Oct 112013
 
Brandon Myers, New York Giants (October 10, 2013)

Interception on the Final Drive – © USA TODAY Sports Images

Free Falling – The New York Giants Are Now 0-6: The Chicago Bears defeated the New York Giants 27-21 on Thursday night at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. With the loss, the Giants are now 0-6 with 10 games left to play in this dreary NFL season. This is the first time the Giants have started a season 0-6 since 1976.

“We’re all sick of it,” Head Coach Tom Coughlin said after the game. ”We’re all sick of losing, but we put ourselves in this position.”

The game was a closely-fought affair with the difference being three interceptions by QB Eli Manning. Eli threw interceptions on the Giants’ first two possessions. Three plays into the game, on 3rd-and-6, Eli’s pass intended for WR Rueben Randle was picked off and returned to New York’s 12-yard line. But the Giants’ defense held, including on a 4th-and-2 pass, and Chicago came away with no points. On the Giants’ second possession, after picking up two first downs, there was miscommunication between Manning and Randle as Manning’s pass was picked off and returned 48 yards for a touchdown. Chicago 7 – New York 0.

The Giants responded with an impressive 10-play, 80-yard drive on their third possession to tie the game at 7-7. RB Brandon Jacobs capped off the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run. But the Bears quickly regained the lead with an 8-play, 86-yard touchdown drive with WR Brandon Marshall catching a 10-yard touchdown pass on 3rd-and-9. Bears 14 – Giants 7.

The Giants responded impressively again, driving 80 yards in seven plays with Manning finishing the series with a 37-yard touchdown pass to Randle. The game was tied 14-14. But back came the Bears with a 9-play, 80-yard possession as QB Jay Cutler found Marshall again for a 3-yard score. Bears 21 – Giants 14.

The back-and-forth scoring ended on New York’s fifth possession with the team going three-and-out. The Bears, on their final possession of the half drove 58 yards in 10 plays to set up a 40-yard field goal. After stuffing the Bears on their first possession of the game, the Giants’ defense gave up 17 points Chicago’s other three drives of the first half.

At the half, the Bears led 24-14.

Chicago extended their lead on their first possession of the second half as they drove 40 yards in eight plays to set up a 52-yard field goal. Bears 27 – Giants 14. The Bears would not score for the remainder of the game however.

The Giants had four offensive possessions in the second half in a desperate attempt to salvage a victory. They went three-and-out on their first possession, but cut the lead to 27-21 on their second possession by driving 91 yard in nine plays. Jacobs scored a second time, this time from one yard out near the end of the third quarter.

The Giants had the ball twice in the fourth quarter. On their third possession of the half, New York punted after picking up one first down. With the game still 27-21, with 5:21 left, the Giants began their final drive at their own 11-yard line. New York picked up three first downs and with just over two minutes left in the game faced a 2nd-and-9 from the Chicago 35-yard line. But Eli’s pass intended for TE Brandon Myers was intercepted at the 10-yard line and returned 16 yards. Chicago picked up one first down and ran out the clock. Ball game.

Offensively, Manning finished the game 14-of-26 for 239 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. Manning now had an NFL-leading 15 interceptions, matching his total for all of 2012.

”I feel bad for my teammates,” said Manning after the game. “I feel bad for my coaches and everybody, fighting every day, and I’m fighting, too. I am trying to get a win for these guys.”

The leading receivers were WR Hakeem Nicks (4 catches for 70 yards), WR Victor Cruz (4 catches for 68 yards), and Randle (3 catches for 75 yards and one touchdown). Jacobs carried the ball 22 times for 106 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively, the Giants gave up 372 total net yards, including 110 yards rushing and 262 yards passing. For the second week in a row, the defense forced no turnovers. And they also did not sack, and rarely pressured, QB Jay Cutler.

Video lowlights are available at NFL.com.

Injury Report: RB Da’Rel Scott left the game with a hamstring injury.

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

  • RB Brandon Jacobs (Video)
  • DE Justin Tuck (Video)

New York Giants-Chicago Bears Post-Game Notes: Inactive for the Giants were QB Ryan Nassib, RB David Wilson (neck), TE Adrien Robinson (foot), OC David Baas (neck), CB Corey Webster (groin), CB Jayron Hosley (hamstring), and S Cooper Taylor (shoulder).

DE Justin Trattou Claimed by Vikings: DE Justin Trattou, who the Giants waived on Tuesday, was claimed off of waivers by the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday.

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Eric Kennedy

Eric Kennedy is Editor-in-Chief of BigBlueInteractive.com, a publication of Big Blue Interactive, LLC. Follow @BigBlueInteract on Twitter.

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