Eagles Stun Giants on Game’s Final Play

NY Times ^ | 12/19/2010 | John Branch

[Kid Shelleen]

The best quarterback for most of the game was Eli Manning. In the end, it was Michael Vick, and the Philadelphia Eagles who stunned the Giants to take tenuous control of the N.F.C. East with two games remaining.. Vick led a furious rally to erase a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit, pulling the Eagles into a tie with 76 seconds left in the game. Then, with overtime seemingly inevitable, DeSean Jackson returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown on the last play of the game

[Conservative Tsunami]

They’ll be alright, Horse; Brown’s impressive. Howard’ll get his 35-40 dingers. There’s enough O.

[Conservative Tsunami]

Hmmm...Was that why Coughlin was lecturing Dodge seconds after the game??

[fatima]

Dumb for him to even talk about.I think it’s part of his probation.No dog for a certain amount of years.

[NittanyLion]

The announcer seemed pretty certain that the punter was instructed to kick the ball out of bounds. Based on the coach's reaction, I'd say that was probably true.

During Eagles postgame live, it was stated that the punter slightly mishandled the snap and panicked (forget whether Coughlin said it or it was reported by an Eagles beat reporter). Thus, instead of kicking it OB he sent a low liner to Jackson. Whoops...

[Conservative Tsunami]

In believe your eloquence speaks for all Jints Fans.

:-)

[NittanyLion]

They’ll be alright, Horse; Brown’s impressive.

Long-term he'll be a stud, but I think he needs a full season of AB's to reach his potential. No better time than now, as far as I'm concerned.

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

Dom Brown didn’t look ready. He may need a season in AAA to close the hole in that big swing of his.

I think Ben Francisco gets most of the playing time in RF.

[Alberta's Child]

I think that's exactly what happened there.

I'll never understand how an NFL team can function so poorly on special teams like that. In this game the Giants displayed two characteristics of a very poorly coached team: (1) they were completely outplayed in the second half, and (2) their special teams play was awful in key spots.

It doesn't take a lot of talent to execute well on special teams. It takes good coaching and disciplined play -- two things that this Giants team is really lacking (and very surprising for a Tom Coughlin team).

[Alberta's Child]

The history of the Giants-Eagles rivalry is filled with devastating losses for New York. The "Miracle at the Meadowlands" back in 1978 is the game most Giants fans remember bitterly, but ten years later there was one that was even worse in a lot of ways.

The game I'm thinking of went to overtime and the Eagles drove down the field and lined up for a game-winning field goal. The Giants blocked the attempted field goal, but the ball was picked up by one of the Eagles and carried into the end zone for the winning TD. Damn, talk about a change of fortunes!

[altura]

Well, I hope you are right about Michael Vick, but it’ll be a long time before I forgive him.

Not that he cares.

I could forgive him for a lot of things after he’d ‘paid his debt’ and declared himself penitent, but that was just beyond the pale.

[Kid Shelleen]

I was amazed the punter didn't just kick it out of bounds - how hard can that be? Even if he just shanked it 20 yards, it would have been better for the Giants.

I think he was so worried about getting it blocked he totally choked after the high snap.

[Zman516]

Always good to see a New York team take it in the arse.

Nice game, Iggles.

[NittanyLion]

Well, I hope you are right about Michael Vick, but it’ll be a long time before I forgive him.

A very understandable sentiment. Only time will tell who the real Michael Vick is.

[InspectorGadget]

LOL! Not only that, having Santa run around the living room, rubbing it in your face before he unsanctimoniously moons you then flies up the chimney.

[EDINVA]

Yeah, would have been Theisman. IIRC, they DID go to the SB that year, as returning champs. And lost to the Raiders. Ah, the Glory Days... ‘Skins actually winning and Reagan in the White House.

[Revolting cat!]

Football rules shouldn’t allow a final play, I say!

[dirtboy]

THANK YOU! (wth was the coaching staff thinkin'???)

I heard the punter was supposed to kick it out of bounds and messed up. I would have been aiming for the seats if I was the punter in that situation.

[Longhair_and_Leather]

More like Miracle at the Meadowlands IV!

I. 1978-Pisarcik fumble and Edwards recovery for touchdown

II. 1988-Clyde Simmons recovers the Eagles' blocked field goal attempt and scores touchdown in overtime

III. 2003-Brian Westbrook returns a punt 85 yards for the winning touchdown with less than 1:30 left (Again, the Giants didn't kick it out of bounds, and the Eagles' offense was dead in that game)

And don't forget the Other Miracle at the Meadowlands in 1993-Eric Allen returns an interception of the Jets' Boomer Esiason 94 yards for the winning touchdown in an incredible runback after Randall Cunningham is lost for the year in that game.

[dfwgator]

Just remember, you have three Super Bowl titles, they have zilch.

[Colonel_Flagg]

Could be worse. You could be me, I’m a Vikings fan.