Giants win NFC’s top seed with 34-28 OT
win over Panthers
The NFC road to the Super Bowl will run through the Meadowlands
because the New York Giants did what they had to do against frigid, swirling
wind—run the ball.
Derrick Ward ran for career-best 215 yards and set up Brandon Jacobs’ winning
2-yard touchdown run with 9:57 left in overtime and the Super Bowl champion
Giants re-established themselves as the team to beat by earning the NFC’s top
seed for the postseason with a thrilling 34-28 comeback victory over the
Carolina Panthers on Sunday night.
“It’s great for our fans to be able to play here at Giants Stadium,” quarterback
Eli Manning said after the Giants (12-3) snapped a two-game losing streak by
rushing for a season-high 301 yards. “You never know what the weather is going
to be like here. We’re used to playing in those cold and windy games and I would
like to think we would have the advantage in some of those. I think it will be
fun playing the games at home.”
The fans who braved the numbing wind chill has plenty of fun watching this one.
They tossed snowballs onto the field earlier and threw it like confetti when
Jacobs won the game...
DeAngelo Williams rushed to the right for 13 yard gain
(John Kasay made PAT)
7 - 3
2nd Quarter
13:38
NYG
TD
Brandon Jacobs rushed to the right for 2 yard gain (John
Carney made PAT)
7 - 10
8:12
CAR
TD
DeAngelo Williams rushed to the left for 5 yard gain
(John Kasay made PAT)
14 - 10
4:45
CAR
TD
DeAngelo Williams rushed to the left for 1 yard gain
(John Kasay made PAT)
21 - 10
0:50
NYG
FG
John Carney kicked a 35-yard field goal
21 - 13
3rd Quarter
0:59
NYG
TD
Eli Manning passed to Kevin Boss down the middle for 4
yard gain (John Carney made PAT)
21 - 20
4th Quarter
12:50
CAR
TD
DeAngelo Williams rushed to the right for 30 yard gain
(John Kasay made PAT)
28 - 20
3:21
NYG
TD
Brandon Jacobs rushed to the right for 1 yard gain (2pt
attempt converted, Eli Manning pass to Domenik Hixon)
28 - 28
OT
9:57
NYG
TD
Brandon Jacobs rushed to the left for 2 yard gain
28 - 34
Team Statistics
CAR
NYG
First Downs
16
24
Passing
9
12
Rushing
7
12
Penalty
0
0
Third Down Efficiency
6-12
9-16
Fourth Down Efficiency
0-0
0-0
TOTAL NET YARDS
343
459
Total Plays
54
71
Average Gain Per Play
6.4
6.5
NET YARDS RUSHING
158
301
Rushes
35
41
Average Per Rush
4.5
7.3
NET YARDS PASSING
185
158
Completions-Attempts
11-19
17-27
Yards Per Pass Play
9.7
5.3
Times Sacked
0
3
Yards Lost to Sacks
0
23
Had Intercepted
0
0
PUNTS
5
5
Average Punt
39.4
40.6
PENALTIES
2
2
Penalty Yards
14
10
FUMBLES
1
2
Fumbles Lost
0
0
TIME OF POSSESSION
25:56
39:07
Pregame Previews, Storylines,
and News
New Page 1
Preview:
Even Justin Tuck says his
New York Giants aren't the best
team in the NFC right now. They
can reclaim that stature Sunday
night, or the Carolina Panthers
will prove it belongs to them.
Home-field advantage throughout
the playoffs will be on the line
and the stumbling Giants will
try to silence their doubters
when they meet the playoff-bound
Panthers. Though both teams are
11-3 and could end the regular
season with identical records
regardless of Sunday's result,
the one that wins will earn the
tiebreaker and wrap up...Preview
Prediction:N.Y. Giants Mack truck Brandon Jacobs (knee) is questionable as is
underrated tackle Kareem McKenzie, and yes, the Giants miss the stretch of
Plaxico Burress. The winner here takes top seed for the NFC playoffs. We have to
give the Panthers the edge since they are healthy and distraction free Panthers 17 - Giants 10
Video Preview: Home-field
advantage throughout the playoffs will be on the line as the stumbling Giants
take on the Panthers. Jason Horowitz and Charley Casserly go inside the numbers
to breakdown the game.
16.5
12.0