Joe Soriano
O.J. LewisGiants lose to Eagles 20-14.
The Giants have withstood injuries, retirements, and many other distractions, but the loss of Plaxico Buress and the resulting distraction may prove to be their downfall. It certainly did not help them today as they lost for only the second time of the season 20-14 to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Much-Maligned Eagles kept their playoff hopes alive and improved their record to 7-5-1. David Akers kicked a 51 yard field goal with four seconds left in the first quarter to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead. In the second quarter, Brian Westbrook, who rushed the ball thirty three times for 131 yards, broke free on a 30 yard run on the first play after the two minute warning of the first half to make the score 10-0. Just prior to the half, after the Giants went three and out, the Eagles lined up for a field goal in the hopes of taking a 13-0 lead into halftime, but it was blocked and returned 71 yards for a touchdown by Kevin Dockery of the Giants to seemingly give the Giants the momentum going into halftime. But the Eagles would not allow the Giants to gain the momentum. There was no scoring in the third quarter, but McNabb hit Westbrook for a 40 yard touchdown with 13:49 remaining in the Fourth Quarter to give the Eagles a 17-7 advantage. The Eagles took the ball at 9:26 of the 4th Quarter and went on a fourteen play, forty six yard drive that ate up 7:02 of the clock and ended with a 34 yard field goal by David Akers to make the score 20-7. The Giants scored a touchdown with 15 seconds remaining on a one yard pass from Manning to D. Johnson to make the score 20-14. The Giants, however, were not able to convert on an onside kick, and McNabb ended the game with a kneel down. The Eagles were able to generate 331 yards of offense, compared to the Giants who were only able to only generate 211 yards. McNabb was 19/30 for 191 yards and a touchdown. Manning was 13/27 for 123 yards in defeat.
