Falcons' defense received a big boost from Jarrett

Perhaps the most important thing in the game is Grady Jarrett, the Falcons' defense did a credible job against the Giants until a late collapse.

The unit plays strong enough to allow the offense to be 20-6 lead by controlling star rookie running back Saquon Barkley, sacking the quarterback with a goal-line stand.

The Falcons Held on a 23-20 victory on Monday Night Football at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Jarrett, who had missed the two previous games with a sprained ankle, finished with six tackles, two sacks, two tackles for hits and two quarterback hits.

He was the disruptive force Falcons (3-4) were missing in a Pittsburgh loss and a cliff-hanger win Tampa Bay.

"It felt good to be back there with my boys," Jarrett said. "I really missed being on the field. Being out will really teach you. "

Barkley, the Giants rookie running back, finished with 43 yards on 14 carries. He also caught nine passes for 51 yards.

Barkley added a 2-yard touchdown, but the two-point Giants conversion attempt failed in their furious fourth-quarter rally that came up short.

"(We were) just getting a lot of hats to the ball," Jarrett said. "You saw in the game and run game. He's a back, you have to give him his respect. We have not ever seen anything like that. Just somebody who could really do it all. Big and fast. We had to pay him his respect. "

On the Giants 'first possession of the game, Jarrett blew by rookie guard Will Hernandez on first-and-10 from the Falcons' 44 and dropped Eli Manning for a loss of seven yards. After two plays that netted only 11 yards, the Giants were forced to punt.

Defensive tackle Jack Crawford and defensive end Takkarist McKinley added sacks number two and three.

On the second quarter, Jarrett had his second sack. He tackled Manning for a 4-yard loss and the Giants were forced to kick a field goal.

"I feel like we're coming out with the mentality to attack and guys that's all across the board," Jarrett said. "Even guys who did not get to the quarterback were a big part of the play that was made."

The Giants did get moving and eventually amassed 433 yards of offense. There were several breakdowns in the Falcons' secondary as Odell Beckham Jr. got loose for eight catches and 143 yards and a touchdown.

Also, Sterling Shepard wide receiver had five catches for 167 yards.

"In the second half, I felt like the ball was coming out a little faster," Jarrett said. "We were still getting there and getting pressure. We knew against Eli we definitely had to get some good hits on him. "

The Falcons finished with nine quarterback hits.

"It's hard when you're a leader and you can not go out with your boys," Jarrett said. "Me coming back, I definitely wanted to show you how much I cared about this team and this defense.

"Whether that is if I make a play or not, I just wanted to lead and be vocal. When you are on the sideline, you can do it, but when you are in the action it is a completely different thing. I definitely felt that I would like to (the team) to come here and do my best. "

Jarrett's return was also an inspiration to the offense.

"Grady getting him back on defense was big," wide receiver Julio Jones said. "His energy. He's a leader in the defensive line. Even for me, when he goes out there and gets sack, it makes me want to go out there and play. "

It was not a defensive masterpiece, but the injury-ravaged unit did not make enough plays.

With the Falcons up 10-3, the defense made a goal-line stand on the Giants' first possession of the second half.

The Giants, on the strength of a 53-yard pass from Manning to Shepard, drove down to the Falcons 1-yard line.

On third-and-goal, defensive tackle Deadrin Senat and defensive Brooks Reed stopped Barkley for no gain.

The Giants elected to go for it on the fourth-and-goal, goal Manning tried to force a tight end Scott Simonson that was incomplete.