Giants Keep Rolling, Down Skins 23-7: The NFL Champion New York Giants defeated the Washington Redskins 23-7 earlier today at a rain-soaked FedEx Field in Landover, MD. The win improved the Giants’ overall record to 11-1 (4-0 in the NFC East). The Redskins fell to 7-5 (2-3 in the NFC East).
The Giants were without a number of key players including DT Fred Robbins (shoulder), HB Ahmad Bradshaw (neck), and WR Plaxico Burress (hamstring/gunshot).
The Redskins’ defensive strategy was to load up against the Giants’ running attack and dare the Giants to beat Washington with the passing game. The Giants responded with 296 net passing yards, while also rushing for 108 net yards.
The Redskins received the ball to start the game. The Giants held them to a three-and-out. On their first possession, the Giants then drove 71 yards in seven plays to take a 7-0 lead with QB Eli Manning hitting WR Amani Toomer on 40-yard touchdown pass. The drive was kept alive twice on 3rd-and-long by Manning passes to WR Domenik Hixon.
Washington was held to another three-and-out on their second drive. New York then marched 67 yards in 11 plays, settling for a 31-yard field goal by PK John Carney to take a 10-0 first quarter advantage. Key plays on this drive included a 5-yard run by HB Derrick Ward on 3rd-and-3, a 24-yard pass to TE Kevin Boss, and a 15-yard completion to Toomer combined with a personal foul penalty on the Redskins.
The Redskins finally managed their initial first down of the game on their third possession, near the end of the first quarter. Washington picked up another being forced to punt again.
The Giants then proceeded to score on their third straight drive of the game as New York moved the ball 60 yards in six plays to set up a 38-yard field goal by Carney. The big play on the drive was a 48-yard catch-and-run by Ward. Giants 13 – Redskins 0.
Washington scored their only points of the game on the ensuing drive, and that was aided by a questionable call. The drive started with a poor kickoff that was fielded at the 28-yard line and returned to the Redskin 43-yard line. Six plays later, CB Corey Webster intercepted a pass at the Giants’ 34-yard line, but Webster was called for a phantom illegal-use-of-the-hands penalty that wiped out the pick. On the very next play, WR Devin Thomas scored on a 29-yard end around to cut the Giants’ advantage to 13-7.
The Giants did drive to the Washington 34-yard line on their ensuing possession, but on 3rd-and-6, a Manning pass intended for Hixon was intercepted at the Washington 25-yard line. The Giants’ defense held and the Redskins punted after one first down. The Giants drove to the Washington 38-yard line on their next possession, but Manning was stuffed on 4th-and-1 and the Giants turned the ball over on downs. The Redskins did managed to get into field goal range right before halftime, however Washington’s kicker missed the 42-yard field goal attempt. At halftime, the Giants led 13-7.
The Giants received the ball to start the third quarter. After picking up one first down, the Giants were forced to punt. Washington was then held to a three-and-out by the Giants’ defense.
On New York’s second possession of the second half, the Giants drove 48 yards in six plays to take a 20-7 advantage. The drive began with a 23-yard run by HB Brandon Jacobs. On 3rd-and-10, Manning found Ward for 11 yards down to the Redskins’ 2-yard line. Two plays later, Jacobs scored from one yard out.
The ensuing drive by the Redskins ended when CB Aaron Ross intercepted a deep pass from QB Jason Campbell at the Giants’ 3-yard line. The Giants were able to move the football out to the Redskins’ 45-yard line, but then were forced to punt when Jacobs was stuffed on 3rd-and-1.
The Redskins were held to yet another three-and-out on their next possession, but so too then were the Giants. A key moment in the game came on Washington’s fourth possession of the second half. Facing a 4th-and-1 from their own 39-yard line, the Redskins decided to go for it, but HB Clinton Portis was stuffed for no gain by DE Justin Tuck. The Giants picked up one first down to set up a successful 39-yard field goal by Carney. Giants 23 – Redskins 7.
With about three and a half minutes to go in the game, the Redskins decided to go for it again on 4th-and-6 at the Giants’ 34-yard line. The pass fell incomplete and the Redskins turned the football over on downs for the second straight possession.
The Giants could not pick up a first down after a holding call on Boss wiped out a 51-yard run by Ward. On the Redskins’ final possession of the game, Washington did manage to reach the Giants’ 17-yard line, but S James Butler recovered a fumble on the game’s last play.
Offensively, Manning completed 21-of-34 passes for 305 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. Toomer caught five passes for 85 yards and a touchdown, Ward five passes for 75 yards, Hixon five passes for 71 yards, Boss three passes for 45 yards, and WR Steve Smith two passes for 22 yards. Jacobs carried the ball 21 times for 71 yards and a score and Ward 10 times for 30 yards.
Defensively, the Giants held Portis to 22 yards rushing on 11 attempts. Tuck was credited with two sacks, DT Barry Cofield with one sack, and DE Renaldo Wynn with one sack. Ross had an interception. Cofield and CB Terrell Thomas forced fumbles, with Butler recovering one.
Post-Game Notes: Inactive for the Giants were DT Fred Robbins (shoulder), HB Ahmad Bradshaw (neck), WR Plaxico Burress (hamstring/gunshot), OT Adam Koets, DE Jerome McDougle, LB Jonathan Goff (hamstring), CB Sam Madison, and PK Lawrence Tynes.
Burress to Report to Police Authorities: According to press reports, WR Plaxico Burress, who wounded himself in the right leg when his concealed firearm accidentally discharged in a Manhattan nightclub Friday night, will report to police authorities when requested.
“We will make arrangements for Mr. Burress to be present when required,” said Burress’ lawyer. “He’s not running away from this. He intends to deal with this responsibly, and we hope it works out in the end. I would ask that the public, the Giants, the media and everybody else withhold judgment. He’s presumed innocent, hasn’t been convicted of anything, and we have a long road ahead of us.”
General Manager Jerry Reese said that he has tried to reach out to Burress. “I reached out to him and I did not get a return phone call,” said Reese. “We haven’t spoken to him yet.”
“We’re still investigating the circumstances of how he was shot,” said Giants’ President and CEO John Mara. “I want to wait until we find out all the facts and circumstances. I don’t know what happened there. And until we find out exactly what happened, we’re not going to make any comment or make any decision about his future.”
“I’m disappointed that any of our guys would put themselves in this situation,” Mara said. “But our first concern is for Plaxico’s health and well-being.”
“We’ve been in touch with NFL Security, they’ve been in touch with the police and we’ve told them that whatever they need from us, we’re going to give them,” said Mara. “We’re going to let the investigation play out. There are a lot of unanswered questions. We’re cooperating fully with both the police and NFL Security.”
MLB Antonio Pierce was with Burress when the incident occurred. “Antonio has been cooperative with NFL Security,” Reese said. “He’s been interviewed by NFL Security, I’m not sure if he’s been interviewed by the police yet.”