The NFL closed out a Sunday preseason tripleheader with a pair of night matchups following the Philadelphia Eagles’ 21-20 win over the Cleveland Browns in the afternoon. The New York Giants hosted the Cincinnati Bengals, and the Baltimore Ravens battled the Arizona Cardinals on the road. Baltimore’s rookie TE Isaiah Likely was among the standouts on the evening.
Preseason Week 2 winners and losers | Bengals vs. Giants
In the Meadowlands, the Giants’ starters faced off against the Bengals’ backups. Giants starting QB Daniel Jones was asked to lead the offense as buzz continues to build toward backup QB Tyrod Taylor potentially replacing the first-round pick in the lineup. The Giants won, 25-22, against the visiting Bengals.
Winner: Giants WR Alex Bachman
Bachman really took advantage of his deep-depth reps against the Bengals. While he appeared in three games last season, Bachman is looking to make the 53-man roster and have a solid role on offense this year. Bachman caught 11 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday. The back-to-back touchdown scores helped the Giants win the game in the fourth quarter. Bachman also made an impressive stop on special teams.
Loser: Giants WR Kenny Golladay
Umm … this is becoming a weekly occurrence. Golladay has been more forgettable than a Dane DeHaan-led movie during his Giants tenure. For a second straight week, Golladay didn’t make any plays of note, despite the Giants deciding to play their starters throughout most of the first half. Golladay has a $13 million base salary this season, and he’s unmovable due to his contract. He wasn’t targeted against the Bengals.
Winner(s): Giants RBs Jashaun Corbin and Antonio Williams
With the Giants resting Gary Brightwell and Matt Breida, Corbin and Williams received plenty of run with the first-team offense. Corbin — who had some strong moments against the New England Patriots last week — ran for 27 yards and a TD, while also gaining 15 yards as a receiver. Williams ran for 26 yards and caught seven passes for 46 yards.
Winner: Bengals S Daxton Hill
Hill intercepted a Jones pass to rookie TE Daniel Bellinger in the first quarter. While Hill made a few plays on Sunday, the interception highlighted his awareness, athleticism, and ball skills. Hill, this year’s first-round draft pick, is expected to be a big part of the Bengals’ defense this season. He finished with six tackles and an interception on the night.
Loser: Bengals OT D’Ante Smith
It was a brutal penalty night for the backup offensive tackle. He was flagged for offensive holding three times against the Giants. While the final penalty was declined, the first two were momentum killers on two separate drives. Smith played deep into the third quarter, and honestly, he probably needed the reps.
Winner: Bengals LB Clay Johnston
The former seventh-round pick was everywhere against the Giants. Playing nearly the entire game, Johnston produced 20 tackles and a sack. Johnston is competing for playing time beyond special teams, and his work in the second preseason game showed he is a sound tackler with a nose for the ball.
Preseason Week 2 winners and losers | Ravens vs. Cardinals
In Arizona, the Cardinals started third-string QB Trace McSorley against his former squad, the Ravens. Like Cincinnati, the Ravens started their backup QB, Tyler Huntley, in the second preseason game.
Winner: Ravens QB Tyler Huntley
For a second consecutive week, Huntley led the Ravens’ offense and looked incredibly efficient. Against the Cardinals, Huntley completed 13 of 14 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown, while leading two scoring drives. His connection with rookie Isaiah Likely has been tremendous this summer. Eventually, Huntley will be a starter in the NFL.
Loser: Ravens G Tyre Phillips
The third-year lineman drew three flags in the exhibition matchup. He was called for two false starts and an “ineligible downfield pass” penalty against the Cardinals. It’s the preseason and these things happen, but Phillips’ errors stood out during an otherwise strong offensive showing for the Huntley-led offense.
Winner: Ravens TE Isaiah Likely
The Day 3 pick has made the most of his opportunities in training camp and the preseason. Really, there isn’t a better offense for a tight end to be in right now. Likely caught all eight of his targets for 100 yards and a touchdown against the Cardinals. Likely is firmly entrenched on the Ravens’ roster heading into his rookie campaign.
Winner: Cardinals WR Andy Isabella
Isabella always seems to have the roster odds stacked against him on paper. However, with DeAndre Hopkins, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, and Zach Ertz on the sideline, Isabella became a top playmaker for McSorley against the Ravens. Isabella caught five of his eight targets for 54 yards.
Loser: Cardinals QB Trace McSorley
Following a strong showing in the preseason opener last week, McSorley had the opposite impact against the Ravens. The former Ravens QB threw two interceptions against his old squad. The young QB finished with a 49.8 passer rating after completing just 18 of 34 passes for 229 yards and two picks. In positive news, he did rush for a touchdown and lead two scoring drives.
Winner: Cardinals WR Victor Bolden
The former USFL wideout is fighting for a second chance in the NFL. Bolden was able to make a few plays against the Ravens, showing off his talent in the playmaking department. He finished with five catches for 66 yards. His highlight of the night was a 23-yard connection with McSorley in the second quarter.