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Week 19 Game Recap: Philadelphia Eagles 23, New York Giants 11
What you need to know
| Philadelphia Eagles |
Playing under windy circumstances, the Eagles took a strange path to a 10-8 halftime lead. They fell behind early, after a Giants field goal, but came back with a score of their own on a Donovan McNabb one yard touchdown plunge. Following a safety on a play where McNabb was flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone and another New York field goal, the Eagles came back to take the lead on a David Akers field goal before the half.
The Giants took the lead in the third quarter after another Carney field goal, but the Eagles then ran off 13 unanswered points to come away with the divisional round win and earn a trip to the NFC Championship game next week. The scores came on two Akers field goals and a one yard touchdown pass from McNabb to TE Brent Celek.
| New York Giants |
The Giants trailed 10--8 at halftime as they were able to muster just two field goals and a safety behind an offense that struggled to move the ball and convert on third downs in the windy, cold weather. For the rest of the game, they were able to manage just one more successful field goal as their offense was held without a touchdown and missed two field goals that could have put them within striking distance of the Eagles and made the score much closer.
RB Brandon Jacobs ran well when he was given the opportunity, and finished with 92 yards on 19 rushes, but the New York offense couldn't get anything going in the passing game, where QB Eli Manning threw for just 169 yards, zero scores, two interceptions and poor play on third downs. Their struggles on those third downs not only forced field goal attempts, two of which the Giants missed, but killed promising drives throughout the game and caused their offense to be completely out of rhythm.
What you ought to know
| QB Donovan McNabb, Pass: 22 - 40 - 217 - 1 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 5 - 16 - 1 |
McNabb did just enough against the Giants to lead his team to victory as he finished 22 of 40 for 217 yards and one score through the air, and five rushes for 16 yards and a score on the ground. He did throw two interceptions and gave New York a safety on an intentional grounding play in the end zone, but Philadelphia was able to play through the turnovers and hold on for the win. McNabb's scores came on a one yard run at the goal line in the first quarter and another one yard score on a pass play to TE Brent Celek in the fourth that put the game out of reach for the Giants.
| RB Brian Westbrook, Rush: 18 - 36 - 0, Rec: 2 - 10 - 0 (5 targets) |
Brian Westbrook was the main focus of the New York defense and was held to 36 yards rushing on 18 carries and had just two receptions for ten yards on five targets in the passing game. For the game, he had a long rush of just eight yards and received a few goal line carries that he could not convert into scores.
| RB Correll Buckhalter, Rush: 5 - 7 - 0, Rec: 3 - 19 - 0 (4 targets) |
Buckhalter got a little work against the Giants and finished with five rushes for seven yards on the ground and had three receptions for 19 yards on four targets in the passing game.
| WR Jason Avant, Rec: 4 - 43 - 0 (6 targets) |
Avant received six targets and finished with four receptions for 43 yards. He was targeted twice on third downs, and came up with a big reception on a third and 20 play to give Philadelphia a first down.
| WR Kevin Curtis, Rec: 4 - 40 - 0 (10 targets) |
Curtis was targeted a team leading ten times, but finished with just four receptions for 40 yards. He was targeted twice on third downs and twice on deep routes, had one red zone target and a pass intended for him was picked off by the Giants on a tipped ball at the line of scrimmage.
| WR DeSean Jackson, Rec: 4 - 81 - 0 (7 targets) |
Jackson received seven targets and came down with four receptions for 81 yards, including a 48 yard reception that helped set up a Philadelphia field goal. One pass intended for Jackson was picked off and three of his receptions resulted in Eagles first downs.
| TE Brent Celek, Rec: 3 - 12 - 1 (5 targets) |
Celek was targeted five times and finished with just three receptions for 12 yards, but came through with a big fourth quarter play for Philadelphia when he caught a one yard touchdown pass to start the fourth quarter to extend the Eagles lead to 9.
| TE L.J. Smith, Rec: 2 - 12 - 0 (2 targets) |
Smith caught the only two passes thrown his way for 12 yards.
| PK David Akers 3 - 3 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 11 points |
Akers was successful on all three of his field goal attempts from 25, 35 and 20 yards out and added two extra points to finish with 11 points in the game.
| PHI Rush Defense |
The Eagles allowed 138 yards on 32 rushes for a 4.3 ypc average, but held the Giants running game in check and forced them to make plays through the air. RB Brandon Jacobs flirted with a 100 yard rushing day, but was held to just under that, and Philadelphia held New York to zero rushing scores.
LB Stewart Bradley led Philadelphia with seven solo tackles and four assists.
| PHI Pass Defense |
Philadelphia allowed 169 yards through the air, but held the Giants out of the end zone in the passing game, picked off two Eli Manning passes and held New York to three of 13 on third downs.
DB's Asante Samuel and Quentin Mikell each had interceptions for the Eagles and DB Brian Dawkins finished with eight solo tackles and two assists to lead the secondary.
| QB Eli Manning, Pass: 15 - 29 - 169 - 0 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 1 - 0 - 0 |
Manning had a rough outing under windy conditions against the Eagles and finished just 15 of 29 for 169 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions. Manning played with a glove on his left hand and a bare right, but threw numerous passes that fluttered and either fell short of receivers or flew over their heads. For the game, the Giants were just three of 13 on third downs and were forced to attempt five field goals for their lack of success in finishing drives. Manning had one rush for no gain on the ground.
| RB Brandon Jacobs, Rush: 19 - 92 - 0 |
Jacobs had a productive day rushing the ball for the Giants and finished with 19 rushes for 92 yards. However, it just seemed New York could not hold drives together long enough for Jacobs to be used more effectively, and the Giants gave him the ball in predictable situations and the Eagles were ready for it. Jacobs was stopped on a key fourth and one play. He also had a five yard rush called back after officials ruled the snap came after the two minute warning before halftime.
| RB Derrick Ward, Rush: 12 - 46 - 0, Rec: 5 - 24 - 0 (7 targets) |
Ward chipped in with 12 rushes for 46 yards and added five receptions for 24 yards on seven targets in the passing game. Five of his targets came on third downs, mostly on short screen plays where Ward was lined up on the outside.
| WR Domenik Hixon, Rec: 2 - 37 - 0 (6 targets) |
Hixon was targeted six times and finished with two receptions for 37 yards.
| WR Steve Smith, Rec: 2 - 17 - 0 (5 targets) |
Smith received five targets and totaled two receptions for 17 yards. One pass intended for Smith was picked off and he lost a fumble on a reception with less than two minutes left in the game. Two targets came on third downs.
| WR Amani Toomer, Rec: 2 - 26 - 0 (4 targets) |
Toomer finished with two receptions for 26 yards on four targets in the passing game. He had one third down target for the game.
| TE Kevin Boss, Rec: 3 - 52 - 0 (7 targets) |
Boss was targeted seven times and finished with three receptions for a team leading 52 yards. He was targeted twice on third downs and three of his receptions resulted in first downs.
| PK John Carney 3 - 5 FG, 0 - 0 XP, 9 points |
John Carney had a rough day under windy conditions for the Giants as he connected on just three of five field goal attempts. He hit from distances of 22, 34 and 36 yards out, but missed on attempts from 46 and 47 yards out that would have made it a different game for New York.
| NYG Rush Defense |
The Giants played well against the run and shut down Philadelphia's main offensive weapon in Brian Westbrook. For the game, they allowed just 59 yards on 28 rushes, for a 2.1 ypc average. They allowed a long run of just nine yards, but did give up a short yardage touchdown in the first quarter on a Donovan McNabb one yard score.
LB Antonio Pierce led the way with seven solo tackles and three assists to lead the Giants.
| NYG Pass Defense |
New York defended the pass well throughout the game, but seemed to give up key plays at crucial times in the game that allowed the Eagles to keep drives alive. Although Philadelphia had just 217 passing yards, the Giants allowed one passing score and surrendered seven of 14 on third downs and gave Philadelphia 12 passing first downs for the game. They also had two interceptions and caused a safety on an intentional grounding play in the end zone, but failed to record a sack.
DB Kevin Dockery and DL Fred Robbins each had interceptions for the Giants.