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1mDan Graziano

Giants' revamped defense showing up when it matters

Last season was a parade of bad feelings for the Giants, who blew five fourth-quarter leads. This season, close games are breaking their way, thanks to a much-improved and well-paid defense.

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ESPN analyst Davis leaving to be FIU coach

Former Miami and North Carolina coach Butch Davis told ESPN on Monday that he is leaving the network immediately to accept the head coaching position at Florida International.

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Breaking down the science of OBJ's fancy footwork (0:57)
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CP3 and DeAndre accidentally butt heads (0:24)
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9hMarc Stein

NBA Power Rankings: Return of the Warriors?

Was a 4-0 week enough to propel the Warriors into the top two? And have the Cavs lost hold of No. 1 after their first defeat? Answers are ahead in the latest weekly league hierarchy.

Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire
3h

Watch live: College Hoops Tip-off Marathon

The ninth annual College Hoops Tip-off Marathon is here with 24 hours of games. Catch all of the action on ESPN's family of networks, the ESPN App and WatchESPN.

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Did Warriors go overboard with super villain party? (1:34)
Dan Sanger/Icon Sportswire
16hMel Kiper and Todd McShay

Mel & Todd: Who will emerge from the Big Ten chaos?

Wisconsin or Ohio State? Mel Kiper and Todd McShay anoint champions in each of the Power 5 conferences, with the biggest debate over the wide-open Big Ten.

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UConn squeaks by Florida State (1:28)
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Who is the real MVP in Dallas? (1:58)
USA TODAY Sports, Icon Sportswire
16hMike Sando

The QBs who are carrying their teams the most

These 13 NFL quarterbacks are performing well, despite being asked to assume heavy burdens this season with less help from their running backs, defenses and playcallers.

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Mind-blowing bad beats in NBA and college football (4:57)
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15hDan Rafael

Scorecard: Garcia wins, gets big fight next

The only good thing about Danny Garcia's demolition of Samuel Vargas was that the victory set up a long-awaited welterweight unification fight between Garcia and Keith Thurman for early 2017.

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Jordan Raanan ESPN Staff Writer 

Weston Richburg said the Giants talked before the game-winning drive about it being a four-down situation. Not surprised they went for TD at all.

NFL 

McConnell Beats Buzzer from Midcourt

Philadelphia guard T.J. McConnell hits a 3-point shot from midcourt to beat the first-quarter buzzer in Houston.

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Katherine Terrell ESPN Staff Writer 

Bengals lacked a killer instinct in 21-20 loss to Giants. Can't say they didn't have their chances, but whether it was a fourth down sack by Geno Atkins or an interception by Dre Kirkpatrick, they just didn't take advantage. Outside of a few plays, the post-bye Bengals weren't much different from the pre-bye Bengals.

NFL 

Matt Bowen ESPN Staff Writer 

That's a solid night for Odell Beckham, Jr. fantasy owners. While Beckham didn't create explosive plays over the top of the Bengals secondary (9.7 yards per reception), he finished with 97 yards and a TD on 10 grabs (11 targets).

NFL 

Jordan Raanan ESPN Staff Writer 

The Giants hold on, win 21-20, and improve to 6-3. They have 8-3 in their sights with the Bears and Browns on deck.

NFL 

Dave Tuley ESPN Staff Writer 

Giants beat Bengals 21-20 on Monday Night Football. The ViewFromVegas is the game closed pick 'em, so it makes sense that it was so close. Bettors on both sides who shopped for the best prices were able to cash. The Bengals opened as 2-point road underdogs (and were also +2 in the Westgate SuperContest and other contests that set lines earlier last week) while the Giants were +1 over the weekend and also cashed for backers at pick 'em. The game stayed under the total of 49.5.

NFL 

Dan Graziano ESPN Staff Writer 

The Giants couldn't close out games last year (in part) because they couldn't pressure quarterbacks in the fourth quarter when they had leads and couldn't get first downs running the ball. They just did both, and are on the cusp of 6-3. Would match their full-season win total from each of the previous two seasons, with seven games to go.

NFL 

Ian Begley ESPN Staff Writer 

Here's Dirk Nowitzki on Kristaps Porzingis doing Nowitzki's signature fade-away off of one foot late in the Knicks' win over the Mavs tonight: "He was staring me down. That was coldblooded … He is going to be a great player in this league for a long, long time."

NBA 

Kevin Seifert NFL Nation 

The old adage has been proved once again. How do you win in the fourth quarter and close out games? With pass rush. Look at what the Giants just did on that previous possession.

NFL 

Griffin lobs it up to Jordan for alley-oop

Blake Griffin tosses an alley-oop pass to DeAndre Jordan, who finishes with a two-handed reverse slam dunk.

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Matt Bowen ESPN Staff Writer 

Andy Dalton sailed that ball on the seam route. But Giants safety Landon Collins had a good break on the throw. Reading the QB. And Collins continues to make plays for this defense. Giants still hold a 21-20 lead.

NFL 

Dan Graziano ESPN Staff Writer 

Landon Collins, who is having an incredible second NFL season, intercepts the Andy Dalton pass, and the Giants have the ball back at midfield with a one-point lead and 11:22 left in the game.

NFL 

Matt Bowen ESPN Staff Writer 

The Bengals showed a split safety look on the Eli Manning TD pass. Could be Quarters coverage. But that put a lot of stress on the LB to match Sterling Shepard on the shallow cross. The rookie is too quick. The Giants get the score on the 4th down call to take a 21-20 lead in the fourth quarter.

NFL 

Giants' fourth-down gamble pays off
NFL 

The Giants' risky decision to go for it on fourth down was a good one, with Eli Manning finding Sterling Shepard for a 3-yard TD.

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NFL 

Jordan Raanan ESPN Staff Writer 

Ben McAdoo said recently he's always going to be aggressive. He was there, goes for it on 4th-and-goal from the 3-yard line. Sterling Shepard catches TD and Giants take 21-20 lead early in fourth.

NFL 

Jordan Raanan ESPN Staff Writer 

Sterling Shepard with a key third-down drop. It looked like it would've been first down. That is Giants fourth drop of game.

NFL 

Tim MacMahon ESPN Staff Writer 

Jazz announce that Gordon Hayward will return after getting his finger retaped.

NBA 

Tim MacMahon ESPN Staff Writer 

Jazz star Gordon Hayward headed to the locker room after shaking his left hand in pain. Hayward missed several games at the start of the regular season due to a broken ring finger on that hand.

NBA 

ESPN Stats and Information  

Bengals running back Jeremy Hill has rushed for a TD in 3 straight games, the longest streak of his career.

NFL 

ESPN Stats and Information  

Rockets guard James Harden is 1 of 3 players in NBA history to record 300 points and 100 assists in his team's first 10 games. He's the second this season, along with Russell Westbrook. The other, per the Elias Sports Bureau, is Oscar Robertson (1966-67).

NBA 

Justin Verrier ESPN Staff Writer 

The Pelicans sweat out a 106-105 victory over Boston for their first home win - and second win overall - of the season. Anthony Davis, despite lumbering through apparent back and knee injuries, finishes the other 25 points, 16 rebounds, 4 steals and 7 TOs.

NBA 

Dan Graziano ESPN Staff Writer 

The Giants' halftime ceremony appears to have really fired up the Bengals. Alex Erickson's two long returns lead to 10 quick points and a 20-14 Cincinnati lead.

NFL 

Mike Sando ESPN Senior Writer 

Tom Coughlin given a chance to say his relationship with the Giants is good again. Says he enjoyed seeing the fans here tonight.

NFL 

Kevin Seifert NFL Nation 

ESPN announcer Sean McDonough to retired Giants coach Tom Coughlin, who is working this season in the NFL's Command Center: "Do you have more appreciation for the officials now?" Coughlin: [Laughs].

NFL