Giants Defeat Redskins in Home Opener; Nicks and Ware Injured: The Giants defeated the Washington Redskins 23-17 in the home opener today at the Meadowlands in a game that was not as close as the final score. New York jumped out to a 17-0 lead in second quarter. The Redskins narrowed the game to 17-10 in 3rd quarter. The Giants responded with two field goals in the 4th quarter to go up 23-10 before the Redskins scored a late touchdown with under two minutes in the game. New York recovered the ensuing onside kick to preserve the victory.
The bad news was that HB Danny Ware dislocated an elbow on the opening kickoff. WR Hakeem Nicks suffered a potentially serious foot sprain in the 4th quarter. No word yet on how much time both players will miss. “I really don’t know what it is,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin about Nicks. “I do know it is a foot, don’t know how serious it is, he will have all the tests, etc. He couldn’t go back in…I don’t know what it is. They talked about it on the top of the foot and talked about it in the arch. I don’t know, I can’t tell you what it is until I see the medical people.”
When asked about Ware, Coughlin responded, “I don’t know. He did dislocate the elbow. It did go right back in, evidently. Doctor Warren put it right back in.”
On the Giants opening drive of the game, New York drove the ball 67 yards in 12 plays to set up 28-yard field goal by PK Lawrence Tynes after halfbacks Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw were stuffed on back-to-back short-yardage running plays at the Redskins’ 11-yard line. Giants 3 – Redskins 0.
On the Redskins’ first offensive play, HB Clinton Portis broke off a 34-yard run that gave the Redskins a 1st-and-10 at the Giants’ 37-yard line. But on the very next play, LB Chase Blackburn and DE Justin Tuck sacked WR Antwaan Randle El, who was looking to throw the ball on a trick play, for an 11-yard loss. Three plays later, the Redskins punted. After the 34 yard run by Portis, he was held to just 28 yards on his other 15 carries in the game.
On the Giants’ second drive of the game, New York moved the ball 65 yards in 10 plays down the Redskins 3-yard line. But short yardage continued to be a problem for the Giants as Jacobs was stuffed on 3rd-and-1 and 4th-and-1, turning the football over on downs.
The Giants forced a three-and-out and New York’s third drive started at the Washington 44-yard line. QB Eli Manning found WR Domenik Hixon for 10 yards on 3rd-and-9. Then two plays later, on 3rd-and-7, after a quick pass to WR Mario Manningham, Manningham made two defenders miss en route to a 30-yard touchdown catch and run. It was Manningham’s first touchdown in a regular-season game for the Giants. Giants 10 – Redskins 0.
The Giants got the ball right back after a spectacular sideline interception by CB Corey Webster in front of WR Santana Moss. The Giants then proceeded to drive from their 25-yard line to Washington’s 29-yard line. However, on 3rd-and-6, Manning was sacked. He fumbled on the play and Washington recovered at their own 37.
Four plays later, New York took a commanding 17-0 lead when DE Osi Umenyiora stripped QB Jason Campbell of the football, picked up the fumble, and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown.
However, right before halftime, the Redskins responded with big pass plays of 23 and 35 yards down to the Giants’ 8-yard line. The Giants defense held inside the 10-yard line and Washington looked like they were going to have to settle for a field goal, but the Redskins ran a fake field goal and scored from eight yards out. Giants 17 – Redskins 7 at the half.
Washington received the football to start the 3rd quarter. They moved from their own 20 to the Giants’ 43-yard line, but were then forced to punt. After picking up one first down, the Jacobs lost 5 yards on 3rd-and-1 and New York also was forced to punt. Then the Redskins picked up one first down and punted.
On the second play of the Giants’ second drive of the 3rd quarter, Eli Manning was picked off on pass over the middle intended for WR Steve Smith. The Redskins returned the interception to the Giants’ 11-yard line. The Giants’ defense did a magnificent job as Tuck nailed Portis for a 6-yard loss on 1st-and-10. Then, two plays later, on 3rd-and-6, Campbell was sacked by Tuck for a 2-yard loss. The Redskins were forced to settle for a field goal. Giants 17 – Redskins 10.
The Giants extended their lead in the 4th quarter on their next possession as the Giants drove 44 yards in 8 plays to set up a 45-yard field goal by Tynes. The big play on the drive was a 24-yard pass to TE Kevin Boss on 2nd-and-13. Giants 20 – Redskins 10.
The Giants’ defense forced a three-and-out. Then the Giants began a 10-play, 76-yard drive that took over six minutes off of the clock. The big play was a great catch by Smith on 3rd-and-5 for a 26-yard gain. Manning also hit Boss for 27 yards down to the Redskins’ 13-yard line. But the Giants’ offense stalled and New York settled for another field goal by Tynes, this one from 28 yards out. Giants 23 – Redskins 10.
With just over three minutes to play, the Redskins scored scored a touchdown by driving 72 yards in seven plays and 1:42. The Giants only led by six points, but with only a minute and a half left, Washington attempted an onside kick. Smith recovered for the Giants. And New York ran three plays to end the game.
The Giants out-gained the Redskins in total net yards (351 to 272), net yards rushing (103 to 85), and net yards passing (248 to 187). Manning finished the game 20-of-29 for 256 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. Steve Smith was the leading receiving, catching 6 passes for 80 yards. Kevin Boss chipped in with 3 catches for 62 yards and Mario Manningham 3 catches for 58 yards. Brandon Jacobs was held to 46 yards on 16 carries. Ahmad Bradshaw gained 60 yards on 12 carries.
Post-Game Notes: Inactive for the Giants were WR Ramses Barden, OC Adam Koets (ankle), OG Tutan Reyes, OT Guy Whimper, DT Leger Douzable, LB Clint Sintim (groin), CB Aaron Ross (hamstring), and CB Kevin Dockery (hamstring).
The Giants have won three in a row and six of their last seven games against Washington.
Head Coach Tom Coughlin is 3-3 in season openers with the Giants.