Eli Manning, New York Giants fall to Philadelphia Eagles in tragic fashion (Highlights) 1
Dec 22, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr (13) leaps in an attempt to evade a tackle by Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Leodis McKelvin (21) in the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New York Giants 24-19. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports

With a chance to clinch a playoff berth on the line, the New York Giants faced the Philadelphia Eagles in a nationally televised Thursday night contest.

  • New York Giants 19 (10-5)
  • Philadelphia Eagles 24 (6-9)
  • NFL, Final, Box Score
  • Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
Faced with the opportunity to sweep their arch-rival for the first time since 2007, as well as clinch a spot in the playoffs, the Giants came up utterly short in Philadelphia on Thursday Night Football.

The Eagles started the scoring early in the game, driving 78 yards down the field against a stout Giants defense on their very first drive of the game. They capped off their march down the field with a 25-yard rush from Darren Sproles.

On the very next drive, Eli Manning threw an interception to Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins, who promptly returned it to the house, putting the Eagles up 14-0.

However, the Giants came storming back against their arch rival, driving down the field for two field goals to make it 14-6. Despite the fact that Odell Beckham Jr. was draped in double coverage for most of the first half, he managed to make a beautiful 30-yard catch on New York’s first field goal drive.

With the Giants missing star cornerback Janoris Jenkins, the Eagles took advantage, with Carson Wentz completing a 40-yard bomb to Nelson Agholor in late in the second quarter.

Before the half was over, the Giants completed a 97-yard drive that culminated in a 13-yard touchdown pass from Manning to Sterling Shepard.

With the game 21-13 at half, the Giants came out with another strong offensive drive and got a field goal.

The very next drive, the Eagles drove to the Giants goal line, and head coach Doug Pederson chose to go for it on fourth down and inches. The Giants defense, owners of the best red zone percentage in the NFL, made the crucial goal-line stand to keep the game at a one-score margin.

The two teams exchanged field goals in the fourth quarter, with the game coming down to the final drive for the Giants. Despite a valiant attempt by the Giants offense, pressure from the Eagles line forced Eli Manning into his third interception of the night.

OBJ finished with 150 yards on 11 grabs. Manning, who threw three picks, finished with 356 yards and a score on 38-of-63 passing.

With the loss to Philly, Giants fans will have to root for losses from either Detroit, Green Bay, Atlanta, or Tampa Bay this weekend to back into a playoff spot.

 NEXT: Odell Beckham Jr. has his holiday cleats ready for Thursday Night Football (Photo) 

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Billy Nayden
Billy Nayden is an SMU Mustang from Connecticut born and raised on New York sports. Avid fan of nearly every sport from MMA to handball. His heart is in NYC, but Billy has seen games on multiple continents, and has frequented arenas ranging from high school gyms to world class meccas.

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