Philadelphia Eagles Upset Defending Super Bowl Champion NY Giants, 23-11
After Sunday afternoon's game between the Eagles and Giants there is one certainty in the NFL - there will be a new Super Bowl champion this year. The Eagles, who just two weeks ago weren't sure they would even be in the playoffs, continued their impressive and improbable run to a 2009 championship with a win over the Giants.
The Giants looked poised early in the game as Ahmad Bradshaw returned the opening kickoff 65 yards to Philadelphia's 35-yard line. The drive - as would most for New York in the Eagles' red zone during the afternoon - ended with a John Carney field goal. On the Giants' next possession from deep in their own end, a pass from Eli Manning to start the drive sailed over his target's head and into the arms of Asante Samuel. Samuel returned the interception to the New York 2-yard line, setting up a 1-yard rushing TD by Donovan McNabb four plays later. The lead would change hands twice more before halftime when the Eagles went to the dressing room up 10-8.
The Giants were able to snatch the lead back early in the third quarter when Carney knocked through a 36-yard FG. But on the next Philadelphia possession, McNabb and his Eagles were able to overcome two long-yardage third downs on a 12-play drive that was capped by another Akers FG that put the Eagles back on top, 13-11. When Carney missed his 47-yard try on the Giants' next touch, the Eagles capitalized 10 plays later when McNabb found TE Brent Celek wide open in the end zone for a one-yard TD and a 20-11 lead early in the fourth quarter. Then the Eagles defense got the opportunity to show their true colours, stuffing the Giants on two straight short-yardage fourth-down attempts, the second giving Philadelphia the ball back with less than seven minutes remaining in the game. Following another FG by Akers, his third of the game, the Giants committed turnovers on their last two possessions and sealed the upset win for the Eagles.
McNabb had an average game at best but made the big plays when the Eagles needed them most. His teammate and the Eagles' biggest offensive weapon, Brian Westbrook, struggled with only 36 rushing yards and 10 receiving yards. This game was won by the Philadelphia defense. On the five drives where New York made it into Philadelphia territory, three ended with FGs while the other two were capped by missed FG attempts.
The Eagles will travel to Arizona to face the Cardinals next Sunday afternoon in the NFC Championship. The Eagles crushed the Cardinals in their only match of the regular season in Week 13, 48-20. The game was the first for the Eagles following the benching of Donovan McNabb in Week 12.
Eagles Leaders
- McNabb: 22-for-40 for 217 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTs; 5 rushes for 16 yards and 1 TD
- Westbrook: 18 rushes for 36 yards
- DeSean Jackson: 4 catches for 81 yards
- Samuel: 4 tackles, 1 INT to set up McNabb's rushing TD
Giants Leaders:
- Manning: 15-for-29 for 169 yards, no TDs and 2 INTs
- Brandon Jacobs: 19 rushes for 92 yards
- Kevin Boss: 3 catches for 52 yards
- Antonio Pierce: 7 tackles
Willie Parker Helps Pittsburgh Steelers Defeat San Diego Chargers, 35-24
Fighting injury through a good portion of the regular season, Steelers RB Parker appears to be back to full strength, and he could not have picked a better time. Parker had his highest rushing-yardage output of the season when he amassed 146 yards on 27 attempts and scored two TDs.
The Chargers started the game well as just four plays in Philip Rivers connected with receiver Vincent Jackson on a 41-yard score. But the lead was erased when Santonio Holmes fielded a punt from San Diego on their next possession and took it back 67 yards for the game-tying score. A San Diego FG and Pittsburgh touchdown later and the Steelers led at the break, 14-10.
The Steelers opened the second half with an 8-yard TD pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Heath Miller that increased their lead to 11. The 13-play scoring drive took almost eight minutes off the clock and was the beginning of a quarter that would see the Steelers control the ball for all but 17 seconds. Pittsburgh ran 24 plays while the Chargers ran only one.
Pittsburgh started the scoring in the final quarter when they got great field position thanks to a defensive pass interference penalty against San Diego. The third back for the Steelers, Gary Russell, ended the drive when he ran into the end zone for a one-yard score, his first career postseason TD. The TD gave the Steelers a 28-10 advantage. The Chargers responded with TDs of their own but were matched by the Steelers on their two scores of the quarter. It seemed that anything the Chargers could do, the Steelers could and would do better.
Pittsburgh will host the Baltimore Ravens next Sunday evening in the AFC Championship. The game will be a match of the NFL's two best defenses during the regular season. Pittsburgh won both games between the two teams during the regular season (23-20 in Week 4; 13-9 in Week 15).
Steelers Leaders:
- Roethlisberger: 17-for-26 for 181 yards and 1 TD
- Parker: 27 rushes for 146 yards and 2 TDs
- Hines Ward: 4 catches for 70 yards
- Larry Foote: 5 tackles and 1 INT
Chargers Leaders:
- Rivers: 21-for-35 for 308 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT
- Sproles: 11 rushes for 15 yards; 5 catches for 91 yards and 1 TD
- Chris Chambers: 4 catches for 72 yards
- Eric Weddle: 9 tackles and 1 sack
Click here for the scores from Saturday's Divisional Playoff games
Stats Source:
nfl.com
Justin Harrington - I make my living as the editor of two major community newspapers in west end Toronto and further feed my appetite for writing through ...
