Winston throws 3 TD passes and Banks' pick-6 seals Giants' 36-24 win over Cardinals

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Jameis Winston showed off the good, bad and ugly of his football career and it required another late defensive stand to get it done. It was far from a masterpiece, but the New York Giants will take it.

Winston threw three touchdown passes to offset a pair of interceptions, Deonte Banks had a 98-yard pick-6 to seal it and the Giants won another not-so-pretty game, defeating the Arizona Cardinals 36-24 on Sunday to take sole possession of first place in the NFC East.

“It wasn’t the most beautiful game, as far as playing perfectly: It was a winning game,” coach John Harbaugh said. “That’s what winning teams do: They find ways to win games, and that’s why they’re winning teams.”

Making his second start in place of injured franchise quarterback Jaxson Dart, Winston again did what he needed to do to engineer a victory with TD passes to Malachi Fields, Malik Nabers and Theo Johnson. Winston's 12-yard toss to Fields with 4:30 remaining in the second quarter was the team's first touchdown since the season opener, ending a drought that lasted nine-plus quarters.

Winston finished 18 of 29 for 250 yards in a roller-coaster showing of highs and lows. J.J. McCarthy was in uniform six days after the Giants (3-1) acquired him in a trade with Minnesota but did not play.

"It just gave us an option in case we wanted to put J.J. out there and run certain plays that we had prepared for him," said Harbaugh, who added McCarthy was not close to entering the game.

Nabers more than doubled his receiving yardage this season by making six catches for 112 yards. He had 96 through his first three games back from a serious knee injury.

“I knew it was coming this game,” Nabers said. “I don’t know — I just felt good. I felt good through the whole week. I just didn’t want to jinx myself, so I was just trying to be humble and just wait for the game to come to me.”

The defense also made some big plays, sacking Brissett twice and rebounding from allowing two long touchdown drives in the first 12 minutes. For a second game in a row, New York got an interception after its opponent reached the red zone, and Banks made up for his pass interference penalty a few plays earlier that Harbaugh called crazy.

“I thought you had to touch a guy for it to be pass interference,” Harbaugh said. “He didn’t bat an eye. Nobody flinched, nobody blinked.”

Dominic Zvada continued to validate Harbaugh's trust in another rookie kicker by improving to 9 of 9 on field goal attempts.

Jacoby Brissett was 21 of 35 and threw three interceptions — the last coming on the final play — which turned out to be the difference. Arizona (1-3) blew a 14-3 lead after Brissett connected with Marvin Harrison Jr. for a TD and Tyler Allgeier ran into the end zone in the first quarter.

“We kind of got in our own way," Brissett said. "We made some plays after getting stops, but you can’t have three interceptions.”

The Cardinals gained just 138 yards the rest of the way, losing their third in a row since winning coach Mike LaFleur's debut in Week 1 at the Los Angeles Chargers.

“All three loses we’ve had over the last three weeks have been different," LaFleur said. "This one is going to sting. It's not going to be the most fun ride home. There are certainly things I know I could have done better. We have to get right back to work because no one is going to feel sorry for us.”

Rookie linebacker Arvell Reese picked off Brissett for his first interception in the NFL as part of a dominant performance that included nine tackles. And the No. 5 pick in the draft did so with Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor in attendance as part of the 40th anniversary celebration of the 1986 Super Bowl championship team at halftime.

“He has been great,” Taylor said. “I think he’s a good player.”

Cardinals: Safety Andrew Wingard was carted off with a knee injury and right guard Isaiah Adams with an ankle injury. ... Tight end Hunter Long left with a knee injury. ... Left tackle Paris Johnson walked off the field holding his left arm late.

Giants: Receiver/returner Braxton Berrios (foot), defensive lineman Chauncey Golston (neck) and safety Jason Pinnock (concussion) left with injuries.

Cardinals: Host Detroit next Sunday.

Giants: Visit Washington next Sunday.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

New York Giants cornerback Deonte Banks, right, celebrates his interception returned for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals with Giants cornerback Greg Newsome II, left, after an NFL football game, in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Giants cornerback Greg Newsome II (20) celebrates his interception against the Arizona Cardinals with Giants cornerback Deonte Banks (2) and Giants linebacker Zaire Barnes (46) during an NFL football game, in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Giants wide receiver Malachi Fields (88) celebrates a touchdown catch against Arizona Cardinals safety Wydett Williams Jr. (31) during an NFL football game, in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Giants wide receiver Malachi Fields (88) celebrates his touchdown catch against Arizona Cardinals safety Wydett Williams Jr. (31) during an NFL football game, in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston (19) avoids Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Dante Stills, right, during an NFL football game, in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) celebrates a touchdown catch against Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr., right, during an NFL football game, in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — An ugly win left the Green Bay Packers dissatisfied.

Jordan Love threw two touchdown passes and the Packers overcame two fourth-quarter turnovers to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17-14 on Sunday.

Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels threw two picks that led to 10 points in his first career start filling in for Baker Mayfield, who missed a game for the first time in his three-plus seasons in Tampa Bay because of a dislocated thumb.

The Packers (2-2) wasted two opportunities to extend a three-point lead in the fourth quarter but the Buccaneers couldn't capitalize.

“There were some positive things but we’re never going to be satisfied with scoring 17 points in a game,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “That’s just not to our standard and we have to find ways when we’re in the red area to convert. We can’t be turning the ball over. We can’t have penalties. That is a stingy defense. You have to give them a lot of credit. … But we also have to clean up a lot of stuff. It’s gotta get fixed and it’s gotta get fixed now.”

Tykee Smith forced Kaleb Johnson to fumble inside the 5 with just over nine minutes left in the game. A’Shawn Robinson recovered at the 4 but the ensuing drive went nowhere.

“A great teacher is the bench. If guys don’t start holding onto the ball, they’re gonna be sitting on the bench,” LaFleur said bluntly.

The Packers then had a first-and-15 at the Buccaneers 26 when Jacob Parrish picked Love's pass and gave Tampa Bay the ball at the 15 and a chance for a comeback win.

Instead, Daniels threw a short screen pass to Emeka Egbuka on third-and-16 and incomplete on fourth down from the Packers 47. Coach Todd Bowles passed up a 65-yard field-goal attempt by Chase McLaughlin, who made one from that distance last year.

Bowles said a little wind factored into the decision not to try it.

The Buccaneers are 0-4 for the first time since 2014. Only the 1992 Chargers overcame an 0-4 start to make the playoffs.

“I’m the head coach. I can do more. I can always do more. I’ll always take the blame," Bowles said. "We’re gonna fight, we’re gonna stick together and we’re gonna figure this thing out. And I’ll lead them to that. It’s my job.”

Love tossed a 2-yard touchdown pass to Matthew Golden on fourth down to give the Packers a 7-0 lead in the second quarter. Evan Williams made a sliding interception near the sideline to give Green Bay the ball at the 32. Love connected with Tucker Kraft for 10 yards on fourth-and-1 to keep the drive going. Kraft also took a direct snap and sneaked for a first down on another fourth-and-1 at the Buccaneers 10.

The Packers turned an interception by Edgerrin Cooper in the final minute of the first half into a field goal. Cooper stepped in front of Daniels' pass to Kameron Johnson, caught the ball falling to the ground, got up and returned it 18 yards to the Buccaneers 44. Trey Smack kicked a 58-yarder to give Green Bay a 10-7 lead.

Love's 2-yard TD pass to Kraft on the opening drive of the third quarter extended the lead to 17-7.

“We’ll take the win for sure. It was sloppy on those last drives,” Love said. “We have a chance to put the game out of reach. Two turnovers is unacceptable. That’s something we have to clean up. … That was the disappointing part of the game.”

Sean Tucker ran in from the 2 to tie it at 7. Daniels completed both of his passes for 27 yards combined on the drive and scrambled 9 yards before Tucker's score.

Daniels connected with Kenneth Gainwell on a 10-yard TD pass to cut the deficit to 17-14 early in the fourth quarter.

Cooper was carted off the field in the third quarter with an Achilles tendon injury. The Packers are still missing three-time All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons, who is recovering from surgery for a torn ACL suffered last December.

Love got his best protection this season despite playing played behind an offensive line missing three starters: Zach Bako-Bewele, Aaron Banks and Jacob Monk. Laken Tomlinson became the fourth player to start at left guard. Veteran guard Kevin Zeitler signed earlier in the week was inactive.

After taking 31 QB hits in the first three games, Love took two.

“The O-line did a great job,” Love said. “Pass protection, run game, just keeping me clean and giving me time. They did a great job and you can feel the difference back there for sure.”

Packers: CB Brandon Cisse hurt his neck and was being evaluated for concussion. ... LB Isaiah McDuffie replaced Cooper and briefly left with an eye injury. ... RB Chris Brooks and DT Devonte Wyatt both left in the first half with ankle injuries. ... Banks (toe, knee) and Monk (quadriceps) will return while Bako-Bewele (knee) is out for the season.

Buccaneers: Edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. (groin), CB Benjamin Morrison (quadriceps), TE Ko Kieft (elbow) were inactive. ... S Antoine Winfield Jr. hurt his abdomen and a rib late in the fourth quarter. ... LB SirVocea Dennis injured his ankle.

Packers: Host Chicago next Sunday.

Buccaneers: Visit Dallas on Thursday night.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney (29) sacks Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels (10) during the first half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Green Bay Packers running back Kaleb Johnson (26) avoids a tackle during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Kenny Gainwell (1) is tackles by Green Bay Packers linebacker Isaiah McDuffie (58) and safety Javon Bullard (7) during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Kenny Gainwell (1) dives to score a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) aims a pass during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)