New York Giants 29 – Philadelphia Eagles 16

by | Sep 25, 2011 | News and Notes

Giants Upset Eagles: The New York Giants upset the Philadelphia Eagles 29-16 earlier today at Lincoln Financial Field. The Giants improved their record to 2-1 (1-1 in the NFC East) while the Eagles fell to 1-2 (0-1 in the NFC East). Counting a post-season loss, the Giants snapped a 6-game losing streak to the Eagles.

“This is a very satisfying win,” said right guard Chris Snee. “To beat a team that talented in their environment, it shows we can potentially be a very good football team.”

The Eagles out-gained the Giants in first downs (14-to-25), total net yards (376 to 334), net yards rushing (102 to 177), and time of possession (36:51 to 23:09), but the Giants out-gained the Eagles in net yards passing (232 to 199) and turnover differential (0 to 3).

The Giants got off to a fast start by going up 14-0 in the first quarter. After going three-and-out on their first drive, the Giants scored touchdowns on their second and third offensive possessions with a 6-play, 73-yard drive and a 3-play, 82-yard drive. On New York’s second drive, QB Eli Manning hit HB Brandon Jacobs on a 40-yard touchdown pass. Then on the Giants’ third drive, on 3rd-and-2, Manning found WR Victor Cruz for a first down and Cruz broke a couple of tackles en route to a 74-yard touchdown.

The Giants had two more possessions in the first half. On their fourth drive, after driving 49 yards in six plays to the Eagles’ 31-yard line, the Giants went for it on 4th-and-3. Manning’s pass to H-Back Travis Beckum only picked up two yards and the Giants turned the football over on downs. The Giants then went three-and-out on their final possession of the first half.

Meanwhile, on the defensive side of the football, the Eagles drove from their 41 yard line on their first drive to the Giants’ 19-yard line. On 3rd-and-6, QB Michael Vicks’ pass intended for WR Steve Smith bounced off of the ex-Giants’ hands and was intercepted by CB Aaron Ross. The Eagles picked up 18 yards on their second possession but then were forced to punt.

The Eagles then scored three straight times on their final three possessions of the first half. The first drive was a 15-play, 77-yard drive where the Giants forced the Eagles to settle for a field goal after the Eagles faced a first-and-goal from the Giants’ 3-yard line. The Eagles then scored their only touchdown of the game by driving 71 yards in seven plays, culminating in an 11-yard touchdown run by HB LeSean McCoy. The Eagles then tacked on another three points late in the quarter by driving 26 yards in five plays to set up a successful 38-yard field goal.

At the half, the Giants led 14-13.

The Eagles and Giants exchanged punts to start the third quarter before the Eagles began a marathon 14-play, 88-yard drive that gave the Eagles a 1st-and-goal from the Giants’ 2-yard line. Including a play where the Giants were offside, the Eagles could not score on four straight plays and had to settle for another field goal. While the 21-yard kick gave Philadelphia their only lead of the game at 16-14, the Eagles would not score again.

After a three-and-out by the Giants, the Eagles drove from their 27-yard line to the Giants’ 43-yard line in four plays. The Eagles decided to go for it on 4th-and-1, but were stuffed for a 3-yard loss by LB Michael Boley.

“For us it was time to step up and put an end to the drive,” Boley said. “I saw it was a run and ran up and got (McCoy) before he could turn the corner.”

The Giants then responded with a 7-play, 54-yard drive that resulted in a 28-yard touchdown pass from Manning to Cruz. The Giants’ 2-point conversion attempt was successful when Jacobs was able to rush into the end zone. Giants 22 – Eagles 16.

“(Cruz) really, really played well,” Head Coach Tom Coughlin said. “He understood exactly what had to happen and he made it happen. The second touchdown, he goes up in the air over the top of two people and makes a play. It’s not like just catching it and running with it. The ball was in the air and all three people were stopped and about to elevate and he goes up and makes a play like that. That was a heck of a play.”

With 8-minutes to play, QB Mike Kafka, who was subbing for the injured Vick who suffered a broken right hand in the game, was intercepted by Ross on a deep pass at the Giants’ 44-yard line.

“I was happy for (Ross),” Coughlin said. “I was very, very happy for him. He played well. He put himself in position. He really did a good job of understanding what they were trying to do, of recognizing some of the formations that they threw at us, and putting himself in position to make some plays.”

The Giants were able to move to the Eagles’ 22-yard line, but had to settle for a field goal. However, during the Giants’ field goal attempt on 4th-and-2, the Eagles were penalized with an encroachment penalty, giving the Giants a first down at the Eagles’ 17-yard line. Three plays later, on 3rd-and-11, Manning hit HB Ahmad Bradshaw on a screen pass that went 18 yards for the touchdown and a commanding 29-16 lead with under four minutes to play.

The Eagles were able to drive near midfield on their final drive, including converting on 4th-and-11. But Kafka was intercepted on the very next play by S Kenny Phillips and the Giants then knelt on the clock to seal the game.

Offensively for the Giants, Eli Manning completed 16-of-23 passes for 254 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. The leading receiver was Victor Cruz who caught three passes for 110 yards and 2 touchdowns. Ahmad Bradshaw carried the ball 15 times for 86 yards.

Defensively, LB Jacquian Williams led the team with nine tackles. DE Jason Pierre-Paul had 7 tackles and 2 sacks. Aaron Ross had two interceptions while Kenny Phillips had another pick.

Highlights/lowlights of the game are available at NFL.com.

Injury Report: DE Justin Tuck suffered a stinger again, but stayed in the game. It remains to be seen how the neck injury will impact his availability.

“It’s recurring,” Tuck said. “It’s something I can play through and I will play through.”

DE Jason Pierre-Paul was affected by cramping during the game.

Post-Game Player Media Q&As: The transcripts and video of post-game media Q&As with the following players are available at Giants.com:

Post-Game Notes: Inactive for the Giants were WR Mario Manningham (concussion), DE Osi Umenyiora (knee), CB Prince Amukamara (foot), HB Da’Rel Scott, WR Michael Clayton, OG Mitch Petrus, and OT James Brewer.