Week 12 Game Recap: New York Giants 21, Tennessee Titans 24

What you need to know

New York Giants

After a week of finger pointing following their embarrassing loss to Jacksonville on Monday night, the Giants came out firing on all cylinders. Taking advantage of two first half Tennessee turnovers and a porous Tennessee defense, the Giants took a 21-0 lead into halftime. Unfortunately for them, this was a tale of two halves, and the Giants’ defense had no answer for Vince Young and company in the second half.

Eli Manning played well at times, but faltered down the stretch. After a shaky first series, Manning settled down nicely and led the Giants on three consecutive touchdown drives. He distributed the ball well among his receivers, and hit Burress with a three yard touchdown strike in the back of the end zone on the Giants’ second series. In the second half, however, Manning threw two costly interceptions and had difficulty moving the Giants’ offense down the field.

Buoyed by the comfort of an early lead, the Giants’ offense heavily utilized the running game. Barber and Jacobs combined for 136 rushing yards on 34 attempts, although neither player was able to break a run for more than 14 yards. Jacobs had two touchdowns, on carries from the ten and four yard line.

In one of the stranger plays you’ll see all year, New York’s Mathias Kiwanuka cleanly had Vince Young sacked on a fourth down play late in the game that would have won the game for the Giants. He wrapped Young up briefly but inexplicably just let him go as if he thought the play had been whistled dead. Young broke free and scrambled for a first down. And the Titans scored to tie the game at 21 a few plays later.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans scored 24 unanswered points in the second half to shock the visiting Giants and win their second straight game against NFC East opponents. Early fumbles put the Titans in the hole early, but Vince Young and his cohort of young receivers took over the game in the fourth quarter. A 49-yard Bironas field goal capped three consecutive touchdown scoring drives to give the Titans an improbable victory.

Young was impressive throughout the game. He was poised in the pocket, threw with accuracy, and also gained large chunks of yardage on the ground. Young threw touchdown passes to Brandon Jones and Bo Scaife, and ran for a third touchdown. He finished the day with 249 yards passing and led all Tennessee rushers with 69 yards on the ground.

Bobby Wade emerged as Young’s favorite receiver in this game, hauling in six receptions for 83 yards on seven targets. Bo Scaife was also a favorite target of Young, particularly in the red zone. Scaife was targeted three times in the red zone, catching one ball in the front of the end zone for the Titans’ first touchdown.

Travis Henry never really got going in this game. After an early fumble, he struggled to find holes against the Giants’ run defense. He finished with just 27 yards on 12 carries. LenDale White fumbled on a botched exchange on his only touch of the game, though the fumble was credited to the quarterback.

What you ought to know

QB Eli Manning, Pass: 18 - 28 - 143 - 1 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 2 - 8 - 0

Manning played well in the first half of the game, despite having a shaky first series. His first pass of the game landed at the feet of fullback Jim Finn, but Manning rebounded nicely to lead the Giants on three first half touchdown drives. At one point he completed ten of 11 passes. He threw a perfect pass to Plaxico Burress in the back of the end zone for the Giants’ first touchdown. In the second half, the Giants had difficulty moving the ball, and Manning seemed to regress as the pressure mounted with each Tennessee touchdown. His throws became less accurate, and his decision making increasingly questionable. In his defense, the Giants’ play calling was focused on the run and very conservative, but Manning was nevertheless responsible for two interceptions that ultimately fueled the Titans’ comeback. Manning finished the day with 18 completions on 28 attempts for 143 yards passing.

RB Tiki Barber, Rush: 25 - 82 - 0, Rec: 5 - 30 - 0 (5 targets)

Barber had 25 rushes and five receptions in the game for 112 total yards, but was held out of the end zone. He had more success running in the first half, but was held largely in check by the Titans in the second half when the Giants’ offense became run-oriented and highly predictable. As is the Giants’ custom, Barber gave way to Brandon Jacobs in goal line situations. He did have one carry inside the ten that was stopped short at the one yard line. Barber’s long run of the day was for just nine yards.

RB Brandon Jacobs, Rush: 9 - 54 - 2, Rec: 2 - 14 - 0 (2 targets)

Jacobs saw significant action in the game, with nine carries for 54 yards. Jacobs was inserted in goal line situations and ran with power when given the opportunity. After being thrown backwards for a loss on a goal line carry from the half yard line, Jacobs scored touchdowns on the Giants’ next two possessions. His first touchdown came on a ten yard run on a pitch to the right. He barreled up the middle on fourth and one from the Titans’ three yard line for his second touchdown. Jacobs also caught the only two passes thrown his way.

RB Jim Finn (1 targets)

Finn was targeted on the first pass of the game, but was not involved in the offense after that.

WR Plaxico Burress, Rec: 4 - 44 - 1 (7 targets)

Burress notched 44 yards and a touchdown on four catches. His numbers would have been better if the Giants had not transitioned to a run-focused game plan in the second half. Burress’ touchdown came on an Eli Manning play fake from the three yard line. Burress is likely to come under fire once again this week after a half hearted effort to tackle Pacman Jones following a Manning interception.

WR David Tyree, Rec: 2 - 16 - 0 (4 targets)

Tyree caught two of the four balls thrown his way, finishing with 16 receiving yards.

WR Tim Carter (1 targets)

Carter was not a factor in the game.

TE Jeremy Shockey, Rec: 5 - 39 - 0 (7 targets)

Shockey was reported to have suffered a compound dislocation of his left ring finger in pre-game warm-ups. The injury, however, did not appear to slow Shockey. He was highly involved in the Giants’ offense early in the game; though his role in the game tailed off as the Giants went to a run-oriented attack in the second half. He finished with five catches for 39 total yards.

PK Jay Feely 0 - 0 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 3 points

Feely did not attempt a field goal in the game.

NYG Rush Defense

The Giants did a nice job of defending the run, at least until Vince Young caught fire in the fourth quarter. New York held all Tennessee runners not named Vince Young to 39 yards on 15 attempts. Young, however, scrambled for 69 yards and a touchdown on ten carries.

NYG Pass Defense

Playing without Strahan and Umenyiora, the Giants were unable to generate a consistent pass rush with their front four. They also had a great deal of difficulty containing Young, particularly late in the game. On fourth down late in the game, Kiwanuka had Vince Young completely wrapped up for a sack, but inexplicably just let him go. Instead of icing the game for New York, Young went on to rush for a first down and the Titans eventually scored to tie the game.

QB Vince Young, Pass: 24 - 35 - 249 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 10 - 69 - 1

If Vince Young goes on to become a great NFL quarterback, this may well be viewed as his coming of age performance. In the first half, while the Giants piled on points, Young simply managed the game, not letting it get out of hand. In the fourth quarter, Young seemed to put the team on his shoulders and will them to victory. He made great plays with his legs, shredding the Giants defense when the play broke down, but he also made good decisions and threw with accuracy in the passing game. Overall, he looked very comfortable in the pocket. Young threw for two touchdowns and ran for one. He finished the game with 249 passing yards, no interceptions, and led all Tennessee rushers with 69 yards on the ground.

RB Travis Henry, Rush: 12 - 27 - 0, Rec: 3 - 24 - 0 (2 targets)

Despite averaging over 100 yards per game over the last seven weeks, Henry never got going in this game. He lost a fumble early on and finished the day with 27 total yards. He did get Tennessee’s goal line carries, including one failed attempt from the two yard line.

RB Ahmad Hall, Rush: 1 - 4 - 0, Rec: 2 - 15 - 0 (3 targets)

Hall had two receptions, but did not figure heavily into the Titans’ game plan.

RB LenDale White, Rush: 1 - 1 - 0

White botched the exchange with Vince Young on his first touch of the game, and was not given a carry thereafter. The fumble was credited to Vince Young.

WR Bobby Wade, Rec: 6 - 83 - 0 (7 targets)

Wade had only 16 receptions on the season coming into this game, but emerged as Young’s favorite receiver against the Giants. He tallied 83 yards on six receptions, as Young seemed to look towards Wade in clutch situations. Although he did not score, Wade was targeted on a deep go route that would have been a touchdown had he been able to hang on.

WR Brandon Jones, Rec: 4 - 38 - 1 (4 targets)

Jones made the most of his opportunities in the game. His first catch was for a Tennessee first down. His third catch resulted in the game tying touchdown on a 14 yard post pattern. His last catch set up the game-winning field goal at the Giants’ 31 yard line.

WR Drew Bennett, Rec: 3 - 35 - 0 (7 targets)

Bennett had a quiet 35 yards on three receptions. His long reception of the day was a 25 yard catch on a seam route through the Giants’ zone defense.

WR Roydell Williams, Rec: 1 - 20 - 0 (2 targets)

Williams had a key catch for 20 yards on the Titans’ game tying touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter.

TE Bo Scaife, Rec: 5 - 34 - 1 (6 targets)

Scaife was a favorite red zone target of Young, perhaps a result of their both having played together at the University of Texas. After dropping the first pass thrown his way, Scaife made good on the rest of his attempts. His touchdown came on a short pass in the front of the end zone.

PK Rob Bironas 1 - 2 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 6 points

Bironas was wide right on a 48 yard attempt at the end of the first half, but nailed the game winning 49 yard field goal at the end of regulation.

TEN Rush Defense

The Titans’ run defense was particularly leaky in the first half, when it allowed Brandon Jacobs rushing touchdowns on consecutive Giants’ possessions. The unit fared better in the second half when they knew the Giants were running the ball. They allowed 144 total yards on the ground.

TEN Pass Defense

The Titans did not register any sacks on the day, and for the most part, had difficulty getting to Eli Manning. They did however force two critical interceptions to set up Titan scoring drives late in the game.