Week 15 Game Recap: Philadelphia Eagles 36, New York Giants 22

What you need to know

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles came out on top after trailing with seven minutes left in the game.

Jeff Garcia attempted 28 passes but did not look deep very often. He found eight different receivers, but Brian Westbrook and Reggie Brown combined for over half the targets. Garcia threw one touchdown pass in the game; a 19 yard strike to Reggie Brown to give the team the lead with under three minutes remaining. He also turned the ball over twice, fumbling once and throwing an interception.

Brian Westbrook was again the focal point of the Eagles’ offense. He was thrown to nine times, all in the first half, to lead the team in targets. He ran in touchdowns of one yard and 28 yards and finished with 137 yards from scrimmage. Correll Buckhalter shared carries in the first half and scored on a two yard run, but he was not involved at all in the second half.

Reggie Brown was the Eagles’ most targeted receiver with seven, and he took one of them for a 19 yard touchdown. L.J. Smith was also involved in the passing game, ending with four catches for 54 yards and a two point conversion.

The Eagles played well on defense and generated four turnovers. Trent Cole scored with under three minutes remaining after intercepting Eli Manning’s tipped pass.

New York Giants

The Giants led three times but were unable to hold on after turning the ball over on four occasions.

Eli Manning completed 70% of his passes but could not find the end zone. He was intercepted twice, and the second pick was returned for a touchdown. He relied heavily on Plaxico Burress and Jeremy Shockey, with 26 targets going to one of those two.

Tiki Barber began the game well by scoring on an 11 yard touchdown run with his first touch of the game. He was held in check for most of the game after that, and failed to convert on a two point conversion try. Brandon Jacobs missed much of the game after tweaking his ankle but he returned to score on a one yard run in the fourth quarter.

Plaxico Burress was the most targeted wide receiver in the game with 11. He caught six passes for 120 yards but did not score. Burress also drew a pass interference call in the end zone to give the Giants the ball at the one yard line. Jeremy Shockey was targeted 15 times, catching eight for 70 yards. He was a factor in the end zone, drawing one holding penalty to give the Giants the ball inside the one yard line.

What you ought to know

QB Jeff Garcia, Pass: 19 - 28 - 237 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 3 - 16 - 0

Garcia played reasonably well in the game. He did not attempt many deep passes and his longest gain was to Reggie Brown for 28 yards. Garcia completed passes to eight different players, but over half went to either Brian Westbrook or Reggie Brown. Brown caught the Eagles’ only touchdown pass of the game on a 19 yard reception. The other three offensive touchdowns all ended in scores on the ground. Garcia scrambled well and had one run to the two yard line before being tackled. He had a 15 yard first down scramble negated by a holding penalty. Garcia had one two point try ruled out by a penalty but he found L.J. Smith on a later two point conversion.

RB Brian Westbrook, Rush: 19 - 97 - 2, Rec: 5 - 40 - 0 (9 targets)

Westbrook had a big game for the Eagles and was a factor in the passing game and on the ground. He converted three first downs on the Eagles’ second drive with a run of nine yards and receptions of 11 and 14 yards. The drive ended in a Buckhalter score. Westbrook scored a rushing touchdown of his own just before the half, diving over the top from a yard on fourth down. Westbrook caught five of nine targets in the first half but was not targeted at all in the second half. But he was effective on the ground, gaining three more first downs and breaking free for a 28 yard touchdown.

RB Correll Buckhalter, Rush: 8 - 48 - 1, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (1 targets)

Buckhalter was more effective than Brian Westbrook in the first half with eight carries for 48 yards and a touchdown. He showed good burst and was able to make gains up the middle. He caught his only target for a nine yard gain. In the second half, Buckhalter did not touch the ball at all as the team chose to rely on Brian Westbrook.

RB Thomas Tapeh, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (2 targets)

Tapeh was targeted twice in the second half. He caught the first for an eight yard gain but dropped the second.

WR Reggie Brown, Rec: 4 - 77 - 1 (7 targets)

Brown caught a 17 yard pass in the first half from just two targets. He was more involved after the break, and caught a pass for a 28 yard gain on the Eagles’ first drive of the second half. He was also the target on a two point conversion and made the catch, but it was negated by a penalty. Brown was the intended target when Garcia was intercepted for the only time in the game, but Brown had no chance to make the catch. One the Eagles’ final drive, Brown caught a short pass and beat the defender for a 10 yard gain and a first down. Later in the drive he got clear of the defender and Garcia found him in the end zone for a 19 yard score.

WR Hank Baskett, Rec: 2 - 26 - 0 (2 targets)

Baskett caught both of his targets. The first was a great leaping catch between two defenders for a 19 yard gain.

WR Greg Lewis, Rec: 1 - 18 - 0 (1 targets)

Lewis was only targeted once. He made the catch for an 18 yard gain and a first down.

WR Donte Stallworth, Rec: 1 - 5 - 0 (1 targets)

Stallworth was the target of Garcia’s first completion of the game and he gained five yards. He was not targeted again in the game.

TE L.J. Smith, Rec: 4 - 54 - 0 (6 targets)

Smith was targeted once in the first half, making the catch for a nine yard gain and a first down. In the second half Smith had a 14 yard reception to put the Eagles in field goal range, but David Akers missed the kick. One the Eagles’ final drive of the game, Smith caught a deep pass for a 27 yard gain. The Eagles scored after a 19 yard pass to Reggie Brown and Smith caught the two point conversion try.

TE Matt Schobel (1 targets)

Schobel was the target of a deep pass from Garcia but he was unable to make the catch on the sideline.

PK David Akers 0 - 1 FG, 4 - 4 XP, 4 points

Akers missed wide left from 48 yards on his only field goal try, but made all four extra point attempts.

PHI Rush Defense

The Eagles allowed Tiki Barber to score on an 11 yard run on his first touch of the game. Brandon Jacobs also scored on the ground from a yard out after initially being stopped. The Eagles gave up 88 net rushing yards at four yards per carry. Brian Dawkins forced a fumble from Brandon Jacobs and Sean Considine was able to recover for the Eagles.

PHI Pass Defense

The Eagles gave up plays of 52 yards and 29 yards to Plaxico Burress, but did not allow a passing touchdown on the day. They managed two interceptions on passes that were deflected at the line. Brian Dawkins made the first pick, while Trent Cole took the second interception 19 yards for a touchdown. Dawkins forced his second fumble of the game, hitting Visanthe Shiancoe for Lito Sheppard to recover for the Eagles. Omar Gaither had the only sack of the day for the Eagles.

QB Eli Manning, Pass: 28 - 40 - 282 - 0 TD / 2 INT

Manning was efficient in the first half, completing ten of his 13 passes. Unfortunately, he hit the helmet of a defender at the line and was intercepted on one play. Plaxico Burress was Manning’s main deep target and he found him for a 29 yard gain in the first half. Burress was again the deep target in the second half and Manning connected with him for a 52 yard gain on the Giants’ second drive of the half. Brian Dawkins prevented the touchdown. Manning looked for Burress in the end zone and the play resulted in pass interference to give the Giants the ball at the one yard line. Jeremy Shockey then drew a penalty after he was held in the end zone, but the Giants chose to run the ball for the score. Shockey was the most heavily targeted player for the Giants with 15, and ten of those came in the second half. Manning did not throw a touchdown pass in the game but was unlucky to find Jeremy Shockey just wide of the end zone. He turned the ball over for a second time when the ball was tipped by Sheldon Brown before being intercepted for a touchdown by Trent Cole.

RB Tiki Barber, Rush: 19 - 75 - 1, Rec: 5 - 29 - 0 (7 targets)

Barber scored on an 11 yard touchdown run on his first touch of the game. He also had carries of 11 yards and 14 yards for first downs later in the half. Barber was stopped for a loss on several occasions. He carried twice from the Eagles’ seven yard line when Brandon Jacobs was out of the game, but he only gained one yard. Barber was given the ball on a two point conversion try but he was stopped for a loss. Barber was targeted seven times, catching five for a total of 29 yards. Another was caught but the play was negated by a penalty. On Barber’s other target, the ball was tipped and intercepted before it reached him.

RB Brandon Jacobs, Rush: 3 - 13 - 1, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (1 targets)

Jacobs was targeted once and caught the pass for a nine yard gain. He ran the ball once in the first half, gaining 12 yards and a first down. Unfortunately for Jacobs, he was hit at the end of the play by Brian Dawkins and fumbled the ball away to Sean Considine. Jacobs tweaked his ankle on the play and did not enter the game again until late in the second half. When he rejoined the game, Jacobs scored on a one yard run after being stopped for no gain on the previous play.

RB Jim Finn, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (1 targets)

Finn caught his only target for a nine yard gain.

WR Plaxico Burress, Rec: 6 - 120 - 0 (11 targets)

Burress was the main deep threat for the Giants. His first target drew pass interference to give the Giants a first down. He then had a ten yard gain for another first down on the same possession, but dropped a pass later in the drive to cause the Giants to punt. Burress had the biggest play of the first half by making a 29 yard reception, but the drive later stalled on an interception. In the second half, Burress beat the defender and caught a 52 yard pass from Eli Manning. He was prevented from finding the end zone by Brian Dawkins. Burress was targeted in the end zone on the Giants following drive, but the pass was batted down before it reached him. He had another end zone target later in the half and drew a pass interference call to give the Giants first and goal at the one yard line. On the Giants’ final possession, Burress made a 19 yard gain for a first down. He was then targeted in the end zone for a third time, but was unable to make the catch.

WR Tim Carter, Rec: 4 - 30 - 0 (5 targets)

Carter had catches of 15 yards and four yards on the Giants’ final drive of the first half to help set up a field goal try. He caught two of his three targets in the second half, but the third pass was almost intercepted in front of him.

WR David Tyree, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (2 targets)

Tyree was targeted twice in the second half. He gained seven yards on the first target and drew a pass interference call after being held on the other attempt.

TE Jeremy Shockey, Rec: 8 - 70 - 0 (15 targets)

Shockey was heavily involved throughout the game. He was the intended target on Manning’s first interception, but the ball was tipped before it ever reached him. Shockey caught two passes for short gains in the first half before gaining 14 yards on the final drive of the half to put the Giants in field goal range. Shockey was targeted ten times in the second half alone. He caught five of them, including four for first downs. Shockey was targeted in the end zone twice. He caught the first just out of bounds and drew a pass interference penalty after being held on the second.

TE Visanthe Shiancoe, Rec: 2 - 8 - 0 (2 targets)

Shiancoe saw two passes thrown in his direction. He caught the first for a four yard gain, but fumbled the ball after a hit from Brian Dawkins and Lito Sheppard recovered for the Eagles. Shiancoe had a four yard gain on his other reception.

PK Jay Feely 3 - 3 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 10 points

Feely was perfect on the day. He converted a season long field goal attempt of 47 yards as well as kicks of 23 and 24 yards. He also made his only extra point attempt.

NYG Rush Defense

The Giants looked suspect against the run and were weak up the middle. Correll Buckhalter and Brian Westbrook were both able to exploit the weakness. Buckhalter scored on a two yard run before Westbrook went in from one yard and 28 yards. The Giants allowed 161 net rushing yards on the day.

NYG Pass Defense

Michael Strahan was again out for the Giants, but he reportedly asked to play and is likely to return for the next game. That left the pass rush looking weak, and the Giants only registered two sacks (Emmons, Demps). Will Demps did cause Jeff Garcia to fumble after he was sacked, and the ball was recovered by Antonio Pierce for the Giants. But apart from those plays, Garcia was not pressured very much in the game.