CHARLOTTE – The Giants reversed course today and got back on track toward securing an NFC postseason berth.
They ended a four-game losing streak with an impressive 27-13 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Bank of America Stadium. The Giants improved to 7-6 and bolstered their quest for a Wild Card playoff berth – and perhaps an NFC East title if Dallas falters. In beating Carolina for the first time, they also enjoyed a measure of revenge in defeating the team that eliminated them from last year’s playoffs.
The Panthers lost their third straight game and fell to 6-7.
Eli Manning threw three touchdown passes – one each to Plaxico Burress, Jeremy Shockey and David Tyree – and Jay Feely kicked a pair of field goals for the Giants. The three touchdown passes tied Manning’s season high – he accomplished the feat at Philadelphia on Sept. 17 and at Dallas the next week. Tiki Barber rushed for more than 100 yards and crossed the 10,000-yard mark for his career.
Carolina scored on Chris WeinkeÂ’s touchdown pass to Drew Carter and two field goals by John Kasay.
ManningÂ’s three-yard touchdown pass to Tyree with 6:59 remaining in the third quarter inflated the GiantsÂ’ lead to 27-10. The score was set up by Gibril WilsonÂ’s first interception of the season, a pick of a Chris Weinke pass that bounced off Steve SmithÂ’s hands and was returned 25 yards to the PanthersÂ’ 14-yard line.
Brandon JacobsÂ’ six-yard run and ManningÂ’s pass to Barber moved the ball to the two. After two plays lost a yard, Manning fake a handoff and fired a strike to Tyree, who was uncovered in the end zone.
Feely’s second field goal – a 29-yarder with 10:44 remaining in the third quarter – increased the Giants’ lead to 20-10.
The Giants took possession at Carolina’s 46-yard line after Chad Morton’s 22-yard punt return. Tiki Barber – who rushed for his 10,000th career yard in the first half – started the drive with a 20-yard run to the left side. A defensive holding penalty on Kris Jenkins and Shockey’s seven-yard reception helped move the ball to the seven. But on third-and-one, Brandon Jacobs was stopped for no gain, and Feely came on to pad the Giants’ lead.
ManningÂ’s two-yard touchdown pass to Shockey with 27 seconds remaining in the second quarter gave the Giants a 17-10 halftime lead. On third-and-goal, Manning faked a handoff to Jacobs, moved to his right and fired a pass to Shockey, who was alone in the back of the end zone.
The score successfully concluded a nine-play, 79-yard drive following a Panthers field goal. The big play in the series was a third-down, 25-yard Manning pass down the middle to Shockey, advanced the ball to the Carolina 10-yard line with 54 seconds remaining. A pass to Visanthe Shiancoe put the ball on the one.
Jacobs tried to power his way into the end zone, but fumbled and the ball was recovered by Shockey on the two. Manning and Shockey hooked up for the score on the next play.
Down 10-0, the Panthers scored 10 straight second-quarter points to tie the score.
Only 1:49 after the Giants had increased their lead, Carolina got on the scoreboard when Chris Weinke threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Drew Carter. On first down, Weinke - who started for the injured Jake Delhomme - threw down the right sideline for Carter, a third-year receiver who got a step on rookie cornerback Kevin Dockery. The play capped a four-play, 78-yard drive that including three Weinke completions for 66 yards.
Later in the quarter, the Panthers took possession on their own 10-yard line and embarked on a 10-play, 71-yard that resulted in John KasayÂ’s 37-yard field goal. Carolina twice turned third-and-10 longshots into first downs. On the first, Weinke and Carter replayed the touchdown throw, hooking up for a 38-yard gain down the right side as the receiver again got the best of Dockery. Three plays later, three pass rushers ran by Weinke, who scrambled up them middle for a 13-yard gain to the GiantsÂ’ 35. The Panthers advanced to the 19, but WeinkeÂ’s third down pass for Kris Magnum was incomplete, forcing Kasay to kick the field goal.
The Giants increased their lead to 10-0 when Manning threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Burress on the second play of the second quarter. On third-and-seven, Burress lined up on the left side, got a step on rookie cornerback Richard Marshall and caught the ball as he fell into the end zone. It was BurressÂ’ ninth touchdown catch of the season, the most by a Giant since Earnest Gray had 10 scoring receptions in 1980.
The touchdown was set up by a drive-opening 45-yard pass from Manning to Burress, who beat rookie cornerback Dion Byrum on the play. It was the longest Manning completion – and the touchdown was his longest – since he and Burress hooked up for a 50-yard score at Dallas on Oct. 23.
The long pass gave the Giants a first down on the Carolina 31. Tiki Barber gained two yards on the final play of the period. The team switched sides and Manning quickly found Burress for the touchdown.
Feely’s 32-yard field goal with 4:46 remaining in the first quarter gave the Giants a 3-0 lead. Prior to the kick, the Giants traveled 13 plays in 45 yards and 5:41. The Giants twice converted fourth downs on the drive, the first on Manning’s one-yard quarterback sneak and the second – after three incomplete passes – on his 12-yard Manning pass to Tyree on fourth-and-10 from the Panthers’ 33-yard line. Manning rolled to his left, stepped away from Damione Lewis’ rush and threw to the left side for Tyree, who moments earlier had dropped a pass. Tyree caught this one, then pushed through safety Mike Minter to pick up the first down.
The play gave the Giants a first down on the 21. Two Barber runs moved the ball to the 14, but ManningÂ’s third down pass for the Pro Bowl back fell short. Feely then came on to give the Giants the early lead.
Im sad for Carolina, but of course happy for the G-Men.
Thoughts??
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