Bengals rave about Giants defense, pass-rush: The real deal

The sacks keep coming. The Giants, with Azeez Ojulari starting in place of Kayvon Thibodeaux — on injured reserve following wrist surgery — sacked Joe Burrow four times in a 17-7 loss to the Bengals to raise their NFL-leading sack production to 26.The Bengals came away impressed. “They lead the league in sacks,’’ Burrow said.

“They’re the real deal, and they didn’t have one of their guys.They’ve got good games [up front].

They’ve got good players.They make it tough on us, and their secondary was sticking coverage all day.

It’s a good defense.” Burrow came into the game as the NFL’s top quarterback in terms of passer rating, but he completed only 19 of 28 passes for 208 yards, both well below his season averages. “Missing throws I normally make,’’ Burrow said.“I felt like I let the pressure get to me a little bit.’’ Bengals head coach Zac Taylor normally is able to run a far more efficient offense than the one he orchestrated Sunday night. “[The Giants] did a good job up front,’’ Taylor said.

“They bring pressure.They can win some one-on-ones.

They’ve really invested in that front, and it shows.They did a good job on the back, just mixing it up.’’ Giants head coach Brian Daboll did not offer an update on LT Andrew Thomas, who underwent an MRI on his foot on Monday.

Thomas said he hurt his foot during the Giants’ 16-play touchdown drive in the third quarter and that “I was hurting’’ as he remained in the game.He said “not great’’ after the game about how he was feeling. Daboll said he will stick with Greg Joseph as the place kicker.

Graham Gano (hamstring) is eligible to come off injured reserve, but he might not be ready to return.Joseph, signed as Gano’s replacement, missed his first field goal attempt for the Giants, made his next eight and then missed from 47 and 45 yards in the loss to the Bengals. “He’s done pretty good since he’s been here,’’ Daboll said.

“And then,...