Giants battle from early struggles, rallies to win in overtime
There was a point in the third quarter when things looked bleak and it appeared as if everything that the Giants had built this season was set to crumble and possibly swallow them whole.
It is at these moments when you find out true champions fight their way back. Scratching and clawing for everything and making a stand that this will not happen.
For this game, it would take 60 minutes, a little luck and even a few more minutes in an extra session.
In one of the most thrilling wins of their year, the world champions made that stand, coming back from a 21-10 deficit to win 34-28 in overtime over the Carolina Panthers to clinch the number one seed in the NFC and ensured that the road to Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa will go through Giants Stadium.
The last few weeks saw its offense that was going in reverse because of the loss of running back Brandon Jacobs. He was back in the lineup and his presence lifted the spirits of everyone around.
Of course, at the start, his presence did not lift the spirit of the defense. After Pro Bowler John Carney converted on a 32 yard field goal to give the Giants an opening lead, the Panthers marched 77 yards, capped off a 13 yard touchdown run off right guard by DeAngelo Williams to give the Panthers a 7-3 lead.
The Giants retook the lead 10-7 on a two-yard Jacobs touchdown run, but Carolina answered again. Williams scored again from five yards to take a 14-10 lead. Then after forcing a three-and-out, Williams scored his third touchdown of the game that was set up by 60-yard pass to Mushin Muhammad that went right through the hands of cornerback Aaron Ross.
Though the Giants got within eight points at the half 21-13, it was apparent the Panthers had the defense flummoxed, gaining 206 yards and hitting numerous big plays.
In the third quarter, the world champions closed the gap as Eli Manning led a brilliant 8:34 drive covering 84 yards in 12 plays to pull within a point 21-20, when he found tight end Kevin Boss on a four-yard touchdown pass. The drive consisted of big plays from Derrick Ward (22-yard run), Amani Toomer (12-yard catch) rarely used fullback Madison Hedgecock (13-yard catch).
Once again, the Panthers stormed back.
Delhomme found Mushin Muhammad picked up a key first down on third-and four to keep a drive alive. He them followed that up with a 19-yard completion to Dwayne Jarrett. Williams would score his fourth rushing touchdown of the game when his 30 yard scamper gave the Panthers a 28-20 lead.
Williams would finish the game with 108 yards on 24 carries.
Attempting to close the gap, the Giants got the ball down to the Carolina 30 before Manning was sacked by defensive end Julius Peppers on third down to take the team out of field goal range. They would be given a tremendous spark when punter Jeff Feagles pinned the Panthers inside its own one-yard line.
The defense forced a three-and-out and the punt gave the Giants great field position at the Panthers 44 with 7:09 remaining needing a touchdown and two point conversion to tie the score.
It is moments like this when you test the fortitude of a champion. Facing a team that was looking to establish them as kings of the NFC, it was Manning and the Giants who would embark on season remembering drive.
Manning (17 for 27, 181 yards, 1 TD) found receiver Domenik Hixon for 13 yards and then Toomer for 15 down to the Panthers 22. At the 17-yard line on third-and-five, Manning found Boss for a 12-yard completion down to the 5.
A pass interference penalty on Ken Lucas moved the ball to the 1, and on the next play, Jacobs powered his way into the end zone to make it 28-26. They would tie the game when on a beautiful play action fake, Manning found Hixon on a cross in the end zone with 3:24 left.
The Panthers moved the ball into field goal range with 0:04 left for kicker John Kasay. However, his 50-yard attempt curved to the left as time expired to force overtime.
Both teams exchanged punts at the start of the extra session. When the Giants got the ball again, they decided it was time to end this game.
There was a point in the third quarter when things looked bleak and it appeared as if everything that the Giants had built this season was set to crumble and possibly swallow them whole.
It is at these moments when you find out true champions fight their way back. Scratching and clawing for everything and making a stand that this will not happen.
For this game, it would take 60 minutes, a little luck and even a few more minutes in an extra session.
In one of the most thrilling wins of their year, the world champions made that stand, coming back from a 21-10 deficit to win 34-28 in overtime over the Carolina Panthers to clinch the number one seed in the NFC and ensured that the road to Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa will go through Giants Stadium.
The last few weeks saw its offense that was going in reverse because of the loss of running back Brandon Jacobs. He was back in the lineup and his presence lifted the spirits of everyone around.
Of course, at the start, his presence did not lift the spirit of the defense. After Pro Bowler John Carney converted on a 32 yard field goal to give the Giants an opening lead, the Panthers marched 77 yards, capped off a 13 yard touchdown run off right guard by DeAngelo Williams to give the Panthers a 7-3 lead.
The Giants retook the lead 10-7 on a two-yard Jacobs touchdown run, but Carolina answered again. Williams scored again from five yards to take a 14-10 lead. Then after forcing a three-and-out, Williams scored his third touchdown of the game that was set up by 60-yard pass to Mushin Muhammad that went right through the hands of cornerback Aaron Ross.
Though the Giants got within eight points at the half 21-13, it was apparent the Panthers had the defense flummoxed, gaining 206 yards and hitting numerous big plays.
In the third quarter, the world champions closed the gap as Eli Manning led a brilliant 8:34 drive covering 84 yards in 12 plays to pull within a point 21-20, when he found tight end Kevin Boss on a four-yard touchdown pass. The drive consisted of big plays from Derrick Ward (22-yard run), Amani Toomer (12-yard catch) rarely used fullback Madison Hedgecock (13-yard catch).
Once again, the Panthers stormed back.
Delhomme found Mushin Muhammad picked up a key first down on third-and four to keep a drive alive. He them followed that up with a 19-yard completion to Dwayne Jarrett. Williams would score his fourth rushing touchdown of the game when his 30 yard scamper gave the Panthers a 28-20 lead.
Williams would finish the game with 108 yards on 24 carries.
Attempting to close the gap, the Giants got the ball down to the Carolina 30 before Manning was sacked by defensive end Julius Peppers on third down to take the team out of field goal range. They would be given a tremendous spark when punter Jeff Feagles pinned the Panthers inside its own one-yard line.
The defense forced a three-and-out and the punt gave the Giants great field position at the Panthers 44 with 7:09 remaining needing a touchdown and two point conversion to tie the score.
It is moments like this when you test the fortitude of a champion. Facing a team that was looking to establish them as kings of the NFC, it was Manning and the Giants who would embark on season remembering drive.
Manning (17 for 27, 181 yards, 1 TD) found receiver Domenik Hixon for 13 yards and then Toomer for 15 down to the Panthers 22. At the 17-yard line on third-and-five, Manning found Boss for a 12-yard completion down to the 5.
A pass interference penalty on Ken Lucas moved the ball to the 1, and on the next play, Jacobs powered his way into the end zone to make it 28-26. They would tie the game when on a beautiful play action fake, Manning found Hixon on a cross in the end zone with 3:24 left.
The Panthers moved the ball into field goal range with 0:04 left for kicker John Kasay. However, his 50-yard attempt curved to the left as time expired to force overtime.
Both teams exchanged punts at the start of the extra session. When the Giants got the ball again, they decided it was time to end this game.
Starting from their own 13 yard line, Derrick Ward (15 carries – 215 yards) took the handoff and with a great block from guard Rich Seubert sprinted 51 yards down to the Panthers 36. Needing seven yards on third down, the tired Carolina defense was gashed by Ward’s 14 yard run to the 19. On the next play, Ward nearly had the game winner as he again went off the side as he rumbled inside the Panthers 2.
Coach Tom Coughlin could have elected to kick the field goal to win, but rather stayed aggressive and went for the touchdown. For the third time in the game, Jacobs bulled his was up the middle and when he found the end zone, the Giants had snapped their two game losing streak and the #1 seed in the NFC.
The night capped off an incredible rushing performance. Jacobs (24 carries – 87 yards) and Ward combined for 302 yards. There was no escaping the presence of Jacobs to the teams psyche and offense.
After struggling in the first half, the defense stiffed up in the second half, yielding only seven points and limiting them to only 3 for 8 on third downs. Wide receiver Steve Smith, who had three catches in the first half, was shut out in the second.
With the win, the Giants can approach the final regular season game in Minneapolis against the Minnesota Vikings with an eye on the postseason knowing that they will have their first week off since Week 4.
The team’s first playoff game will not be until either Saturday January 10 or Sunday January 11.
They have fought the best the NFL has had to offer over the last two and half months. Now they get a chance to exhale before their official defense of their Super Bowl title commences.
It is something they have earned.
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