Eagles end Giants reign as Super Bowl champs
Cancel those travel plans to Tampa.
A season that held such promise several weeks ago when the Giants were 11-1 has now seen itself disintegrate by a struggling finish and a one-and-done playoff exit.
Even more gnawing was that it came at the hands of their neighbors from 90 miles south, the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Eagles came into Giants Stadium back in December and won to keep their playoff hopes alive. This time, they came back to the Meadowlands and turned the trick again, advancing to the NFC Championship Game and sending their rivals to an early and unexpected vacation by way of a 23-11 victory.
It was a day of missed opportunities, quizzical play calling and coaching decisions that will eat away at the now former titleholders all the way through training camp in Albany.
With the winds gusting at 20 MPH at the start of the game, the Giants elected to receive and go into the wind for the second time against the Eagles. It happened back in December and the team was unable to score a point going in that direction for both the first and fourth quarters.
Taking the chance once again, the Giants appeared as if they would cash in on a golden opportunity. Ahmad Bradshaw returned the opening kickoff 65 yards down to the Eagles 35 yard line to set up great field position. On the teams first offensive play, quarterback Eli Manning got cornerback Asante Samuel to bite on a pump fake and had receiver Steve Smith wide open for what would have been a momentum building touchdown. However, Manning’s pass was incomplete as he overthrew it.
Consider it a missed opportunity.
A field goal by John Carney gave the Giants an opening 3-0 lead. After the forcing the Eagles to punt on their first drive, Manning made a terrible decision due in part because of questionable play calling. Backed up at their own 13, he rolled right looking for receiver Domenik Hixon who was covered. Trying to make a play, Manning’s passed sailed on him and into the hands of Samuel who returned it to the Giants 2.
After three tries, quarterback Donovan McNabb pushed ahead and stuck out the ball past the goal line to give the Eagles a 7-3 lead.
Both teams traded punts going into the second quarter. On Philly’s first possession of the second, McNabb was pressured and threw the ball out of bounds. The referees called intentional grounding and the Giants were awarded a safety to cut the lead to 7-5.
It appeared that the Giants were going to use that safety as momentum as moved the ball down the field inside the Eagles 30. Three plays for no gain brought on Carney to attempt a field goal, but his kick would curl to the right and the team would come away with nothing.
Heading near the half, the Eagles offense had amassed only (total) yards when McNabb’s pass was intercepted by Kevin Dockery at the Giants 20 yard line. Brandon Jacobs’ (19 carries for 92 yards) 24 yard run and a 26 yard reception by Kevin Boss drove the ball down to the Eagles 21 at the two minute warning.
It was first-and-five after a penalty and the Giants ran three successive pass plays that were incomplete. The continued problems in the red zone showed itself again. Rather than going for it needing one yard on fourth down, the team opted for a 34 yard Carney field goal to go back in front 8-7.
Leaving 1:24 on the clock, the Giants used only a three man line and McNabb finally found his groove. He completed five of eight passes on the drive that got within field goal range and kicker David Akers hit a 25 yard field goal to give the Eagles a 10-8 lead at halftime.
Only converting one of seven third downs in the half became a problem the Giants, as they were not able to establish any chance to separate themselves from their long time rivals.
Catching a break to begin the third quarter, McNabb had his second play of the quarter tipped by linebacker Chase Blackburn and intercepted by defensive tackle Fred Robbins who rumbled 17 yards down to the Eagles 33.
After runs of 11 and 5 yards by Jacobs, Manning threw incomplete passes on their next two downs to set up another field goal that Carney hit from 36 yards to make it 11-10.
The play of game came on the Eagles next possession. With the crowd roaring on third-and-20, McNabb eluded sacks from Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka , moved up in the pocket and found an open Jason Avant for 21 yards and a first down. On another third-and-10, McNabb found Correll Buckhalter for 19 yards down to the Giants 22. This helped set up a 35 yard field goal from Akers to make it 13-11.
Another drive by the Giants offense got inside the 30, but again the drive stalled and Carney’s 47 yard field goal was no good. For Carney, it was his third missed field goal in the last six attempts. This gave the Eagles terrific field position and they took advantage, moving the ball 63 yards capped up with a one yard touchdown pass from McNabb to tight end Brent Celek to put them in from 20-11.
In desperation, the Giants tried to move quickly to close the gap. However, after Derrick was marked a half yard short of the first down, Coach Coughlin challenged the spot of the ball and lost a timeout as the play was upheld. Going for it on fourth down, a quarterback sneak by Manning did not move an inch as the Eagles took over on downs.
A quick three-and-out by the defense gave the ball back to the offense. After gaining two first downs, runs of two yards and no gain on a “Wildcat” play set up the season on fourth down. Jacobs was given the ball needing two yards and only gained one. Once again, the Giants turned the ball over on downs and the reign as champions was ticking away.
Looking for the knockout, McNabb hit receiver DeSean Jackson for 48 yards down to the Giants 1. The defense stiffened and Akers trotted out to boot a 20 yard field goal to increase the lead to 23-11 with 3:58 left.
Manning bad day was concluded when at midfield going into the wind, his pass intended for Smith sailed and was intercepted by cornerback Quentin Mikell at the Eagles 32 yards.
Game over.
The Eagles became the only team to beat the Giants twice in Giants Stadium. It was the game that many felt was the worst possible matchup for the now former champions and it played out that way.
Manning never found rhythm the entire day. His wind-aided 15 for 29 for 169 yards and two interceptions was a complete contrast from his heroic postseason of last year.
Going 3 for 13 on third down also hurt. In addition, the Giants found themselves in the red zone four times, settled for three field goals and threw one costly interception that led to the Eagles first touchdown.
When they look back on it, they will kick themselves for all the missed opportunities they had and wonder what happened.
For the next six months.
A season that held such promise several weeks ago when the Giants were 11-1 has now seen itself disintegrate by a struggling finish and a one-and-done playoff exit.
Even more gnawing was that it came at the hands of their neighbors from 90 miles south, the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Eagles came into Giants Stadium back in December and won to keep their playoff hopes alive. This time, they came back to the Meadowlands and turned the trick again, advancing to the NFC Championship Game and sending their rivals to an early and unexpected vacation by way of a 23-11 victory.
It was a day of missed opportunities, quizzical play calling and coaching decisions that will eat away at the now former titleholders all the way through training camp in Albany.
With the winds gusting at 20 MPH at the start of the game, the Giants elected to receive and go into the wind for the second time against the Eagles. It happened back in December and the team was unable to score a point going in that direction for both the first and fourth quarters.
Taking the chance once again, the Giants appeared as if they would cash in on a golden opportunity. Ahmad Bradshaw returned the opening kickoff 65 yards down to the Eagles 35 yard line to set up great field position. On the teams first offensive play, quarterback Eli Manning got cornerback Asante Samuel to bite on a pump fake and had receiver Steve Smith wide open for what would have been a momentum building touchdown. However, Manning’s pass was incomplete as he overthrew it.
Consider it a missed opportunity.
A field goal by John Carney gave the Giants an opening 3-0 lead. After the forcing the Eagles to punt on their first drive, Manning made a terrible decision due in part because of questionable play calling. Backed up at their own 13, he rolled right looking for receiver Domenik Hixon who was covered. Trying to make a play, Manning’s passed sailed on him and into the hands of Samuel who returned it to the Giants 2.
After three tries, quarterback Donovan McNabb pushed ahead and stuck out the ball past the goal line to give the Eagles a 7-3 lead.
Both teams traded punts going into the second quarter. On Philly’s first possession of the second, McNabb was pressured and threw the ball out of bounds. The referees called intentional grounding and the Giants were awarded a safety to cut the lead to 7-5.
It appeared that the Giants were going to use that safety as momentum as moved the ball down the field inside the Eagles 30. Three plays for no gain brought on Carney to attempt a field goal, but his kick would curl to the right and the team would come away with nothing.
Heading near the half, the Eagles offense had amassed only (total) yards when McNabb’s pass was intercepted by Kevin Dockery at the Giants 20 yard line. Brandon Jacobs’ (19 carries for 92 yards) 24 yard run and a 26 yard reception by Kevin Boss drove the ball down to the Eagles 21 at the two minute warning.
It was first-and-five after a penalty and the Giants ran three successive pass plays that were incomplete. The continued problems in the red zone showed itself again. Rather than going for it needing one yard on fourth down, the team opted for a 34 yard Carney field goal to go back in front 8-7.
Leaving 1:24 on the clock, the Giants used only a three man line and McNabb finally found his groove. He completed five of eight passes on the drive that got within field goal range and kicker David Akers hit a 25 yard field goal to give the Eagles a 10-8 lead at halftime.
Only converting one of seven third downs in the half became a problem the Giants, as they were not able to establish any chance to separate themselves from their long time rivals.
Catching a break to begin the third quarter, McNabb had his second play of the quarter tipped by linebacker Chase Blackburn and intercepted by defensive tackle Fred Robbins who rumbled 17 yards down to the Eagles 33.
After runs of 11 and 5 yards by Jacobs, Manning threw incomplete passes on their next two downs to set up another field goal that Carney hit from 36 yards to make it 11-10.
The play of game came on the Eagles next possession. With the crowd roaring on third-and-20, McNabb eluded sacks from Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka , moved up in the pocket and found an open Jason Avant for 21 yards and a first down. On another third-and-10, McNabb found Correll Buckhalter for 19 yards down to the Giants 22. This helped set up a 35 yard field goal from Akers to make it 13-11.
Another drive by the Giants offense got inside the 30, but again the drive stalled and Carney’s 47 yard field goal was no good. For Carney, it was his third missed field goal in the last six attempts. This gave the Eagles terrific field position and they took advantage, moving the ball 63 yards capped up with a one yard touchdown pass from McNabb to tight end Brent Celek to put them in from 20-11.
In desperation, the Giants tried to move quickly to close the gap. However, after Derrick was marked a half yard short of the first down, Coach Coughlin challenged the spot of the ball and lost a timeout as the play was upheld. Going for it on fourth down, a quarterback sneak by Manning did not move an inch as the Eagles took over on downs.
A quick three-and-out by the defense gave the ball back to the offense. After gaining two first downs, runs of two yards and no gain on a “Wildcat” play set up the season on fourth down. Jacobs was given the ball needing two yards and only gained one. Once again, the Giants turned the ball over on downs and the reign as champions was ticking away.
Looking for the knockout, McNabb hit receiver DeSean Jackson for 48 yards down to the Giants 1. The defense stiffened and Akers trotted out to boot a 20 yard field goal to increase the lead to 23-11 with 3:58 left.
Manning bad day was concluded when at midfield going into the wind, his pass intended for Smith sailed and was intercepted by cornerback Quentin Mikell at the Eagles 32 yards.
Game over.
The Eagles became the only team to beat the Giants twice in Giants Stadium. It was the game that many felt was the worst possible matchup for the now former champions and it played out that way.
Manning never found rhythm the entire day. His wind-aided 15 for 29 for 169 yards and two interceptions was a complete contrast from his heroic postseason of last year.
Going 3 for 13 on third down also hurt. In addition, the Giants found themselves in the red zone four times, settled for three field goals and threw one costly interception that led to the Eagles first touchdown.
When they look back on it, they will kick themselves for all the missed opportunities they had and wonder what happened.
For the next six months.
No comments:
Post a Comment