Giants Win Home Opener, Down Panthers 31-18: It was not the prettiest game, but the Giants will take it. New York defeated the Carolina Panthers 31-18 in the Giants’ home opener at the New Meadowlands Stadium earlier today.
“It’s a historic first win for the New York Giants franchise here in the brand new stadium,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “I thought that it is an outstanding win for our team. I thought our defense played the run very well. We gave up some yards in the pass, gave up some yards on third down, but the turnovers were huge and the ability to get the interceptions and to turn them back. Unfortunately we made turnovers on the offensive side of the ball. We didn’t run the ball very well. Their defense was very good and always has been a very good defense against the run.”
“We made some plays,” continued Coughlin. “We got some points on the board. I thought that no one is very happy about the way we finished the game. We do have a ways to go. We’ve got a lot of things to work on. I was not pleased with our kicking game – our kickoffs, our coverage team, and obviously the breakdown in the punt protection at the end of the game, which, in circumstances other than these could cost you the football game.”
The Panthers received the ball to start the game but went three-and-out on their first possession. On the Giants’ first possession, a pass intended for WR Hakeem Nicks was intercepted and returned to near midfield. HB DeAngelo Williams of the Panthers broke off his only significant run of the day for 29 yards, but two plays later, S Deon Grant ended the Carolina scoring threat by intercepting a pass from Panthers’ QB Matt Moore in the end zone.
The offensive ineptitude continued on the second Giants’ offensive series as the Giants lost eight yards on a running play and went three-and-out. Worse for the Giants, rookie P Matt Dodge’s 41-yard punt was returned 28 yards to the Giants’ 29-yard line. The Panthers picked up one first down, but were forced to settle for a 21-yard field goal. Panthers 3 – Giants 0.
The Giants impressively responded with a 7-play, 68-yard drive that resulted in a 26-yard touchdown pass from QB Eli Manning to Nicks. The other big play on the drive was a 31-yard pass from Manning to WR Mario Manningham on 3rd-and-16. Giants 7 – Panthers 3.
Special teams problems continued for the Giants on the ensuing kickoff. The Panthers returned the kickoff 32 yards to the Panthers’ 45-yard line. The Panthers only managed one first down on “the drive”, but given their good starting field position, it was enough to set up a successful 52-yard field goal. Giants 7 – Panthers 6.
The Giants’ fourth offensive possession ended with another turnover as Manning’s pass intended for HB Ahmad Bradshaw was intercepted near midfield again. But the Giants’ defense did not allow a first down and the Panthers were forced to punt. The Giants gained one first down and then were also forced to punt. Carolina was able to move the football 39 yards in seven plays to set up another successful field goal, this one from 43 yards out. The drive was aided by a roughing-the-passer penalty on DE Osi Umenyiora. Panthers 9 – Giants – 7.
With 1:41 left before halftime, Eli Manning and the Giants drove 80 yards in seven plays to take the lead. The drive was aided by a 20-yard defensive pass interference penalty. Nicks caught a 25-yard pass. A few plays later, Nicks scored for the second time, this time from 19 yards out. Giants 14 – Panthers – 9.
However, again the special teams failed. The Panthers returned the ensuing kickoff 45 yards to midfield. With only 33 seconds on the clock, the Panthers were able to move the remaining 50 yards and score a touchdown with only seconds left before halftime.
Carolina led at the intermission 16-14.
The Giants received the football to start the second half. New York drove 60 yards in 11 plays to set a successful 32-yard field goal by PK Lawrence Tynes. HB Brandon Jacobs broke off a 22-yard run to start the drive and the Giants converted a 4th-and-1 on a QB sneak to keep the drive alive.
The Panthers were able to convert on two third-and-longs on their first possession of the second half, but ended up punting. The punt play resulted in a turnover for the Giants as the Carolina punting unit fumbled the ball away to New York at the Panthers’ 38-yard line. The Giants quickly took advantage by scoring a touchdown five plays later. Manning hit Manningham for 25 yards on 2nd-and-13. Three plays later, Nicks scored for the third time in the game, this one a 5-yard pass from Manning. Giants 24 – Panthers 16.
Carolina went three-and-out on their second possession as Moore was sacked on first down by defensive tackles Barry Cofield and Chris Canty. New York’s third offensive possession of the second half started at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The Giants started this drive near midfield and were able to drive 52 yards in six plays to take a commanding 31-16 lead. The drive was virtually all Bradshaw as he caught a pass for 16 yards and then broke off a 39-yard run. He finished the drive with a 4-yard touchdown on 3rd-and-goal.
Carolina saw its last best hope for victory evaporate on the ensuing possessions. The Panthers drove from their 20-yard line to the Giants’ 4-yard line in 12 plays. But on 3rd-and-goal, Moore was intercepted for the second time in the end zone, this time by CB Terrell Thomas. However, the Giants gave the ball right back to the Panthers as Manning’s pass intended for WR Ramses Barden was intercepted and returned to the Giants’ 12-yard line. Two plays later, with under 6 and a half minutes to go, S Kenny Phillips intercepted Moore in the end zone again.
The Giants picked up one first down but were forced to punt with just over four minutes to go. Special teams stunk once again as Dodge’s punt was blocked. The ball went out of bounds in the end zone for a safety. Giants 31 – Carolina 18.
The Giants’ defense, which held the vaunted Carolina rushing attack to just 89 yards, finished the deal after the ensuing kick. DE Mathias Kiwanuka sacked Moore, forcing a fumble that was recovered by DE Justin Tuck at the Carolina 29-yard line. The Giants picked up one first down but Bradshaw fumbled the ball away on 3rd-and-7 at the Carolina 14-yard line. But with only about two and a half minutes left, Carolina had little hope to overcome the 13-point deficit. Umenyiora sacked Moore on the first play of Carolina’s final drive, and facing a 4th-and-17 from their own 3-yard line, Carolina punted. The Giants then kneeled on the ball to end the game.
Injury Report – Boss, Blackburn, and Beatty Hurt: The Giants suffered a significant injury at their thinnest position when TE Kevin Boss was forced to leave the game early with a concussion and neck injury.
LB Chase Blackburn also left the game with a knee injury.
LT Will Beatty was spotted wearing a protective boot on his right foot after the game.
QB Jim Sorgi, who is on Injured Reserve, underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a torn capsule in his right shoulder. He also had a torn labrum repaired. The labrum injury occurred before Sorgi signed with the Giants during the 2010 offseason. Sorgi will be rehabbing the shoulder for the next four months.
Post-Game Notes: Inactive for the Giants were CB Aaron Ross (foot), LB Gerris Wilkinson (groin), LB Phillip Dillard (hamstring), DT Linval Joseph, DE Dave Tollefson, WR Victor Cruz, WR Duke Calhoun, and OG Mitch Petrus.