Giants proficient in third straight win over Lions 
EAST RUTHERFORD – Perhaps winning ugly is going to be the theme of this Giants season.
Not every game is going to be a polished and dominating as their victory over Houston the previous week, but they will certainly take the win at the end of 60 minutes.
The Giants appeared to be in full control throughout, but yet needed their defense to make a final stand with under a minute left, forcing the Lions into a turnover to seal a 28-20 victory at New Meadowlands Stadium to nail their third consecutive victory and a share of the NFC East lead alongside Philadelphia.
“We came in looking to be 4-2 and we are,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin.
One look at the score would suggest the Lions were in the game the entire way.
However, this was only the case because the Giants were unable to put them away until late in the fourth quarter, sending many fans to the exits.
Brandon Jacobs’ second touchdown of the game made it a 28-17 game, but after a field goal by Jason Hanson and a three-and-out by the Giants offense, the Lions had the ball with a chance to tie the game, but an interception by Antrel Rolle sealed the win.
“Guys are coming together,” Rolle said. “We went out there and played a great game together, and that’s what it’s all about.”
The game started inauspiciously on the Giants opening possession when the continuing problems of Matt Dodge continued the plague the team when twice he was unable to handle an exchange on a punt, eventually fumbling the ball that the Lions would recover at the Giants 43.
“I need to catch the ball obviously,” said Dodge. I can’t give them that kind of field position.”
Seven plays later, the Lions would convert the turnover into points when quarterback Shaun Hill connected with Nate Burleson for a 14-yard touchdown pass to take an early 7-0 lead.
A 56-yard punt by Dodge pinned the Lions deep in their own territory, the Giants defense forced a three-and-out giving their offense the ball at the Lions 40 and five plays later, Jacobs scored from four yards out to tie the game.
In the second quarter, the Giants offense started at their own seven and marched 93 yards on 11 plays, culminating in a beautiful 33-yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning to Mario Manningham on a deep post for his second score of the year to go in front 14-7, eventually taking a 14-10 lead into halftime.
“It’s a play that we have been working on successfully in practice all week, said Manningham of the play leading to his second touchdown of the season. “We knew we wanted to go to it when the time was right.”
Hill had to leave the game with an arm fracture on the final drive before the half.
Detroit would commit numerous penalties to kill themselves on the afternoon. One of their worst sequences came in the third quarter when a potential first down reception by Burleson came back due to an illegal formation penalty. On the next play, Osi Umenyiora sacked new quarterback Drew Stanton, forcing a fumble that Justin Tuck would recover at the Giants 43.
The Giants would take advantage of the turnover, as Manning would find Steve Smith for 14 yards and Kevin Boss for 25. They drove all the way down to the 1 before not being able to punch the ball in with Jacobs on both first and second down. On third down, Manning used play-action and found Travis Beckum for his first career NFL touchdown to give extend the lead to 21-10.
“We got off to a slow start,” said Manning. “We had a couple really good drives and when we got down there we scored touchdowns.”
Four touchdowns to be exact.
As they have done all season, the defense set out to stop the run and they did exactly that, limiting rookie Jahvid Best to only 16 yards on 12 carries as the Giants were able to move Rolle into the box as an eighth man on early downs. The lack of success turned them into a one-dimensional team, passing on 49 of their 70 plays.
“We were going against the number one scoring offense in the NFC,” said linebacker Jonathan Goff. “We got some timely turnovers, which got them off the field. And then we were able to give our offense a chance to put points on the board.
Looking to put the game away in the fourth quarter, an unfortunate break on a third-and-10 from the Giants 13, when Terrell Thomas mistimed his jump and with Rolle falling down, receiver Calvin Johnson was able to make a catch and went the distance for an 87-yard touchdown to cut the margin to 21-17.
The Lions would force the Giants into punts on each of their next two possessions and had the ball with 8:23 remaining with a chance to take the lead. On third-and-five from midfield, Stanton found Burleson for another first down at the 42, but the ball came loose as he went to the ground. Acutely, Deon Grant quickly snatched the fumble to give the ball back to the offense at their own 42.
“I knew it was out because their sideline was yelling,” said Grant. I felt him underneath me moving, and he was already tackled so I knew he didn’t need to move, so I knew the ball was out but I couldn’t find it. When I finally saw it, I had it.”
It would take only three plays to stick the ball into the end zone as Ahmad Bradshaw ripped a 45-yard run down to the Lions 13. Jacobs would finish the rest, gaining seven and then getting his second touchdown of the game from six yards out.
Manning was not great, but efficient, going 20-of-30 for 177 yards and 2 touchdowns.
It was another good performance by the defense, limiting the Lions for most of the afternoon and made their only gaffe with the Johnson play and being in disadvantageous field position after the fumble on the punt by Dodge.
At 4-2, a trip to Dallas awaits the Giants, who by virtue of their loss to the Vikings, can go 3 1/2 games ahead in the division with a win.
“We’ve earned it,” said Coughlin. We’ve earned the 4-2. We battled our way back and let’s hope it keeps going.”
They would definitely love to shove dirt into the Cowboys grave.
EAST RUTHERFORD – Perhaps winning ugly is going to be the theme of this Giants season.
Not every game is going to be a polished and dominating as their victory over Houston the previous week, but they will certainly take the win at the end of 60 minutes.
The Giants appeared to be in full control throughout, but yet needed their defense to make a final stand with under a minute left, forcing the Lions into a turnover to seal a 28-20 victory at New Meadowlands Stadium to nail their third consecutive victory and a share of the NFC East lead alongside Philadelphia.
“We came in looking to be 4-2 and we are,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin.
One look at the score would suggest the Lions were in the game the entire way.
However, this was only the case because the Giants were unable to put them away until late in the fourth quarter, sending many fans to the exits.
Brandon Jacobs’ second touchdown of the game made it a 28-17 game, but after a field goal by Jason Hanson and a three-and-out by the Giants offense, the Lions had the ball with a chance to tie the game, but an interception by Antrel Rolle sealed the win.
“Guys are coming together,” Rolle said. “We went out there and played a great game together, and that’s what it’s all about.”
The game started inauspiciously on the Giants opening possession when the continuing problems of Matt Dodge continued the plague the team when twice he was unable to handle an exchange on a punt, eventually fumbling the ball that the Lions would recover at the Giants 43.
“I need to catch the ball obviously,” said Dodge. I can’t give them that kind of field position.”
Seven plays later, the Lions would convert the turnover into points when quarterback Shaun Hill connected with Nate Burleson for a 14-yard touchdown pass to take an early 7-0 lead.
A 56-yard punt by Dodge pinned the Lions deep in their own territory, the Giants defense forced a three-and-out giving their offense the ball at the Lions 40 and five plays later, Jacobs scored from four yards out to tie the game.
In the second quarter, the Giants offense started at their own seven and marched 93 yards on 11 plays, culminating in a beautiful 33-yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning to Mario Manningham on a deep post for his second score of the year to go in front 14-7, eventually taking a 14-10 lead into halftime.
“It’s a play that we have been working on successfully in practice all week, said Manningham of the play leading to his second touchdown of the season. “We knew we wanted to go to it when the time was right.”
Hill had to leave the game with an arm fracture on the final drive before the half.
Detroit would commit numerous penalties to kill themselves on the afternoon. One of their worst sequences came in the third quarter when a potential first down reception by Burleson came back due to an illegal formation penalty. On the next play, Osi Umenyiora sacked new quarterback Drew Stanton, forcing a fumble that Justin Tuck would recover at the Giants 43.
The Giants would take advantage of the turnover, as Manning would find Steve Smith for 14 yards and Kevin Boss for 25. They drove all the way down to the 1 before not being able to punch the ball in with Jacobs on both first and second down. On third down, Manning used play-action and found Travis Beckum for his first career NFL touchdown to give extend the lead to 21-10.
“We got off to a slow start,” said Manning. “We had a couple really good drives and when we got down there we scored touchdowns.”
Four touchdowns to be exact.
As they have done all season, the defense set out to stop the run and they did exactly that, limiting rookie Jahvid Best to only 16 yards on 12 carries as the Giants were able to move Rolle into the box as an eighth man on early downs. The lack of success turned them into a one-dimensional team, passing on 49 of their 70 plays.
“We were going against the number one scoring offense in the NFC,” said linebacker Jonathan Goff. “We got some timely turnovers, which got them off the field. And then we were able to give our offense a chance to put points on the board.
Looking to put the game away in the fourth quarter, an unfortunate break on a third-and-10 from the Giants 13, when Terrell Thomas mistimed his jump and with Rolle falling down, receiver Calvin Johnson was able to make a catch and went the distance for an 87-yard touchdown to cut the margin to 21-17.
The Lions would force the Giants into punts on each of their next two possessions and had the ball with 8:23 remaining with a chance to take the lead. On third-and-five from midfield, Stanton found Burleson for another first down at the 42, but the ball came loose as he went to the ground. Acutely, Deon Grant quickly snatched the fumble to give the ball back to the offense at their own 42.
“I knew it was out because their sideline was yelling,” said Grant. I felt him underneath me moving, and he was already tackled so I knew he didn’t need to move, so I knew the ball was out but I couldn’t find it. When I finally saw it, I had it.”
It would take only three plays to stick the ball into the end zone as Ahmad Bradshaw ripped a 45-yard run down to the Lions 13. Jacobs would finish the rest, gaining seven and then getting his second touchdown of the game from six yards out.
Manning was not great, but efficient, going 20-of-30 for 177 yards and 2 touchdowns.
It was another good performance by the defense, limiting the Lions for most of the afternoon and made their only gaffe with the Johnson play and being in disadvantageous field position after the fumble on the punt by Dodge.
At 4-2, a trip to Dallas awaits the Giants, who by virtue of their loss to the Vikings, can go 3 1/2 games ahead in the division with a win.
“We’ve earned it,” said Coughlin. We’ve earned the 4-2. We battled our way back and let’s hope it keeps going.”
They would definitely love to shove dirt into the Cowboys grave.
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