Rookie Malik Nabers catches 2 TD passes from Daniel Jones as Giants hold off banged-up Browns 21-15

CLEVELAND (AP) — There's one play that works better than all the others for the New York Giants: throw the ball anywhere in the vicinity of Malik Nabers.

The rookie wide receiver caught two touchdown passes from Daniel Jones, made a sensational grab over a defender down the sideline and even broke up a potential interception as New York held off the Cleveland Browns 21-15 on Sunday for its first win.

Jones and Nabers connected twice in the first half as the Giants (1-2) built a 21-7 lead before holding on for dear life.

“I have a lot of trust in him going up and getting the ball,” said Jones, who completed 24 of 34 passes for 236 yards as New York shook off a loss at Washington that prompted a week of criticism toward coach Brian Daboll.

It wasn't easy.

Despite losing three offensive linemen to injuries, Deshaun Watson rallied the Browns (1-2) and Cleveland had three chances to take the lead in the fourth quarter. But the Giants recovered a fumble and stopped the Browns twice on downs.

The Giants were hardly perfect. They fumbled the opening kickoff and fell behind 7-0 in the first 11 seconds, and newly signed kicker Greg Joseph missed 48-yard field goal that could have helped ice the game.

“Just a normal NFL game,” Daboll said with a straight face.

Nabers is anything but normal.

One of the Giants' only bright spots through two games, the first-round pick shined again with eight catches for 78 yards, including an incredible grab in the corner of the end zone for his first touchdown.

At 21 years, 56 days, he also became the youngest wide receiver in NFL history to have two TD receptions.

Nabers said Jones gave him specific instructions on the plays in which he was targeted.

“He said, ‘It’s you or nobody,’” Nabers said.

Late in the first half, Nabers snatched the ball away from Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. for a 28-yard reception.

“One hell of a catch,” Daboll said. “When you have a guy like that, it doesn't really matter the matchup. Throw the ball up to him and trust he's going to get it.”

A few plays later, Nabers scored on a 3-yard pass from Jones with his leaping, twisting grab in the back of the end zone.

Nabers smiled when asked if knew he had it all the way.

“I seen where it was going and I was like, eh," Nabers said.

While those catches were noteworthy, Daboll said Nabers' biggest play was breaking up an ill-advised pass by Jones that Cleveland nearly intercepted deep in Giants territory.

“For him to have the awareness to knock the ball down, that plays says more to me about Malik than some of the other things,” Daboll said. “Everyone can see the touchdowns, but the unselfish play, the smart play he made was huge.”

The Giants' defensive front did its job, sacking Watson eight times as the Browns had their second poor performance at home in three weeks — and some major injuries piled up.

Cleveland's starting left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee) and right guard Wyatt Teller (knee) were hurt along with backup tackle James Hudson III. That forced coach Kevin Stefanski to shuffle his line in front of Watson, who went 21 of 37 for 196 yards and two TDs.

More troubling, All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett may have aggravated injuries to his feet by playing. He was set to undergo an MRI on Monday, and a significant injury to Garrett could alter Cleveland's season.

“A whole lot of things going on,” Garrett said when asked about his feet. “It’s part of the game. I’m not gonna make excuses. Excuses don’t win this game.”

Other than the fumble on the opening kickoff, the Giants dominated the first half.

Jones was nearly perfect, completing 17 of 19 passes — 12 in a row at one point.

New York's defense kept the pressure on Watson, sacking him four times with Brian Burns stripping Cleveland's QB to set up Jones' second TD strike to Nabers with 11 seconds left in the half to put the Giants ahead 21-7.

Giants: CB Dru Phillips (calf) went out in the first half and CB Adoree' Jackson (calf) got hurt in the third quarter. ... ILB Michah McFadden (back) went off early in the fourth. ... WR Darius Slayton (thumb) also was hurt in the second half.

Browns: Stefanski said all three linemen will have imaging tests. ... Cooper was slow getting up on Cleveland's second-to-last play but said he was fine.

Giants: Host Dallas on Thursday night.

Browns: At Las Vegas on Sunday.

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New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones rolls out to pass against the Cleveland Browns during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston, foreground left, is tackled by New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) reacts after throwing a touchdown pass next to New York Giants linebacker Brian Burns (0) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

New York Giants linebacker Brian Burns, right, forces Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) to fumble the ball, which the Giants recovered, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) runs against New York Giants defensive tackle Elijah Chatman during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

New York Giants defensive tackle Elijah Chatman (94) is congratulated by defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II, middle, and linebacker Brian Burns after sacking Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) passes against the New York Giants during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) passes as Cleveland Browns safety Ronnie Hickman (33) applies pressure during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, left, looks to pass as Cleveland Browns defensive end Alex Wright (91) applies pressure during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) catches a touchdown pass against the Cleveland Browns during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams produced promising numbers in his third career NFL start.

They came with a disappointingly familiar result Sunday for Chicago.

While the No. 1 overall draft topped the 300-yard mark for the first time and got the Bears into the end zone twice with the first two TD passes of his pro career, Williams could not complete a fourth-quarter comeback attempt at Indianapolis, suffering his second straight defeat.

But Williams remains optimistic.

“Got our first two passing touchdowns of the year, which obviously feels good," Williams said. "I think the offensive identity is brewing. I think it's a lot closer than it was the week before or weeks before, I think it's right there. I think we were one small detail away on a lot of these plays and that includes me.”

After last Sunday's loss at Houston, the bruised and battered Williams hobbled off the field so sore that the effects were lingering three days later.

This time, he walked off the field, quickly passing people, his chin pointed up and with a look that said he was ready to start all over next week against the Los Angeles Rams.

The primary problem, so far, for the Bears (1-2) continues to be pass protection.

While Williams was a solid 33 of 52 for 363 yards, all career bests, and finished with a passer rating of 80.8 — more than double Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson's 39.0 — the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner spent most of the game operating on the run. Again.

The result: Williams threw two interceptions, lost a fumble, had a halftime heave batted down in the end zone while getting sacked four times, hit a total of seven times and harangued into a series of throwaways including on a 2-point conversion pass that would have cut a 14-9 deficit to three.

A fourth-quarter strip-sack led to Jonathan Taylor's second scoring run of the day, a 1-yard plunge with 5:21 to play, that made it 21-9 and essentially sealed Chicago's fate despite Williams throwing for the most yards in an NFL game this season.

It was that kind of day again for the Bears — as it has been for much of the first three games.

“The quick game was there. When we needed to throw the ball down the field, we could,” said receiver DJ Moore, who had eight catches for 78 yards and 9.78 per catch. "When you look past the turnovers and the penalties, you can start to see the offense coming alive.”

Clearly, though, Williams needs more help.

Chicago only rushed for 63 yards and was thrown for a 12-yard loss on fourth-and-goal from the Colts 1-yard line in the first half — against a run defense that started Week 3 yielding a league-worst 237.0 yards per game.

With Matt Pryor replacing injured right guard Nate Davis in the starting lineup and left tackle Braxton Jones leaving briefly in the first half after appearing to hurt his right leg, the Bears' offensive line again struggled to keep Williams upright.

And yet Williams still held up relatively well.

“I was pleased with the distribution of the football by Caleb,” coach Matt Eberflus said. “That allowed the receivers to have confidence. I thought we were committed to the run. I’m proud of the way the defense played. But the most important thing is winning.”

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, left, and Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) greet following an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) fumbles as he is pressured by Indianapolis Colts defensive end Laiatu Latu (97) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) is pressured by Indianapolis Colts defensive end Tyquan Lewis (94) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) scrambles under pressure from Indianapolis Colts defensive end Laiatu Latu (97) and linebacker Zaire Franklin (44) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indianapolis Colts defensive end Laiatu Latu (97) knows the ball away from Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) is sacked by Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Taven Bryan (96) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) is pressured by Indianapolis Colts defensive end Tyquan Lewis (94) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)