EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Rashad Jennings rushed for a career-high 176 yards on 34 carries and the New York Giants beat the Houston Texans 30-17 at MetLife Stadium for their first victory of the season.

New York had multiple mistakes in the first half, many by a beleaguered special teams unit, but the Texans had three turnovers and failed to generate consistent offense without starting running back Arian Foster, who did not play.

Texans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who hadn’t been sacked or thrown an interception in two games as Houston’s starter, converted only two of the team’s 12 third-down attempts, threw three interceptions and was sacked twice.

Eli Manning did not turn the ball over for the Giants, completing 21 of 28 passes for 234 yards with two touchdowns. A potential third score was botched by tight end Larry Donnell’s red-zone fumble.

One backbreaker for Fitzpatrick in the first half, was a pick by safety Antrel Rolle on a 3rd-and-19 at the Texans’ 27-yard line at the two-minute warning.

That set up the Giants’ second scoring drive of the game, a 1-yard touchdown run by Jennings that gave New York a 14-0 lead.

The Texans scored 10 unanswered points in the third quarter to make it interesting courtesy of a 27-yard field goal by Randy Bullock and a 44-yard touchdown reception by receiver Damaris Johnson on the ensuing drive to make it 17-10 Giants.

The momentum swung back to the Giants when head coach Tom Coughlin challenged a scramble by the Texans on third down that was ruled a first down. The replay showed that Fitzpatrick was one yard short.

On the ensuing punt, Damontre Moore managed to get a piece of Shane Lechler’s punt to set New York up with the ball on the Texans’ 29-yard line. Three plays later, Manning connected with tight end Daniel Fells on a 9-yard touchdown reception.

The Giants capped their scoring with Josh Brown’s third field goal, this one from 31 yards.

The Giants head to Washington for a Thursday night game. The Texans return home to host the Bills.

Notes: Giants RB Rashad Jennings recorded his fifth career 100-yard rushing game. Three of his five 100-yard-plus performances have come against the Texans. … Texans RB Alfred Blue’s 46-yard run late in the third quarter was the longest given up by the Giants since Arizona’s Andre Ellington ran for 22 yards last week. It was also the longest run from scrimmage since Week 1 of the 2012 season, when DeMarco Murray of Dallas ran for 48 yards. … Giants head coach Tom Coughlin won his first challenge of the season when he questioned a third-down run by Fitzpatrick that was amended to be one yard short of the first down. With starting MLB Jon Beason inactive after aggravating his toe injury last week, the Giants started Jameel McClain in the middle and Mark Herzlich at McClain’s strong-side spot.