Giants Survive Possible Collapse Versus Falcons

GIANTS 34

FALCONS 31

Wow! That was close.

Desperate for a win, and holding onto a 31-17 lead late in the fourth quarter, the Giants almost choked it up again, as the Falcons stormed back to tie the game at 31 forcing overtime with Big Blue.

This was not an easy game for the Giants. Eli Manning struggled to deal with the Falcons blitz early and often. First he fumbled a pass to put the Giants in a second and 23, and then he was picked off to kill the Giants first drive.

It looked pretty bleak for the Giants, but Manning and his receivers tightened those chin straps, and started playing some serious ball. In the middle of the second quarter with the Falcons up 7-3, Manning hit Hakeem Nicks down the sideline for 30 yards to set Big Blue up in Falcon territory. Then, Manning hit Kevin Boss from 28 yards out to give the Giants a 10-7 lead.

After Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan fumbled the ball into the hands of Osi Umineyora, the Giants started to put some distance between themselves and the Falcons. This time, Manning hit Boss from four yards out to give the Giants a commanding 17-7 lead.

But, things would not get any easier for the Giants. On the their opening drive of the second half, the Falcons got back into the game. Ryan hit Michael Jenkins for 28 yards on a third and 13 to spot the ball at the Giants 15. Three plays later, Jason Snelling took the ball in from the one yard line to get the Falcons to within three, 17-14.

After Brandon Jacobs scored a two yard touchdown to make it 24-14, the Faclons drove the ball on a 6:30 minute drive to set up a Jason Elam Field goal to cu the lead to seven, 24-17.

It appeared that the Giants had finally put the Falcons away in the fourth quarter, when Manning led the Giants on a 79 yard drive highlighted by a 27 yard pass to Mario Manningham to spot the ball at the Falcons 27. Later in the drive Manning hit, Madison Hedgecock for the touchdown to give the Giants a 31-17 lead.

Then it got really interesting.

Ryan completed seven straight passes, including a 18 yard pass to Tony Gonzalez, and a four yard touchdown to Eric Weems to cut the Giants lead to seven. After a Big Blue three and out, the Falcons were back in business.

Ryan hit Rody White for 22 yards, then Gonzalez for 14 more to the Giants 24. Finally with 28 seconds left, Ryan it Gonzalez in double coverage for the touchdown to tie the game at 31.

Giants Stadium was dead silent. Could the Giants blow another game at home? Could they continue on this path of self destruction?

Well the combo of Manning to Manningham thought differently. Manning hit a streaking Manningham for 29 yards, down the sideline to set it up nicely for Lawrence Tynees. Tynees came out and kicked the game winning field goal, as the ball shaved the edge of the goalpost for the Giants victory.

The Giants are now 6-4, and are still a game out of first in the NFC East. Box score.