Giants hold on to beat the Titans 12-7 in their first game without quarterback Jaxson Dart

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Playing their first game without quarterback Jaxson Dart, the New York Giants got just enough from replacement Jameis Winston on offense and another big play from safety Jevon Holland to win an ugly football game in the middle of a nor'easter.

Winston completed 12 of 18 passes for 117 yards, Holland intercepted Cam Ward with 17 seconds left and the Giants held on to beat the Tennessee Titans 12-7 on Sunday.

Coach John Harbaugh thought Winston did what was required and necessary in rainy, windy conditions.

“Today is the only day that we have, and today it was enough,” Winston said. “I’ve had games where I’ve thrown for 500 yards, and the game didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to be. Any time, any day, I would rather win.”

In the aftermath of Dart having surgery on his left knee that will sideline him for at least the remainder of the regular season, the Giants (2-1) lost their most important defensive player when Brian Burns injured his right knee in the fourth quarter. Burns is set to have further testing to determine the severity.

“There is some hope there, but we won’t know until we see the MRI,” Harbaugh said.

If it is significant like Dart’s injury, it is another blow to the Giants after Harbaugh’s tenure as coach got off to a promising start. Burns ranked second in the NFL in sacks last season behind record-setter Myles Garrett.

Offensively, Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy kept the ball on the ground, in part because of the conditions, and piled up 138 yards rushing with no turnovers.

“Everybody saw how windy it was,” center John Michael Schmitz said. “Everybody saw how wet the ball was. I feel like our offense did a great job protecting the ball.”

The Titans (0-3) narrowly avoided becoming the first NFL team in eight years to not pick up a first down before halftime. The offense run by former Giants coach Brian Daboll was held off the scoreboard until Cam Ward connected with Wan’Dale Robinson for the game’s only touchdown with 5:35 left.

They would have scored earlier had Ward not missed Carnell Tate wide open in the end zone. Ward found a rhythm late but was picked off by Holland in the end zone, his first interception this season.

“This was a hard-fought win,” said Holland, who had an interception for a third consecutive game. “For us to come out here and get this done, it was nitty gritty. But it was important.”

Tennessee had blunders on offense, defense and special teams. Chimere Dike, an All-Pro as a rookie, fumbled the opening kickoff. It's the second fumble he has lost this season.

“We’re in a place right now we’re 0-3,” defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons said. “We need to do more. We’ve got to stop talking: say less, do more.”

Simmons was one of the few bright spots for the Titans. He sacked Winston in the first half, when he made a career-high seven tackles. No other defensive tackle has had as many in a half this season.

“Jeffery Simmons is on the other side of the ball, and you try to trap him — he’s an animal,” Giants running back Cam Skattebo said. “ He wrecked a couple plays, and shout-out to him, man. He’s a respected player in this league. He destroyed some plays.”

Titans: Starting right guard Fernando Carmona left with an ankle injury on the team's first offensive play. ... Running back Tyjae Spears injured an ankle in the second half.

Giants: Fullback Patrick Ricard had a cut on his nose, Harbaugh said.

Titans: Visit Baltimore next Sunday

Giants: Host Arizona next Sunday.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston (19) runs for a first down past Tennessee Titans linebacker Cody Barton (50) during the second half of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22) tackles Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard (20) during the second half of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Giants defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) grabs the facemask of Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward (1) during the second half of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22) breaks up a pass intended for Tennessee Titans wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (4) during the second half of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Giants linebacker Brian Burns (0) is assisted by the team's medical staff after being injured during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Giants linebacker Brian Burns (0) pressures Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward (1) during the first half of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Aaron Rodgers passed for 292 yards and three touchdowns to outduel Joe Burrow as the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cincinnati Bengals 30-27 on Sunday.

Pittsburgh (2-1) bounced back from a miserable performance last week at New England to blunt some of Cincinnati's early momentum.

Rodgers completed 19 of 34 passes, including a 47-yard catch-and-run to massive tight end Darnell Washington that helped set up Chris Boswell's go-ahead, 33-yard field goal with 2:18 remaining.

Cincinnati (2-1) had a chance late. The Bengals reached Pittsburgh territory, but Burrow fumbled after being sacked by defensive tackle Derrick Harmon. Pittsburgh veteran defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day fell on the ball near midfield and the Steelers escaped.

Jaylen Warren had 176 total yards (127 rushing, 49 receiving) for Pittsburgh, which matched the high-powered Bengals score-for-score as Cincinnati watched a chance for its first 3-0 start since 2015 disappear.

Burrow passed for 292 yards and three scores, including an incredible 28-yard heave to Tee Higgins late in the first half. The ball fell into Higgins' abdominal area as the wide receiver boxed out Steelers defensive back Asante Samuel Jr. for position just across the goal line.

Yet the Bengals' opportunity to stamp themselves as front-runners in the AFC North disappeared with some self-inflicted wounds. A roughing-the-punter penalty in the third quarter extended a Pittsburgh drive that ended with a touchdown pass from Rodgers to DK Metcalf.

Cincinnati's Ke'Shawn Williams muffed a punt deep in Bengals territory midway through the fourth to set up the second of Boswell's three field goals that tied the game at 27.

Cincinnati backed up Pittsburgh deep in its territory late in the fourth, but the Steelers responded even after a run of 80-plus yards by Warren was wiped out by a holding penalty on Metcalf.

Rodgers, playing behind a new-look offensive line that included rookie first-round pick Max Iheanachor at right tackle, guided the Steelers 77 yards anyway to set up Boswell.

Pittsburgh's defense, playing without cornerback Joey Porter Jr. for a third straight game, spent much of the afternoon letting Burrow do whatever he wanted before Harmon crashed into Burrow and Joseph-Day, a reserve who is used sparingly, fell on it to give first-year coach Mike McCarthy a needed boost.

Bengals: LB Demetrius Knight left in the first quarter ... WR Colbie Young (knee) exited in the first half with a knee injury.

Steelers: CB Brandin Eichols was evaluated for a concussion after colliding with Williams during the botched second-half punt return.

Bengals: At Jacksonville next Sunday.

Steelers: Visit Cleveland on Thursday night.

This story has been corrected. A previous version erroneously referred to Steelers defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day as a rookie.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, left, throws as he is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, right, during the second half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Dk Metcalf catches a pass for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Justin Berl)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, right, catches a pass for a touchdown as Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr., left, tries to defend during the first half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)