The New York Giants did little with the exceptional field
position the Steelers gave them Sunday. Finally, when it seemed Pittsburgh had
too much depth and defense for the Super Bowl champs, the Steelers were tripped
up by—of all things—a bad punt snap.
Eli Manning threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Boss with 3:11 remaining for
the Giants’ only touchdown after they tied it several minutes before on a
bizarre safety. Linebacker James Harrison’s high snap on the punt gave New York
two points, and the Giants held off Pittsburgh for a 21-14 victory in a matchup
of division leaders.
The resilient Steelers (5-2), playing with backups all over the field, tried to
make up for Ben Roethlisberger’s four interceptions by turning two big-play
scores into a lead they preserved with a goal-line stand midway through the
fourth quarter.
But the Giants (6-1) tied it with 6:48 remaining on the safety.
Pro Bowl linebacker Harrison, playing center due to long snapper Greg Warren’s
knee injury, snapped the ball over punter Mitch Berger’s head and out of the end
zone. It wasn’t certain why Harrison was snapping rather than starting center
Justin Hartwig or right guard Darnell Stapleton, a center at Rutgers...more
Scoring Summary
NYG - PIT
1st Quarter
11:15
PIT
TD
Mewelde Moore rushed to the right for 32 yard gain (Jeff
Reed made PAT)
0 - 7
4:39
NYG
FG
John Carney kicked a 26-yard field goal
3 - 7
2nd Quarter
10:30
NYG
FG
John Carney kicked a 35-yard field goal
6 - 7
3:31
NYG
FG
John Carney kicked a 25-yard field goal
9 - 7
3rd Quarter
10:00
PIT
TD
Ben Roethlisberger passed to Nate Washington to the left
for 65 yard gain (Jeff Reed made PAT)
9 - 14
4th Quarter
8:18
NYG
FG
John Carney kicked a 24-yard field goal
12 - 14
6:48
NYG
SY
Mitch Berger rushed up the middle for no gain. James
Harrison fumbled. James Harrison recovered fumble. Safety
14 - 14
3:07
NYG
TD
Eli Manning passed to Kevin Boss to the left for 2 yard
gain (John Carney made PAT)
21 - 14
Team Statistics
NYG
PIT
First Downs
14
12
Passing
9
7
Rushing
4
4
Penalty
1
1
Third Down Efficiency
6-17
1-10
Fourth Down Efficiency
1-2
0-4
TOTAL NET YARDS
282
249
Total Plays
67
56
Average Gain Per Play
4.2
4.4
NET YARDS RUSHING
83
95
Rushes
35
22
Average Per Rush
2.4
4.3
NET YARDS PASSING
199
154
Completions-Attempts
19-32
13-29
Yards Per Pass Play
6.2
4.5
Times Sacked
0
5
Yards Lost to Sacks
0
35
Had Intercepted
0
4
PUNTS
5
4
Average Punt
41.0
44.3
PENALTIES
7
8
Penalty Yards
71
59
FUMBLES
2
3
Fumbles Lost
0
0
TIME OF POSSESSION
34:24
25:36
Pregame Previews, Storylines,
and News
New Page 1
Preview:
Rookies when they first met in 2004, Eli Manning and Ben
Roethlisberger have since led their teams to Super Bowl victories. Both appear
to have their clubs in good position to make runs at another title this year.
Manning and the New York Giants travel to Heinz Field to take on Roethlisberger
and the Pittsburgh Steelers in a matchup of 5-1 teams Sunday. Roethlisberger,
the 11th pick in the 2004 draft, got the best of Manning, the top choice that
year...
Pick:
This should be a great game all-round, but Pittsburgh has won three in a row and
with Willie Parker possibly returning for this one after missing three games to
a sprained knee, they get the edge Steelers 21 - Giants 20
Notable:
Expect Pitt to flex its
defensive muscle, win a fourth straight and run the home mark to 3-0,
even though Willie Parker (knee) remained iffy late into the week.
This is Plaxico Burress's first game vs.
the Steelers since he left the club as a free agent in 2005
The Steelers will spend much of the
week studying film of their lone loss of the season, against the Eagles
-- whose defense attacks in a similar manner as the Giants -- to make
sure the visitors can't freely tee off and clock Big Ben
10.6
17.3