to scream through there and find the end zone.”

Twelve's previous longest rushes were 23 yards twice in a career starting in 2020.

The Giants played without playmaking rookie receiver Malik Nabers (concussion) and starting running back Devin Singletary (groin) for the second straight week without Nabers.

“We didn't score enough points offensively and that starts with me,” coach Brian Double said. “It's hard to win games when you score seven points, and that's the reality of it.”

Jones went 22 of 41 for 205 yards and he led New York with 56 yards rushing on 11 carries. Twelve had similar numbers – 19 of 28 for 208 yards – but was good enough when it mattered.

injury

Bengals: Burrow was evaluated in the sideline medical tent after a major hit by Brian Barnes but returned for the next series.

Giants: Slayton was evaluated for a concussion and is back.

Next up

Bengals: Next Sunday at Cleveland.

Giants: Host their former star Saquon Barkley and Philadelphia next Sunday.

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