Giants Are Kings After Giant Classic vs. Panthers

GIANTS 31
PANTHERS 28

OVERTIME

Champions are not always great; they are only great when the have to be. That is the phrase that best describes the 2008 New York Giants. After a PR disaster that was the Plaxico Burress/Antonio Pierce mess, and a two game losing streak, the Giants got right back on track with a classic 31-28 overtime victory over the Carolina Panthers. The win secured home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs for Big Blue, meaning that the next time the Giants hit the road after their game in Minnesota, it will have to be in Tampa Bay for Super Bowl XLIII. Unlike last year, the Giants will play all their playoff games at Giants Stadium this January.

The Giants did not get off to a good start in this one. The Panthers had their way with the Giants in the first half, as DeAngelo Williams and Jonahtan Stewart ate up the Giants defense, something we have not seen from any Giant opponent this season. Williams rushed for 103 yards in the game with four touchdowns. Meanwhile, Jake Delhomme was sharp, completing 11 of 18 passes for 185 yards, including a huge 60 yard completion to Mushin Muhammad.

As for Williams, three of his four touchdowns in the first half gave the Panthers a 21-10 lead before half time. It appeared that the Giants were deflated and might be in store for their third straight defeat, but they rallied. With the score now 20-13, Eli Manning orchestrated a brilliant 13 play 84 yard drive that ate up over eight minutes of the third quarter, ending with a Manning touchdown pass to Kevin Boss to get the Giants to within 21-20.

Still, the Panthers would not be deterred. They answered back when Williams dashed through the Giants defensive line for a 30 yard touchdown to give Carolina a 28-20 lead.

But, don't count out Big Blue. Manning hit Amani Toomer for a 15 yard completion to spot the ball at the Carolina 22 yard line. Manning then hit Boss from 12 yards out to get the ball to the Panthers 5. Brandon Jacobs then took it in from five yards out to get the Giants to within 28-26. Manning next hit Dominec Hixon for the two-point-conversion to tie it at 28.

The Panthers did have a chance to win it in regulation. Delhomme hit Stewart for a 13 yard gain in the flat to move the ball to the Giants 49. Later, Dehomme hit Muhammad for 11 to get the ball to the Giant 37; however, Carolina would stall and had to settle for a 50 yard field goal to try for the win. The kick was long enough, but the cross-winds in Giants Stadium pulled the ball left of the goal post, keeping the game tied and sending both teams and 78,000 crazy fans into overtime.

In OT, Derrick Ward took over. Ward sprinted down the sideline for a 51 yard gain to get the ball to the Carolina 36 yard line, putting the Giants in position to win the game. Ward then had carries of 14 and 17 to get the ball to the Panthers one yard line. Jacobs finished it off as he dived into the end zone for the winning touchdown. 34-28 G-Men!

It was a classic ball game between two outstanding ballclubs. If the Panthers can beat the Saints next week and lock up the number two seed and NFC South, don't be suprised if there is a re-match between these two exactly one month from now in the NFC Championship game.