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| ARI at PHI | ATL at SD | BAL at CIN | CAR at GB | CHI at MIN | DEN at NYJ | IND at CLE | JAX at HOU |
| KC at OAK | MIA at STL | NO at TB | NYG at WAS | PIT at NE | SEA at DAL | SF at BUF | TEN at DET |
Week 13 Game Recap: New York Giants 23, Washington Redskins 7
What you need to know
| New York Giants |
On a cold and rainy day, Eli Manning was able to lead his troops to another impressive road win as they controlled the clock and moved the ball at will, racking up over 400 yards of total offense. Manning, who has struggled through the air as of late, had a break out performance throwing for 305 yards and a touchdown in the Giants 11th victory of 2008.
On the ground, Brandon Jacobs returned to the Giants lineup and continued his punishing rushing campaign, carrying 21 times in total while gaining 71 yards and scoring his 12th touchdown of the season. He pounded the ball in the wet weather and let his teammate, Derrick Ward kill with his quickness going over 100 yards on only 15 touches. Ward did most of his damage through the air and was used to counteract the pressure that Washington brought on various blitz schemes, catching five balls for 75 yards.
Through the air the Giants found success, as Eli Manning hit six different receivers including Amani Toomer, who led the Giants in receiving, and hauled in a 40 yard touchdown in the first quarter. With star wide out Plaxico Burress inactive, it was Domenik Hixon who stepped up and produced, making a few nice plays to help New York move the chains and control the clock. Defensively, it was the same old story for New York, harassing Jason Campbell into four sacks while hawking the ball and forcing two Washington turnovers in the rout.
| Washington Redskins |
With a rushing attack that was banged up and battered, Washington relied heavily on the play of Jason Campbell who was unable to deliver an eighth Redskins victory. Campbell completed 23 passes to nine different receivers, throwing for 232 yards and an interception.
It was Campbell's forth game of the season without throwing a touchdown pass as he struggled to find time in the pocket as well as the open receiver. Running back Clinton Portis started the game and was bottled up on his 11 rushing attempts. Hobbling off to the sidelines throughout the game, Portis only touched the ball four times in the second half as Washington went with backup Ladell Betts in many passing situations. Portis and Betts combined to find little room as they were out rushed on the ground by Campbell, who was flushed out of the pocket on many plays due to the tight coverage.
Through the air, the Redskins faltered, recording no touchdown receptions and turning the ball over on Aaron Ross' third interception of the season. It was wide receiver Devin Thomas who had one of the only Washington bright spots, taking an end around 29 yards through traffic and scoring his first career touchdown. It was all the offense that Washington could muster, as they missed on some key opportunities and were beaten on both sides of the ball, failing to 7-5 in the brutal NFC East.
What you ought to know
| QB Eli Manning, Pass: 21 - 34 - 305 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 4 - 7 - 0 |
Manning had a solid day through the air despite the wet and windy conditions, completing 21 of his 34 attempts and surpassing the 300 yard mark while throwing one touchdown. He stayed clean in the pocket and picked apart a Washington defense that had no answer for the Manning-led offensive attack. Early in the second quarter Manning was able to throw a perfectly placed ball down the sidelines, connecting with Amani Toomer for a 40 yard score.
| RB Brandon Jacobs, Rush: 21 - 71 - 1 |
Jacobs who had missed the last game with an injury, returned to see a 21 carry workload as he gained 71 yards on the ground while running hard and looking healthy. He started the game and was in for a majority of the Giants offensive snaps. While starting slow in the first half, Jacobs remained persistent and was able to break off big runs in the second half while punching in a 3rd quarter touchdown run from one yard out.
| RB Derrick Ward, Rush: 10 - 30 - 0, Rec: 5 - 75 - 0 (6 targets) |
Ward was used in his normal role of third down back and backup to Brandon Jacobs. As usual, Ward was able to capitalize on his limited touches as he topped 100 total yards on only 15 touches. Carrying ten times for 30 yards, Eli Manning made use of him through the air, targeting him six times on various short routes. Ward caught five balls for 75 yards and showed good vision is space as he took a bubble screen 40 yards for a big gain early in the second quarter.
| WR Amani Toomer, Rec: 5 - 85 - 1 (9 targets) |
Toomer tied a team high in targets, catching five of nine balls for 85 yards and a score. He provided Manning with another reliable target to move the chains and showed that he still can make the big play, winning a one on one match up down the sidelines and hauling in a 40 yard pass for New York's first touchdown of the game. With Burress out Toomer looked to be more involved in the vertical passing game rather than his usual role as possession receiver.
| WR Domenik Hixon, Rec: 5 - 71 - 0 (9 targets) |
Starting for the injured Burress, Domenik Hixon filled in and had another productive outing while seeing a team high nine targets come his way. Hixon was able to catch five balls for 75 yards and did most of his damage on ten to 12 yard timing patterns. He seemed very much in sync with Manning and was able to show off his great hands, bringing in a few tough catches in traffic.
| WR Steve Smith, Rec: 2 - 22 - 0 (5 targets) |
Smith was a clear third option as usual, catching only two balls for 22 yards. His two catches were productive as they both were for 11 yards and resulted in first downs.
| WR Sinorice Moss, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (1 targets) |
Moss saw only one target which he brought in for a seven yard gain.
| TE Kevin Boss, Rec: 3 - 45 - 0 (4 targets) |
Boss was productive on his limited number of looks catching all but one of his four targets. He was tough to bring down and fought his way for 45 tough yards on his three catches.
| PK John Carney 3 - 3 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 11 points |
Carney was able to hit all three of his field goal attempts in the dreary weather as well as hitting both of his PAT attempts.
| NYG Rush Defense |
The Giants rush defense dominated the line of scrimmage again and won the battle in the trenches, holding Washington to less than 100 yards rushing and knocking Clinton Portis out of the game. The relentless pursuit of the defensive front set the tone early and was involved in their only blemish of the game as they got caught on a misdirection play, allowing rookie wide receiver Devin Thomas to score on a 29 yard end around.
| NYG Pass Defense |
The Giants pass defense caused havoc yet again and was aided by a strong physical pass rush up front. Sacking Jason Campbell four times in total, the Giants prevented the long ball and kept Washington grounded, forcing one interception while keeping the Redskins out of the end zone through the air. Aaron Ross was able to take yet another ball away blanketing Santana Moss in coverage and making a play on an under thrown pass for his third interception of the season.
| QB Jason Campbell, Pass: 23 - 38 - 232 - 0 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 5 - 38 - 0 |
Campbell had a poor outing against the dominating defense of the Giants. With virtually not time in the pocket, Campbell was pressured and rushed for four full quarters, failing to toss a touchdown while throwing his fourth interception of the season. He took what the defense gave him, finding nine different targets to move the ball, however was pressured all day and was unable to sustain any sort of offensive production.
| RB Clinton Portis, Rush: 11 - 22 - 0, Rec: 1 - 15 - 0 (1 targets) |
Portis was bottled up for most of the day and was on and off of the field as he aggravated an injury during the game. He caught his lone target for a 15 yard gain and averaged a measly two yards on 11 rushes.
| RB Ladell Betts, Rush: 1 - 3 - 0, Rec: 4 - 22 - 0 (4 targets) |
Betts carried only once on the day however found some success through the air as he caught all four targets for 22 yards. He was a reliable safety valve for Campbell as Washington struggled to move the ball vertically down the field.
| RB Mike Sellers, Rec: 1 - 20 - 0 (2 targets) |
The bruising fullback used primarily as a lead blocker was able to slip out of the backfield and catch one of his two targets for a 20 yard gain.
| WR Antwaan Randle El, Pass: 1 - 1 - 17 - 0 TD / 0 INT, Rec: 4 - 37 - 0 (8 targets) |
Randle El saw eight total targets against the Giants and was only able to come away with half of them, totaling only 37 yards, as New York played tight man coverage in the wet conditions. He was targeted deep downfield by Campbell but the ball was under thrown allowing cornerback Aaron Ross to make an adjustment to the ball and come up with an interception. Randle was also involved in some misdirection as he took an end around from Jason Campbell only to throw downfield, hitting Chris Cooley for a 17 yard completion.
| WR Santana Moss, Rec: 4 - 55 - 0 (9 targets) |
Santana Moss had a quiet day as he could not get open against cornerbacks Aaron Ross or Corey Webster. Blanketed for most of the game, Moss saw a team high nine looks come his way but could only manage four receptions. He was targeted on a few deep balls which Campbell misfired on badly and was unable to make the big play downfield that he is known for. On his underneath routes there seemed to be a Giants defender always close to Moss, able to break up the play.
| WR James Thrash, Rec: 1 - 4 - 0 (2 targets) |
Thrash was not used extensively but was able to catch one of his three targets for four yards.
| WR Devin Thomas, Rush: 1 - 29 - 1 (1 targets) |
Thomas did not see much action in the passing game however showed off his speed and elusiveness when he took an end around 29 yards, making defenders miss and scoring Washington's only touchdown of the game.
| TE Chris Cooley, Rec: 6 - 71 - 0 (7 targets) |
Cooley was used extensively in the passing game and led the Redskins in receiving. He caught six balls for 71 yards as it often took multiple Giants defenders to bring him down. He primarily was targeted short, being forced to use his legs to gain good yardage after the catch and do everything he could to keep the Redskins offense on the field.
| TE Todd Yoder, Rec: 3 - 25 - 0 (3 targets) |
Yoder caught all three of his targets for a total of 25 yards.
| PK Shaun Suisham 0 - 1 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 1 points |
Suisham missed his lone field goal attempt while adding the PAT conversion on the Washington touchdown run.
| WAS Rush Defense |
The Redskins rush defense fared better than most against the Giants ground game but had to put an extra defender in the box to do so. Still, New York fought for 116 physical yards on the ground and used the play action pass to set up the Giant's passing attack and deep ball. As the game wore on, so did the Redskins defensive unit, surrendering most of their rushing yards in the last 30 minutes of the game as Jacobs and Ward found open space, allowing them to move the ball and controlling the clock.
| WAS Pass Defense |
With an extra defender in the box, Washington dared Eli to throw downfield and in the first half that is just what he did. Mounting a first half lead of 13-7, Manning took up the challenge Washington presented him, throwing for a total of 239 first half yards against the mismatched secondary. In man coverage they were consistently beat off the ball, allowing the Giants wide receivers to maneuver in space and catch the ball on the run. In the second half, New York mainly turned to their ground game as the worn down unit had no answer for the power rushing attack.