Chargers rally for last second touchdown to stun Giants
EAST RUTHERFORD – Last week was described as “rock bottom”.
What do we call this?
After appearing to rally midway through the fourth quarter to take the lead and then having the chance to put the game away late, the Giants gave the Chargers life.
Taking advantage, San Diego took the ball and moved it down the field 80 yards for the winning score with 0:29 remaining for a 21-20 victory at Giants Stadium that may have effectively ended the season for Big Blue.
Losers of three straight the Giants were looking to get on the winning track and on the first quarter were moving the ball efficiently before being stopped at the Chargers 21 on a third-and-1 play when Ahmad Bradshaw was stopped short of the marker. On the fourth down, holder Jeff Feagles was unable to get a good grip on the ball after the snap, negating a field goal attempt by Lawrence Tynes.
Late in the first quarter, San Diego would take the opening lead. Receptions of 16 yards by Vincent Jackson and 19 yards by Antonio Gates moved the ball to the Giants 10. Utilizing a play fake, Jackson beat cornerback Corey Webster in the back of the end zone for a touchdown for a 7-0 lead.
The Giants countered with another long possession to tie score. Quarterback Eli Manning found Steve Smith for 19 yards and Darcy Johnson for 14 more. On third down, Manning found Smith on a skinny post for six-yard touchdown catch to even the score at 7-7 by halftime.
Both teams exchanged punts for most of the third quarter. A bad punt by Feagles gave the Chargers great field position as their own 49. A pass interference penalty on Webster on a pass intended for Jackson placed the ball on the 1, and two plays later Rivers found wide open third string tight end Kris Wilson for a touchdown to go back up 14-7.
The Giants answered with a 38-yard field goal by Tynes to trim the deficit to four. Following that, the defense made a stand, getting three-and-out on a sack by Fred Robbins and a nine yard loss when Justin Tuck tack Darren Sproles in the backfield.
Starting from the Chargers 39 after the punt, the Giants would take the lead when Manning (25-for-33, 215 yards, two touchdowns) found Kevin Boss in the back left corner of the end zone to make it 17-14.
With 3:30 to go, Rivers was looking to direct his offense to the tying score, but his first pass was intercepted by Terrell Thomas who returned it all the way to the Chargers 4.
A touchdown would have made it a 10 point game and almost assure the Giants a victory. After Brandon Jacobs (11 carries, 67 yards) gained three yards, the play negated due to a holding penalty on guard Chris Snee that backed the offense up 10 yards.
After a reception by rookie Hakeem Nicks netted no yards, the Giants strangely went conservative, opting for two running plays out of the shotgun to Jacobs on second and third down. This led to a 22-yard field goal to up the margin to six with 2:07 left in the game as Coach Tom Coughlin put faith in his defense that had limited San Diego’s offense to 146 yards through nearly 58 minutes.
Rivers (24-for-36 for 209 yards, three touchdowns) and his offense took over at their own 20 with one timeout needing a touchdown to win. Receptions by Malcolm Floyd of 12 yards and Antonio Gates of 10 yards placed the ball at the Giants 39. Rivers would then find an open Sproles over the middle for a 22-yard reception down to the Giants 19. On the next play, Jackson (five catches-58 yards) beat Webster again and with no safety help over the top hauled in the pass for a touchdown. The extra point gave San Diego a one-point lead and the eventual victory.
The Giants go into the bye week at 5-4, losers now of four in a row and only the second team in league history to win their first five games and then lose their next four. Because of the Cowboys win, they trail by two games in the loss column.
After the week off, the Giants will host the Atlanta Falcons in the Meadowlands in a game that can make of or break their playoff hopes.
EAST RUTHERFORD – Last week was described as “rock bottom”.
What do we call this?
After appearing to rally midway through the fourth quarter to take the lead and then having the chance to put the game away late, the Giants gave the Chargers life.
Taking advantage, San Diego took the ball and moved it down the field 80 yards for the winning score with 0:29 remaining for a 21-20 victory at Giants Stadium that may have effectively ended the season for Big Blue.
Losers of three straight the Giants were looking to get on the winning track and on the first quarter were moving the ball efficiently before being stopped at the Chargers 21 on a third-and-1 play when Ahmad Bradshaw was stopped short of the marker. On the fourth down, holder Jeff Feagles was unable to get a good grip on the ball after the snap, negating a field goal attempt by Lawrence Tynes.
Late in the first quarter, San Diego would take the opening lead. Receptions of 16 yards by Vincent Jackson and 19 yards by Antonio Gates moved the ball to the Giants 10. Utilizing a play fake, Jackson beat cornerback Corey Webster in the back of the end zone for a touchdown for a 7-0 lead.
The Giants countered with another long possession to tie score. Quarterback Eli Manning found Steve Smith for 19 yards and Darcy Johnson for 14 more. On third down, Manning found Smith on a skinny post for six-yard touchdown catch to even the score at 7-7 by halftime.
Both teams exchanged punts for most of the third quarter. A bad punt by Feagles gave the Chargers great field position as their own 49. A pass interference penalty on Webster on a pass intended for Jackson placed the ball on the 1, and two plays later Rivers found wide open third string tight end Kris Wilson for a touchdown to go back up 14-7.
The Giants answered with a 38-yard field goal by Tynes to trim the deficit to four. Following that, the defense made a stand, getting three-and-out on a sack by Fred Robbins and a nine yard loss when Justin Tuck tack Darren Sproles in the backfield.
Starting from the Chargers 39 after the punt, the Giants would take the lead when Manning (25-for-33, 215 yards, two touchdowns) found Kevin Boss in the back left corner of the end zone to make it 17-14.
With 3:30 to go, Rivers was looking to direct his offense to the tying score, but his first pass was intercepted by Terrell Thomas who returned it all the way to the Chargers 4.
A touchdown would have made it a 10 point game and almost assure the Giants a victory. After Brandon Jacobs (11 carries, 67 yards) gained three yards, the play negated due to a holding penalty on guard Chris Snee that backed the offense up 10 yards.
After a reception by rookie Hakeem Nicks netted no yards, the Giants strangely went conservative, opting for two running plays out of the shotgun to Jacobs on second and third down. This led to a 22-yard field goal to up the margin to six with 2:07 left in the game as Coach Tom Coughlin put faith in his defense that had limited San Diego’s offense to 146 yards through nearly 58 minutes.
Rivers (24-for-36 for 209 yards, three touchdowns) and his offense took over at their own 20 with one timeout needing a touchdown to win. Receptions by Malcolm Floyd of 12 yards and Antonio Gates of 10 yards placed the ball at the Giants 39. Rivers would then find an open Sproles over the middle for a 22-yard reception down to the Giants 19. On the next play, Jackson (five catches-58 yards) beat Webster again and with no safety help over the top hauled in the pass for a touchdown. The extra point gave San Diego a one-point lead and the eventual victory.
The Giants go into the bye week at 5-4, losers now of four in a row and only the second team in league history to win their first five games and then lose their next four. Because of the Cowboys win, they trail by two games in the loss column.
After the week off, the Giants will host the Atlanta Falcons in the Meadowlands in a game that can make of or break their playoff hopes.
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