Green Bay Packers 38 – New York Giants 35

Giants Lose Thriller to Packers 38-35: In a wild game, the Green Bay Packers defeated the New York Giants earlier today 38-35 at MetLife Stadium. The Giants have now lost four games in a row, dropping their record to 6-6, one game behind the 7-5 Dallas Cowboys. The Giants play the Cowboys twice in the last four games.

The overall team statistics were remarkably similar. The Packers accrued 29 first downs and 449 total net yards (360 net yards passing, 89 net yards rushing). The Giants gained 24 first downs and 447 total net yards (347 net yards passing, 100 net yards rushing). The Giants did lose the turnover battle (2 to 1) and time of possession (33:03 to 26:57).

The Giants received the football to start the game and quickly scored on a 3-play, 79-yard drive with the big play being a 67-yard touchdown pass from QB Eli Manning to H-Back Travis Beckum.

The Giants and Packers then exchanged punts before Green Bay tied the game with a 6-play, 64-yard drive. The Giants responded with a 6-play, 51-yard effort that ended with a 38-yard field goal by PK Lawrence Tynes. Giants 10 – Packers 7.

The defense forced a three-and-out on the Packers’ third offensive possession, but at the start of the second quarter, Manning’s short pass intended for HB Ahmad Bradshaw was intercepted and returned for a 38-yard touchdown. Packers 14 – Giants 10.

In the next few series, the Giants punted twice and the Packers punted once. Then, on 2nd-and-6 from the Packers’ own 10-yard line, QB Aaron Rodgers was intercepted by newly-signed LB Chase Blackburn at the 21-yard line. Blackburn returned the interception to the 12. Two plays later, HB Brandon Jacobs scored from one yard out to regain the lead for the Giants, 17-14.

However, the Packers then impressively responded with an 11-play, 80-yard drive to regain the lead with just over a minute to play before halftime. The Giants did drive to near midfield with 32 seconds to play, but Manning was sacked and fumbled the ball away. Fortunately for New York, Green Bay missed the 43-yard field goal as time expired.

At the half, Green Bay led 21-17.

Green Bay received the ball to start the second half and promptly extended their lead to 28-17 by driving 80 yards in 10 plays. The Giants responded with a 5-play, 71-yard drive that ended with a 4-yard touchdown pass from Manning to WR Hakeem Nicks. Manning and Nicks started this drive off with a 51-yard pass play. Packers 28 – Giants 24.

After gaining a couple of first downs, Green Bay punted the ball. The Giants drove from their own 1-yard line to the Packers’ 31-yard line. Tynes hit a 50-yard field goal to cut the Packers lead to 28-27.

On the Packers’ third drive of the half, Green Bay gained three first downs before having to punt, pinning the Giants inside the 20-yard line again. New York went three-and-out and the Packers then went 57 yards in eight plays to take a 35-27 lead with three and a half minutes to play.

Manning then impressively led the Giants on a 9-play, 69-yard scoring drive to bring the Giants within two points when Manning hit Nicks for a 2-yard touchdown. HB D.J. Ware scored on the two-point conversion to tie the game 35-35 with 58 seconds left.

However, the defense could not hold and Aaron Rodgers and the Packers drove 68 yards in five plays to set up the game-winning 30-yard field goal with no time left on the clock.

Offensively, Manning finished 23-of-40 for 347 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception. WR Victor Cruz caught 7 passes for 119 yards and Nicks caught 7 passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns. Halfbacks Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw combined for 97 yards on 19 carries.

Defensively, DT Linval Joseph accrued 9 tackles. Defensive ends Justin Tuck and Dave Tollefson each had sacks. Blackburn had the sole interception.

Highlights/lowlights of the game are available at NFL.com.

Injury Report – Andrews Hospitalized: OT Stacy Andrews missed the game with pulmonary embolisms in both lungs that required hospitalization. The blood clots are thought to have originated in his legs, broken up and traveled to his lungs.

OC David Baas also was a late, pre-game scratch as he was suffering from headaches.

S Kenny Phillips suffered a knee injury in the game and did not return. “He has a sprained knee, they are calling it a sprained knee,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin.

LB Spencer Paysinger also left the game with a hamstring injury and did not return.

Head Coach Tom Coughlin’s Post-Game Press Conference: The transcript and video of Head Coach Tom Coughlin’s post-game press conference are available at Giants.com.

Post-Game Player Media Q&As: Transcripts and video of post-game media Q&As with the following players are available at Giants.com:

• QB Eli Manning (Video)
• HB Ahmad Bradshaw (Video)
• HB Brandon Jacobs (Video)
• WR Hakeem Nicks (Video)
• WR Victor Cruz (Video)
• DE Justin Tuck (Video)
• DT Chris Canty (Video)
• LB Chase Blackburn (Video)
• S Antrel Rolle (Video)

Post-Game Notes: Inactive for the Giants were HB Da’Rel Scott, WR Mario Manningham (knee), OC David Baas (headaches), OT Stacy Andrews (pulmonary embolisms in both lungs), DE Osi Umenyiora (ankle), DT Jimmy Kennedy, and LB Mark Herzlich (ankle).