Week 2 Game Recap: New York Giants 30, Philadelphia Eagles 24

What you need to know

New York Giants

New York opened the game fast, as they scored on the opening drive on a 37 yard touchdown pass from QB Eli Manning to WR Amani Toomer. Toomer had a fantastic afternoon, as he was targeted 12 times and caught every single one, amassing 137 yards and two touchdowns.

Manning suffered through a ton of pressure from the Philadelphia defense. He was sacked eight times in the game, but was still able to mount a comeback effort to tie the game in the fourth quarter and then win it in overtime. He completed 20 passes for over 200 yards in those two periods, marching the Giants on four scoring drives.

RB Tiki Barber struggled, gaining just 58 total yards on 15 touches in the opening 45 minutes of the game. He was held in check to just 14 yards rushing over that same timeframe. Once again, in the fourth quarter and in overtime, Barber contributed significantly with 13 more touches and 50 more yards, including six plays of five or more yards to keep the chains moving.

TE Jeremy Shockey was frustrated all afternoon as he failed to catch a pass until the fourth quarter. He finished with two catches for 17 yards.

WR Plaxico Burress put a fitting end to the game, catching the winning touchdown in overtime. His 31 yard scoring reception culminated a 100 plus yard performance, his fifth since joining the Giants.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles were in total command of this game up until the fourth quarter. QB Donovan McNabb had racked up over 250 yards passing with a touchdown in just the first half, and TE L.J. Smith was on pace for a career day with 95 yards before halftime.

WR Donte Stallworth picked up where he left off in Week 1, reeling in the first Philadelphia touchdown and collecting five balls for 81 yards. His fellow starting receiver Reggie Brown got in on the act as well, scoring the third Eagles’ touchdown in the third quarter as Philadelphia went ahead 24-7.

After that score, the Giants opened up their offense and changed the pace of the game. All momentum shifted from Philadelphia despite their efforts to control the clock via the run. RB Brian Westbrook, who scored a 12 yard rushing touchdown earlier, was unable to move the chains in the fourth quarter, as was Correll Buckhalter. The Eagles managed just two first downs in the final period, which was the main contributing factor in the blown lead.

The Eagles’ defense racked up eight sacks on the day, but seven of them came before the Giants’ comeback. They forced just one turnover, but it did little for field position as the play would have turned the ball over on downs anyway.

PK David Akers is two for two in hitting goal posts on a weekly basis. His 49 yarder clanged off the right upright and this time it failed to bounce through. Those three lost points proved to be crucial.

What you ought to know

QB Eli Manning, Pass: 31 - 43 - 371 - 3 TD / 1 INT

Manning was having a modest performance through three quarters, completing 11 of 17 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown. Once the Giants trailed 24-7, however, Manning turned it up and started throwing the ball. He did not just chuck it deep – he was targeting receivers at short and medium range, which managed to move the chains and drive the Giants down the field. New York kept up this pace throughout the overtime, going without a huddle and dictating the style of play. The style variation kept him out of harm’s way, as he was victimized for seven sacks in the first three quarters. The Eagles managed just one more in the final two periods despite Manning dropping back to pass nearly every down.

Manning’s lone miscue, an interception off the hands of RB Tiki Barber, was miniscule. The pass was on fourth down and Philadelphia would have received possession near that spot regardless. Manning finished the game with a 31 yard touchdown pass to WR Plaxico Burress completing an amazing comeback.

RB Tiki Barber, Rush: 21 - 51 - 0, Rec: 7 - 57 - 0 (13 targets)

Barber was kept in check for the first three quarters, as he managed to amass just 14 yards rushing on ten attempts to that point. He did add five catches for 44 yards in the opening three periods, but Barber contributed more in the fourth quarter and in overtime. Barber had nine plays for five or more yards after the third quarter (one was lost due to a penalty), which enabled him to accumulate over 100 total yards. Despite being held from scoring, Barber kept the Giants in the game by moving the chains and perpetuating the final scoring drives.

RB Brandon Jacobs, Rush: 5 - 35 - 0

Jacobs had just five carries, but four of them were for six yards or more. He looked strong as he moved defenders backwards and forced the Eagles to use multiple tacklers to bring him down. He kept Tiki Barber fresh and seemed rather effective in just a limited role.

RB Jim Finn, Rec: 1 - 11 - 0 (1 targets)

Finn caught one ball in the fourth quarter for 11 yards and a first down.

WR Amani Toomer, Rec: 12 - 137 - 2 (12 targets)

Toomer seemed to catch everything thrown his way, well, because that is exactly what happened. He was targeted 12 times, almost entirely in the second half, and reeled in every single ball that was close to him. Most catches were for short yardage (between five and 12 yards), but he did have a 37 yard touchdown on the opening drive of the game in addition to a 22 yard scoring catch in the fourth quarter. Toomer was virtually unstoppable.

WR Plaxico Burress, Rec: 6 - 114 - 1 (9 targets)

Burress was the final hero of the game, catching a 31 yard rainbow of a pass from QB Eli Manning. He caught the ball as he used his height advantage leaping over the lone Eagle corner and waltzed into the end zone. Burress, much like WR Amani Toomer in this game, caught everything that was close. His few targets that were not caught (three) were either thrown well over his head or at his feet.

Burress nearly cost the Giants a turnover in the final period, as he fumbled the ball after a 23 yard catch and run. The ball rolled into the Philadelphia end zone, where WR Tim Carter fell on the ball for a touchdown. Earlier in the game, Burress was on the sideline exhorting the linemen to protect Eli Manning better.

WR Tim Carter, Rec: 1 - 22 - 0 (2 targets)

Carter caught one pass for 22 yards in the fourth quarter. His other target came in the opening period, but he had no chance on the ball as it was deflected at the line of scrimmage. Carter’s biggest contribution came when he fell on a fumbled Plaxico Burress reception in the Eagles’ end zone in the fourth quarter for a touchdown.

WR Sinorice Moss, Rec: 1 - 4 - 0 (2 targets)

Moss caught his first NFL reception in the game, gaining a scant four yards in the second quarter. He lost his second catch of five yards in the third quarter due to an unrelated penalty.

TE Jeremy Shockey, Rec: 2 - 17 - 0 (3 targets)

Shockey did not produce much in this game, failing to catch a ball until the fourth quarter. He finished with two short catches of nine and eight yards.

TE Visanthe Shiancoe, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (1 targets)

Shiancoe caught one pass for nine yards in overtime.

PK Jay Feely 1 - 1 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 6 points

Feely connected on all four of his kicks, including three extra points. The final kick, a 35 yard field goal, sent the game into overtime.

NYG Rush Defense

The Giants were able to stop the run game when it counted. In the fourth quarter, the Eagles were unable to pick up any first downs on the ground, which allowed the Giants multiple chances to score and catch up.

NYG Pass Defense

QB Donovan McNabb threw the ball at will in the first half, racking up over 250 yards and a touchdown in the opening 30 minutes. McNabb had all day in the pocket and was able to hit long pass after long pass, including a 20 yard touchdown to WR Donte’ Stallworth. After a second TD pass to WR Reggie Brown, the Eagles throttled back their passing attack, but their lack of production after the third quarter had more to do with their own inadequacy than with a stellar defensive performance.

QB Donovan McNabb, Pass: 27 - 45 - 350 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 4 - 31 - 0

McNabb lit up the scoreboard in the first half, leading the Eagles with over 250 yards passing before halftime. His stat line read more like a full game than a half, as he entered the locker room at 18-31-256-1-0, with the lone score going to WR Donte’ Stallworth.

McNabb geared back from passing in the third quarter, throwing just five times. He completed three for 64 yards, including a 23 yard strike to WR Reggie Brown for McNabb’s second touchdown pass.

Entering the fourth quarter, the Eagles throttled back the offense and tried to run the game and the clock out. Unfortunately that failed miserably, and the offense (and McNabb) could not return to their higher level of performance as in the earlier part of the game. McNabb managed to complete just five more passes for only 30 yards down the stretch, as the Eagles limped and staggered to their first loss of the season.

RB Brian Westbrook, Rush: 19 - 68 - 1, Rec: 7 - 56 - 0 (9 targets)

Westbrook ran well for the first three quarters, gaining 50 yards on 11 carries and scoring in the first quarter on a sweep right for 12 yards. He also had 56 yards on seven catches before the fourth quarter. Most of the receptions came in the first half, as Westbrook logged six catches for between six and 11 yards each before halftime. He later added another 11 yard catch for a first down before the fourth quarter.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, the fourth quarter was the biggest problem. The Eagles tried to run the ball and the clock, but Westbrook failed to do much as a straight running threat. He managed just 18 yards on eight carries, including a costly fumble that set up a Giants’ touchdown drive. Six of the eight carries were for two yards or fewer, and Westbrook failed to collect any first downs on the ground late in the game when they were needed the most.

RB Correll Buckhalter, Rush: 6 - 6 - 0, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (1 targets)

Buckhalter was not used much in the game, and when he was it was rather ineffective. Four of his six carries were for zero or negative yards, a crucial problem for the Eagles as they tried to maintain a tenuous lead over the Giants in the second half. He also failed in the fourth quarter to convert a short fourth down, gaining zero yards.

Buckhalter’s longest play was a nine yard catch in the second quarter.

RB Thomas Tapeh, Rush: 1 - 2 - 0, Rec: 2 - 9 - 0 (4 targets)

Tapeh dropped two short passes in the first half before catching two short dump off throws in the second half. The longest went for eight yards in the fourth quarter. Tapeh also added one carry for two yards.

WR Donte Stallworth, Rec: 5 - 81 - 1 (11 targets)

Stallworth picked up where he left off in Week 1, catching five more passes for 81 yards and a touchdown. He was also targeted in the end zone in the first quarter on a fade pattern that was a 50-50 ball with DB Sam Madison fighting Stallworth for the ball as they both hit the ground. The ball was ruled incomplete as neither Stallworth nor the defender established possession before sliding out of bounds. The successful scoring catch came in the second quarter as Stallworth was wide open for a 20 yard touchdown reception.

WR Greg Lewis, Rec: 2 - 25 - 0 (2 targets)

Lewis caught both balls that came in his direction. The first was a 12 yard reception for a first down just before halftime. The second was of similar length, a 13 yard catch in the fourth quarter, but it was big at the time as it allowed the Eagles to get one of only two fourth quarter first downs.

WR Reggie Brown, Rec: 1 - 23 - 1 (2 targets)

Brown caught just one pass, but it went for a touchdown. Brown scored from 23 yards out in the third quarter. He later had a short pass come his way in the fourth, but he dropped a very catchable ball that would have given the Eagles about six yards.

WR Hank Baskett, Rec: 1 - 25 - 0 (1 targets)

Baskett caught one ball for 25 yards and a first down on a crossing route in the first quarter.

TE L.J. Smith, Rec: 7 - 111 - 0 (12 targets)

Smith had one of the best days of his career, collecting seven balls for 111 yards on 12 targets. He was consistently getting open early in the game, mostly catching passes from QB Donovan McNabb over the middle of the field. He snared four of his first five targets for 81 yards before adding a fifth catch of 14 yards before halftime. Smith caught just two more passes on four targets for 16 total yards in the second half. The 100+ yards represents just the second time that Smith has recorded a 100 yard game, with the other coming against the 49ers in Week 2 last year. Fantasy owners should take note as that is the next Philadelphia opponent (San Francisco in Week 3).

TE Matt Schobel, Rec: 1 - 11 - 0 (2 targets)

Schobel caught an 11 yard pass in the fourth quarter for a first down, one of only two Eagles first downs in the fourth quarter. He was also targeted early in the game in the end zone, but he bobbled away a touchdown catch in the opening period. RB Brian Westbrook scored two plays later.

PK David Akers 1 - 2 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 6 points

Akers was one for two and again hit the upright with a kick. Akers, who also hit a post in Week 1 and had the ball ricochet in for three points, was not so lucky this week as the ball came back off the post and the ball fell to the ground, ending the unsuccessful try from 49 yards away. Akers added a 37 yard field goal just before halftime. Akers also made all of his extra points.

PHI Rush Defense

Tiki Barber and Brandon Jacobs were only able to get 86 yards on 22 carries and no touchdowns, an average below four yards per carry and far worse than the six-plus per carry from Week 1. Barber was able; however, to rack up six carries for five yards or more in the final 25 minutes of the game and keep the chains moving.

PHI Pass Defense

The Eagles had continuous pressure on QB Eli Manning throughout the game, logging eight sacks, yet they could only force one turnover on a fourth down interception. Despite forcing a fumble, the Giants recovered it for a touchdown. The Eagles allowed the Giants to dictate the style of play at the end of the game and pass at will in the fourth quarter and overtime.