Twenty minutes before the Giants and Saints kicked off Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins completed their comebacks to get within a half game of the Giants.
Now the Giants were officially in a must win game.
After Eli Manning threw his 14th career interception returned for a touchdown, MetLife stadium was about as quiet as it has ever been. Manning threw a pass behind Jerrel Jernigan, and Saints corner Elbert Mack picked it off and took it back for six.
On the ensuing kickoff, the stadium erupted as the speedy rookie David Wilson took the kick back 97 yards to tie the game at seven.
The Saints then handed the ball back to the Giants after Saints fullback Jed Collins was stripped by Antrel Rolle.
Manning led the Giants on a 35 yard scoring drive capped by a touchdown pass to tight end Martellus Bennett.
The Saints made it a one point game with back to back field goals, but Eli and the Giants offense executed another one of their patented two minute drives. Manning found Domenik Hixon in the back right corner of the end zone to give the Giants a 21-13 lead at the half.
The Giants defense, who played with a bend but don't break mentality, stepped up and forced two more turnovers in the second half.
Stevie Brown intercepted Drew Brees' first pass of the second half after it was deflected by Antrel Rolle and Jimmy Graham. Brown's sixth pick of the season set up a David Wilson touchdown to make it 28-13 Giants early in the third.
Trailing 35-13 in the third quarter the Saints put together a quick scoring drive ending with a Darren Sproles touchdown to cut the lead to 35-20. The Saints picked off Eli Manning again, and another Darren Sproles score made it an eight point game.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Saints kicked it short to keep it away from the speedy Wilson, but Jerrel Jernigan took the return deep into Saints territory to set up a Victor Cruz touchdown and give the Giants a 42-27 lead.
The Saints threatened to cut into the Giants lead, but Stevie Brown picked off his second pass of the game at the Giant eight yard line, and returned it 70 yards down to the Saints twenty two yard line.
Up 45-27 in the fourth, the Giants let their first round draft pick display his talents in the backfield.
David Wilson broke through the Saints defense and ran 52 yards for his second rushing touchdown of the night.
Wilson finished the night with a franchise record 327 total yards (100 rushing and 227 return yards) and three total touchdowns.
Victor Cruz had another big game for the Big Blue pulling in passes for 121 yards and a touchdown.
Eli Manning, who looked shaky at points in the game, finished 22 of 35 for 259 yards, four scores, and two picks.
Drew Brees threw threw for 354 yards, and hit eight differen receivers, but also threw two more interceptions. Brees has thrown 16 interceptions this season, two more than he threw all of last year.
If there was a game ball to be handed out tonight it would most certainly go to rookie David Wilson, but Wilson would have to share that with his kick return squad for opening up those lanes for him.
The Giants are 8-5 and maintain their one game lead in the NFC East with three games to go.
The Giants will travel to the Georgia Dome next week to take on the Matt Ryan and the 11-2 Falcons.
Dallas will host the Pittsburgh Steelers while the Redskins travel to Cleveland.
Showing posts with label New Orleans Saints. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Orleans Saints. Show all posts
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Bradshaw, Wilson keys to a Giants victory
Tom Coughlin made it very clear to his team after their 17-16 loss to the Redskins last Monday night. "We have to win every game from here on out, we have no other choice."
Last Monday's loss to Robert Griffin III and the Washington Redskins, the New York Giants have seen their division lead shrink to just one game, and there's more than one team hot on their heels. The Redskins and Cowboys are both 6-6 while the Giants sit at 7-5. The Cowboys cruised past a dismal Philadelphia team last week, and the Skins beat the Giants on Monday Night Football.
The Giants have mad nothing easy on themselves, and now must win the rest of their games to assure themselves of a playoff spot.
On Sunday, Eli Manning and the Giants offense openly welcome the NFL's worst defense with open arms.
The New Orleans Saints, who have had a down year, are giving up 440 yards per game, a stat Eli doesn't mind looking at. But Manning and the Giants passing attack won't be the key to the Giants winning the game. It will be up to Ahmad Bradshaw, David Wilson, and the Giants offensive line to control the clock and keep Drew Brees and company off the field.
The past two times the Giants have faced Brees and the Saints, Brees embarrassed the Giants defense putting up 48 points in 2009, and 49 last season. Fortunately for the Giants both games were played in the Superdome where the Saints are almost unbeatable.
The scene will shift to MetLife Stadium for tomorrows contest where the Giants are used to the cold and wind, and the Saints would rather be in the comfort of their own dome.
The Saints rushing defense has given up an average of 153.8 rush yards per game, which again ranks last in the league. Bradshaw has put up some of his best rushing numbers for the Giants since joining the Giants, and is headed for a 1,000 yard plus season. Tomorrow's game will be in his hands, and hopefully in David Wilson's hand eight to ten times.
This game is the must win game this season for the Giants over the next four weeks. After tomorrow the Giants go on the road for games against the 11-1 Atlanta Falcons, and the 9-3 Baltimore Ravens, and finish at home against the 3-9 Eagles. The game against the Eagles may mean nothing if the Giants can't win these three.
If the Giants have shown us anything it's that they play their best with their backs against the wall. They have successfully backed themselves against that wall with a 1-3 record over their last four games.
Tomorrow is going to be a high scoring game with both offenses putting up points, but the if the Giants can get their ground game going, they will be able to control the clock, and thus take the game out of Drew Brees hands.
Last Monday's loss to Robert Griffin III and the Washington Redskins, the New York Giants have seen their division lead shrink to just one game, and there's more than one team hot on their heels. The Redskins and Cowboys are both 6-6 while the Giants sit at 7-5. The Cowboys cruised past a dismal Philadelphia team last week, and the Skins beat the Giants on Monday Night Football.
The Giants have mad nothing easy on themselves, and now must win the rest of their games to assure themselves of a playoff spot.
On Sunday, Eli Manning and the Giants offense openly welcome the NFL's worst defense with open arms.
The New Orleans Saints, who have had a down year, are giving up 440 yards per game, a stat Eli doesn't mind looking at. But Manning and the Giants passing attack won't be the key to the Giants winning the game. It will be up to Ahmad Bradshaw, David Wilson, and the Giants offensive line to control the clock and keep Drew Brees and company off the field.
The past two times the Giants have faced Brees and the Saints, Brees embarrassed the Giants defense putting up 48 points in 2009, and 49 last season. Fortunately for the Giants both games were played in the Superdome where the Saints are almost unbeatable.
The scene will shift to MetLife Stadium for tomorrows contest where the Giants are used to the cold and wind, and the Saints would rather be in the comfort of their own dome.
The Saints rushing defense has given up an average of 153.8 rush yards per game, which again ranks last in the league. Bradshaw has put up some of his best rushing numbers for the Giants since joining the Giants, and is headed for a 1,000 yard plus season. Tomorrow's game will be in his hands, and hopefully in David Wilson's hand eight to ten times.
This game is the must win game this season for the Giants over the next four weeks. After tomorrow the Giants go on the road for games against the 11-1 Atlanta Falcons, and the 9-3 Baltimore Ravens, and finish at home against the 3-9 Eagles. The game against the Eagles may mean nothing if the Giants can't win these three.
If the Giants have shown us anything it's that they play their best with their backs against the wall. They have successfully backed themselves against that wall with a 1-3 record over their last four games.
Tomorrow is going to be a high scoring game with both offenses putting up points, but the if the Giants can get their ground game going, they will be able to control the clock, and thus take the game out of Drew Brees hands.
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