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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARI at SEA | CAR at JAX | CHI at WAS | CLE at NYJ | DAL at DET | IND at BAL | KC at DEN | MIA at BUF |
| MIN at SF | NO at ATL | NYG at PHI | OAK at GB | PIT at NE | SD at TEN | STL at CIN | TB at HOU |
Week 14 Game Recap: New York Giants 16, Philadelphia Eagles 13
What you need to know
| New York Giants |
The New York Giants took their five game road win streak into Philadelphia and looked to come away with their ninth win of the season. After four hard fought quarters, the Giants were able to escape Lincoln Financial Field with a three point victory.
Quarterback Eli Manning started slow out of the gate before turning it on for the final three quarters. He completed 17 of 31 passes for 219 total yards and a touchdown. He protected the football as he avoided throwing an interception or losing a fumble.
The New York defensive unit was stout after giving up an opening drive touchdown by Brian Westbrook. They went on to keep the Eagles out of the end zone as they allowed only 191 yards through the air to quarterback Donovan McNabb. They maintained a balance in the secondary as they took away the deep ball and limited Brian Westbrook catching balls out of the backfield.
| Philadelphia Eagles |
The Philadelphia Eagles came into this home contest desperate for a win and hoping to stay within reach of a wild card birth. To do so, they would have to first get through a physical New York squad who was looking to move one step closer to a playoff invitation. After four hard fought quarters the Eagles fell to the Giants by a final score of 16 to 13.
Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb returned to action and posted an efficient day by completing 20 of his 30 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown. He spread the ball around for four quarters as he hit eight different receivers on short and intermediate routes and kept the Giants' defense on the field for over half the game.
Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia's most dangerous weapon, had another magnificent day as he gained 151 total yards and found the end zone on the Eagles opening drive. He was able to find room on the ground as well, accumulating 116 yards on 20 carries while leading Eagles receiver Reggie Brown brought in seven catches for 71 yards.
The Eagles defense played well, allowing a total of only 16 points and 318 total yards. While they did not allow many New York touchdowns, they did give up major chunks of yards as Eli Manning and company were able to move the ball down field with ease.
What you ought to know
| QB Eli Manning, Pass: 17 - 31 - 219 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 2 - 7 - 0 |
Eli Manning orchestrated an efficient game as he showed off his managing skills, completing 17 of his 31 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown. Struggling in the first quarter, Manning pulled it together to lead a three play, 37 yards drive, which resulted in a beautiful touchdown pass to receiver Plaxico Burress. Manning showed poise in the pocket and protected the ball well in the come from behind effort.
| RB Brandon Jacobs, Rush: 22 - 70 - 0, Rec: 3 - 11 - 0 (4 targets) |
Jacobs had an up and down day as he ran hard, gaining a total of 81 yards on 22 carries, and three receptions. His game will unfortunately be remembered for his two fumbles, which resulted in three points and the Eagles getting another shot at a game tying drive. His ball security will be the talk of his day, however, take note that he looked good running the football behind the Giants offensive line.
| RB Reuben Droughns, Rush: 3 - 34 - 0 |
Droughns had a good game in support of Brandon Jacobs, as he carried three times for 34 yards. His most significant run came on the Giants first scoring drive, as he took a third and short carry 35 yards to the two yard line. The Giants would settle for a field goal, putting their first three points of the game on the board.
| WR Plaxico Burress, Rec: 7 - 136 - 1 (12 targets) |
Burress fought through his ankle injury and posted another great game, bringing in seven of his 12 targets for 136 yards, and New York's go ahead touchdown. Most of his yards surprisingly came after the catch where Burress was able to bring in the ball on underneath routes, and put his legs to work in getting those hard fought yards.
| WR Amani Toomer, Rec: 3 - 37 - 0 (4 targets) |
Toomer was the traditional possession receiver, as he was able to bring in three of his four targets for 37 total yards. He was the clear second or third option on the day and played his usual role, as he moved the chains on all three of his catches. He was also targeted on a passing play in which an Eagles penalty made the down null.
| WR Sinorice Moss, Rec: 2 - 28 - 0 (3 targets) |
Moss took over the third receiver role in stride as he hauled in two balls for 28 total yards. Moss made the most of his three targets as he averaged 14 yards per catch.
| TE Jeremy Shockey, Rec: 1 - 4 - 0 (6 targets) |
Shockey stayed in on a more than usual amount of plays but was only able to see six balls come his way, bringing in only one ball for four yards. He did have a target in the end zone where he was open but Manning missed him.
| PK Lawrence Tynes 3 - 3 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 10 points |
Tynes was perfect on the day as he hit on all three of his field goal attempts as well as the only New York PAT.
| NYG Rush Defense |
The New York rush defense started off slow as they allowed an opening drive, which resulted in a touchdown, mainly behind the legs of Brian Westbrook and the Eagles rushing attack. After the opening drive, New York did a very good job of bending but not breaking against the run, as they were able to keep the Eagles out of the end zone while allowing 141 total rush yards.
| NYG Pass Defense |
The New York passing defense allowed seven points on their opening drive of the game, then buckled down, allowing only six points the rest of the way. They put constant pressure on Donovan McNabb and forced him to make many throws out of the pocket. The Giants pass defense, as a unit, allowed less than 200 yards through the air and was the deciding factor in the game, stopping the Eagles on a fourth down play, forcing a game tying 57 yard field goal, which David Akers was unable to convert.
| QB Donovan McNabb, Pass: 20 - 30 - 179 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 4 - 11 - 0 |
McNabb returned to action after being out for two games and was able to complete 66 percent of his passes for 179 yards and a touchdown. His first drive of the game was his only touchdown pass as he hooked up with Brian Westbrook on an 18 yard catch and run. He was forced to throw on the run for most of the game and was unable to hit anything deep downfield, mostly due to a solid New York secondary.
| RB Brian Westbrook, Rush: 20 - 116 - 0, Rec: 5 - 38 - 1 (6 targets) |
Westbrook asserted himself as the workhorse from the very first play, en route to gaining 154 total yards and a receiving touchdown. He gained 111 yards on the ground and was able to bring in five of his six targets for 39 yards. His only touchdown of the game, which came through the air, gave the Eagles an early seven point lead in the first quarter of this defensive battle.
| RB Correll Buckhalter, Rush: 2 - 9 - 0 |
Buckhalter spelled Westbrook most of the day as he gained nine yards on two carries. He received no looks in the passing game for Philadelphia.
| WR Reggie Brown, Rush: 1 - 5 - 0, Rec: 7 - 71 - 0 (9 targets) |
Reggie Brown had a decent day as he saw nine targets, bringing in seven of them for 71 yards. Receiving a team high number of targets, Brown made the most of his production as he averaged over ten yards per catch.
| WR Kevin Curtis, Rec: 3 - 26 - 0 (4 targets) |
Curtis was only able to see four balls come his way as he brought in three of them for 26 yards. He was a clear third option behind receiver Reggie Brown and running back Brian Westbrook
| TE L.J. Smith, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (4 targets) |
Smith saw four targets, but he was only able to record one catch for eight yards.
| PK David Akers 2 - 3 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 7 points |
Akers was able to connect on two of three field goals and his only PAT attempt. His lone field goal, which had plenty of leg, bounced off the upright, giving the Giants the three point victory.
| PHI Rush Defense |
The Eagles rush defense executed their game plan well, as they mixed up their formations and allowed only 111 yards on the ground and kept Brandon Jacobs and company out of the end zone. In limiting the Giants' rushing unit, however, they were gashed for a big 35 yards, as Reuben Droughns plowed ahead, setting up the first points of the game for New York.
| PHI Pass Defense |
The Eagles' pass defense allowed the only Giants touchdown as Eli Manning was able to hook up with Plaxico Burress for a 20 yard catch and run, putting the Giants ahead for good. They were unable to create any turnovers as Eli Manning had an interception free day and eclipsed the 200 yard mark through the air. On a designed screen pass to running back Brandon Jacobs, the Eagles were able to strip him of the football and return it inside the ten yard line, resulting in a Philadelphia field goal.
