EAST RUTHERFORD – There was a fleeting moment in the game where the Giants realistically had a chance after spotting the Eagles a 14-point lead from the outset of the game.
Eli Manning spotted a blitz from Philadelphia and found an open Domenik Hixon, who broke a tackle and withstood a tackle attempt by safety Sean Jones and sprinted 61 yards for a touchdown to give the Giants a 31-30 lead late in the third quarter.
Giants Stadium roared and the team bench enjoyed another big play. With the news of the Cowboys losing at home to the Chargers fresh in their minds, they could see the finish line of first place in the NFC East after everything they have gone through since starting the season 5-0.
All it took was 15 seconds and one play for the Eagles to dash those hopes, with DeSean Jackson backpedaling into the end zone on a blown coverage. This gave Philadelphia the lead and an eventual 45-38 shootout victory to all but eliminate the Giants from divisional contention.
The Eagles (9-4) now hold a two-game lead (three with the season sweep) in the NFC East over the Giants (7-6) with three games to play. For now, the only ticket to the playoffs would be for the Cowboys to continue their December swoon.
Needing failure from other teams at this time of year is always a dangerous proposition, but the Giants could have control their own road to the postseason. However, for the fourth straight time (third in a row in Giants Stadium) in last twelve months, they came up short to their division rivals.
Just like the first game in November, the Eagles quickly got ahead by double-digits, forcing the Giants into another early hole. On the first drive, Philadelphia marched 67 yards, scoring when Donovan McNabb found Brent Celek on a tight end screen, following his blocks into the end zone.
On defense, Trent Cole swiped the football from Brandon Jacobs and the ball ricocheted off the back foot of Kevin Boss into the arms of Sheldon Brown as he raced 60 yards for a touchdown.
With the score 14-3, Manning found rookie Hakeem Nicks who spun out of a tackled and went 66 yards for a score to make it 14-10.
A 20-yard field goal by David Akers made it 17-10, and when the Giants were forced to punt, DeSean Jackson, who punter Jeff Feagles attempted to pin along the sideline. However, Jackson saw Hixon out of position and by setting up his blocks was able to accelerate up the left side, taking it 72 yards for the touchdown.
The Giants cut the deficit to 24-17 on a three-yard touchdown run by Ahmad Bradshaw on a 67-yard drive. Philadelphia answered with help from the Giants defense in a play that caused confusion on the field.
On second-and-10, McNabb went back to throw and Osi Umenyiora sacked him from behind and the ball floated into the air. Michael Boley dropped what looked to be a sure interception for touchdown. The defense assumed the pass was incomplete and the ball remained on the ground for several moments. When no Giants defender picked up the ball, the referees moved the ball back to the point of the sack and it became nothing more than a loss of 10 yards. With time on third-and-20, McNabb found Jackson deep for a 44-yard completion. Four plays later, Mike Vick ran a bootleg to off left tackle for a score and 30-17 halftime lead.
To start the second half, the Giants drove 74 yards in 11 plays, with a fourth down touchdown run by Brandon Jacobs to make it a six-point game. Linebacker Jonathan Goff would intercept a McNabb pass on their next possession to set the offense up at the Eagles 29. On the next play, Manning scrambled and had open space up field but while sliding headfirst, he fumbled and the Eagles recovered. It was the third turnover of the game.
Philadelphia did not capitalize, allowing the Giants to get the ball back and Manning found Hixon for 61-yard catch and run touchdown to give the team their first lead of the game before Jackson got through broken coverage for a 60-yard touchdown catch.
In the fourth quarter after the Giants punted on their last two possessions, the Eagles marched to the game clinching score. Going 91 yards on 12 plays and not forced into attempting a third down, dominating the line of scrimmage as they have in the previous four meetings. Leonard Weaver’s one-yard burst for a touchdown extended the Eagles lead to 45-31 with 5:48 remaining.
The Giants closed to within seven when Manning hit Boss for a four-yard touchdown. However, the drive took 4:17 off the clock leaving them with little time left after their defense forced a three-and-out from Philadelphia.
On second down with 0:19 left, Manning looked for a receiver, but had the ball stripped from behind by Darren Howard and recovered by Joselio Hanson to seal an Eagles victory.
The loss negated one of Manning’s career performances, who went 27-for-38 for 391 yards and three touchdowns despite fumbling twice.
The Giants need a combination of wins and Cowboys or Packers losses to make the playoffs. It was all there for the taking, but fumbling four times and losing them all were too much to overcome in addition to allow a touchdown on defense and special teams.
In simpler terms, they fumbled it away.
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