Final Score: New York
Giants: 17 Philadelphia Eagles: 19
Giants Team Grades
The Giants were once again unable to put together a full
game against the Eagles, resulting in yet another heartbreaking loss to
them. The Giants have lost nine of the
last 10 games against the Eagles including the playoffs. Some questionable decisions and poor
execution led to the Giants dropping to 0-2 in the NFC East and 2-2 overall.
Passing Offense Grade: C+
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Eli Manning’s stats look good on the game, throwing for 309
yards and two touchdowns and having the Giants in a position to win at the end
of the game. Manning was hit a few
times, but the offensive line protected him enough to not give up any
sacks. Victor Cruz stepped up in the
absence of Hakeem Nicks and his replacement Domenik Hixon was huge.
If the whole game went like that, the grade would be much
higher; sadly it did not. Manning threw
a back-breaking interception to start the fourth quarter with the Giants
knocking on the Eagles goal line. He
also mad a poor decision on the offensive pass interference called on Ramses
Barden, putting Barden in a tough spot and ultimately taking the Giants out of
field goal range.
Barden had drawn two pass interference calls earlier in the
drive, but Manning went to the well one too many times. It was a rare lack of judgment and decision
making by Manning, who is usually lights out in the fourth quarter. Manning does deserve credit though for the
drive he orchestrated that staked the Giants a 17-16 lead in the fourth
quarter, going 83 yards on five plays ending with a touchdown to Bear Pascoe.
Rushing Offense Grade: D
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Ahmad Bradshaw returned to the lineup after hurting his neck
against Tampa Bay
Overnight sensation Andre Brown only got five carries on the
night for 14 yards. The Giants were
never able to get the ground game going and abandoned it, putting the game on
Manning’s shoulders. Brown needs more
touches in the coming games as the run game has not been effective with
Bradshaw feature in it for over a season.
Pass Defense Grade: B+
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The Giants suffered another devastating injury in the
secondary, this time to Kenny Phillips.
Phillips is the best player in the defensive backfield and losing him is
a huge blow to an already decimated secondary.
Even with the injury to Phillips, the Giants were still able
to contain the Eagles passing game, limiting Vick to 241 yards and one
touchdown. They were not able to get
enough pressure on Vick though, as they only hit him three times and sacked him
twice, one coming when Vick slide at the end of the Eagles game winning field
goal drive.
Prince Amukamara had a strong game covering Jeremy Maclin,
limiting him to only one catch for seven yards.
DeSean Jackson had a strong game though, catching six balls for 99 yards
and a touchdown. Brent Celek also hurt the
Giants some, catching a few passes that resulted in first downs.
Rush Defense Grade: D
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At the start of the game, the Giants run defense was
outstanding. LeSean McCoy was held to
just two yards at halftime and Vick had no rushing yards in the same time. Disappointingly for the Giants, the second
half was a polar opposite.
McCoy shredded the Giants for 121 yards in the second half
and allowed 49 to Vick. McCoy and Vick
were able to take advantage of the aggressive Giant defensive line,
continuously exposing them and beating them to the corner to the sidelines for
big gains.
The Giant defenders, specifically Osi Umenyiora and Jason
Pierre-Paul, were not staying home and allowing the Eagles big plays on cut
back runs. Umenyiora and Pierre-Paul
were not staying home and holding contain, something head coach Tom Coughlin is
going to rip into them for.
The Giants were able to make a huge stand from the two-yard
line, but were unable to stop the run any other time. The time of possession edge the Eagles held,
33:21 to 26:39, is evidence that the Eagles were running over the Giants and
put the Giants in a tough spot.
Special Teams: B+
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Lawrence Tynes missed the game winning field goal from 54
yards but never should have been put in that situation. It was a yard past his career high of 53
yards and only happened because of poor management. Tynes did knock in his other field goal
attempt of the game, from 25 yards out.
Steve Weatherford had a net of only 38.5 yards on five
punts, but the Eagles were only able to return one of the punts for three
yards. That is solid from Weatherford,
as he continuously put the Eagles deep in their own end of the field and did
not allow anything crazy to happen, something Giants and Eagles fans are used
to in these match-ups.
David Wilson was the star of the special teams Sunday night,
showing explosiveness and giving the Giants great field position all
night. Wilson
had six returns for 217 yards, having returns of 53 and 45 yards in the second
half. Wilson
looked like he could take any kickoff back to the house on multiple occasions,
giving the Giants a weapon they have lacked in recent seasons. It is nice to see Wilson
have an impact on the game in other aspects than the offense, as he is still
struggling there but excelling on special teams.
Coaching Grade: B
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The defense struggled at times to contain McCoy and Vick on
the ground, but otherwise did a solid job given the predicament of losing yet
another starter in the secondary. The
run game needs to get figured out, as the coaching staff should look to give
Brown some more touches and possible working Wilson
in some more after his electric performance on special teams.
Playing for a field goal on the last drive is something that
will be raised all week, as the Giants were well within Tynes’ range when the
offensive pass interference occurred.
Even so, the Giants were in the game and almost stole a game in a very
hostile environment but the Giants are beyond morale victories.
Coughlin and his staff are going to have to make sure the
Giants stay focused on the task ahead in the Cleveland Browns, as this is a
typical trap game. The Giants have the
Browns at home this weekend before playing at San
Francisco the following week. The Giants need to handle business this week
before moving onto the 49ers.
