Staying Alive: Though the Giants still do not control their own playoff destiny, they kept their playoff aspiration alive by trouncing the division-rival Washington Redskins 45-12 at FedEx Field on Monday night.
The win improves the Giants’ record to 8-6 (4-2 in the NFC East). The Giants can still make the playoffs if they win their final two games and either the Cowboys or Packers lose one more game. Or they can still make it if they win one more game and the Cowboys or Packers lose both their remaining games.
The Giants scored on their first four possessions of the game while limiting the Redskins to only two first downs in the first half. At the intermission the Giants were up 24-0. The Giants’ first four drives:
- 16 plays, 80 yards resulting in a 3-yard TD run by HB Ahmad Bradshaw
- 11 plays, 63 yards resulting in a 4-yard TD run by Bradshaw
- 9 plays, 27 yards resulting in a 38-yard field goal by PK Lawrence Tynes
- 4 plays, 56 yards resulting in a 6-yard TD pass to WR Steve Smith
The much-maligned defense forced three-and-outs on the Redskins’ first three possessions. DE Justin Tuck and LB Jonathan Goff both sacked QB Jason Campbell. The Redskins’ only scoring threat was snuffed out at the end of the first half by an interception by CB Bruce Johnson off a fake field goal attempt.
The Redskins received the football to start the 3rd quarter and promptly drove 81 yards in eight plays to cut the Giants’ advantage to 24-6 (the extra point was blocked). But the Giants impressively responded with a 7-play, 77-yard touchdown drive that resulted in a 23-yard touchdown pass from QB Eli Manning to WR Derek Hagan. Giants 31 – Redskins 6.
On Washington’s very next offensive snap, CB Terrell Thomas intercepted Campbell at the Redskins’ 14-yard line and returned the pick for a touchdown.
The Redskins scored their final points of the game on their third possession of the second half by drive 77 yards in nine plays to score a touchdown. Giants 38 – Redskins 12 (the two-point conversion attempt failed).
Again, the Giants’ responded offensively. The Giants scored another touchdown, aided this time by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty by Washington on a 3rd-and-5 play where Manning was sacked. The drive was kept alive. Bradshaw gained 31 yards on the next play and Manning finished off the drive with a 25-yard strike to WR Mario Manningham. Giants 45 – Redskins 12.
The Redskins had two final possessions, but the first ended with an interception by LB Chase Blackburn and the second ended on downs.
Highlights of the game are available at NFL.com.
Post-Game Notes: LG Rich Seubert (knee) and WR Hakeem Nicks (hamstring) left the game early with injuries. Neither sounded worried about their injuries after the game in the locker room.
QB Eli Manning finished the game 19-of-26 for 268 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. The leading ground gainers for New York were halfbacks Ahmad Bradshaw (9 carries for 61 yards and 2 touchdowns) and Brandon Jacobs (16 carries for 52 yards). The leading receivers were WR Steve Smith (5 catches for 40 yards and 1 touchdown), TE Kevin Boss (3 catches for 57 yards), WR Mario Manningham (3 catches for 44 yards and 1 touchdown), and Bradshaw (3 catches for 29 yards).
Defensively, the Giants accrued five sacks, one each by DE Osi Umenyiora, DE Justin Tuck, DT Fred Robbins, DT Barry Cofield, and LB Jonathan Goff. Umenyiora and DE Mathias Kiwanuka had QB hits each. The Giants intercepted three passes, one each by CB Terrell Thomas, CB Bruce Johnson, and LB Chase Blackburn.
Inactive for the Giants were CB Corey Webster (knee), CB Aaron Ross (hamstring), RT Kareem McKenzie (knee), TE Darcy Johnson, HB Danny Ware, WR Sinorice Moss, WR Ramses Barden, and OC Adam Koets.
Ross said he is going for another MRI on Tuesday.