Facing a must-win situation, the New York Giants were thwarted by a rookie kicker in Philadelphia.
- New York Giants 24 (0-3)
- Philadelphia Eagles 27 (2-1)
- NFL, Week 3, Final, Box Score
- Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Giants made up a 14-0 fourth quarter deficit, scoring 24 points in by far their most illustrious 15 minutes of the season, but still dropped a 27-24 decision to the Eagles when Jake Elliott‘s 61-yard field snuck through the uprights as time expired. With the loss, the Giants have now gone winless in their past four games in Philadelphia and in 15 of their last 19 against the hated Eagles overall.
The afternoon started off promising for the Giants’ defense, as they got to Carson Wentz on the first play of each of Philadelphia’s first two possessions. Olivier Vernon got to Wentz on the first play from scrimmage.
WATCH: @oliviervernon54 takes down Wentz on Philly's opening drive #NYGvsPHI pic.twitter.com/DK5SseLnUV
— New York Giants (@Giants) September 24, 2017
On the Eagles’ second series, Jay Bromley pinned Philadelphia on their own 2 with a sack of his own.
WATCH: @JayBrom96 pins the Eagles at the goal line pic.twitter.com/SGgs152mB0
— New York Giants (@Giants) September 24, 2017
The third time was the charm for the Eagles, as they embarked on an 18-play, 90-yard drive that took 9:34 off the clock. The drive featured an extended 11-yard run by Wentz on third-and-8 from the Giants’ 26, continuing a drive that concluded on a 1-yard punch by LeGarrette Blount for the score.
Carson Wentz, are you kidding? #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/VARZhNA8Sb
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) September 24, 2017
The Giants’ offense, meanwhile, struggled throughout the first half, their struggles perhaps no better on display than on their final possession of the opening 30 minutes. After Philadelphia failed to covert on a short 4th down at midfield, the Giants drove to the Eagles’ one-inch line. Sterling Shepard‘s had seemingly two touchdowns in hand, but he knocked over the pylon out of bounds on the one-inch line on 2nd and
After Philadelphia failed to covert on a short fourth down at midfield, the Giants drove to the Eagles’ one-inch line. Sterling Shepard had seemingly two touchdowns in hand, but he knocked over the pylon out of bounds on the one-inch line on second-and-goal, then failed to complete the process of a catch on the next play. Going for it on 4th and goal, Orleans Darkwa was stuffed at the one-yard line by a furious Eagles rush.
Going for it on fourth-and-goal, Orleans Darkwa was stuffed at the one-yard line by a furious Eagles rush. Another promising Giants drive in the half was stymied by a Rasul Douglas interception.
Going nowhere. #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/tzhlHrKzm3
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) September 24, 2017
With New York’s offense running on empty, Philadelphia seemed to put the game away with a third-quarter score, as Eli Apple‘s 41-yard pass interference penalty situated the Eagles in the red zone. They would capitalize when Wentz found Zach Ertz for a 3-yard touchdown. The Big Blue faithful declared the game out of reach after the Giants’ subsequent drive ended in a turnover on downs, but the insanity was just beginning.
The chaos started innocently…or anything but…as Odell Beckham took a 10-yard pass from Eli Manning to cut the lead in half to 14-7. Afterwards, much like Evan Engram‘s first touchdown of the season last week, Beckham picked up a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty when he got on all fours and mimicked a dog urinating.
WATCH: @OBJ_3 put the Giants on the board with a TD catch from Eli Manning pic.twitter.com/I7dypEbA26
— New York Giants (@Giants) September 24, 2017
After another stroke of Philadelphia silliness, as Eli Apple recovered a Zach Ertz fumble forced by Landon Collins, Beckham struck again with a 4-yard, one-handed grab that tied the score. Beckham’s celebration was subdued yet stoic, turning to the Philadelphia crowd and raising his fist.
Odell Beckham Jr. with the raised fist! ?? pic.twitter.com/vHuJO0iKOZ
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) September 24, 2017
After forcing an Eagles three-and-out, the Giants took their long-awaited first lead of the season when Sterling Shepard went 77 yards for the go-ahead score. Dead and buried, the Giants suddenly had new life.
WATCH: @sterl_shep3 knows how to YAC!!#NYGiants on top 21-14! pic.twitter.com/fpkeLZacaH
— New York Giants (@Giants) September 24, 2017
Alas for the Giants, the lead was short-lived, as Corey Clement, a native of Glassboro, New Jersey no less, tied the game with a 15-yard run. The Eagles’ success on the ground was a surprise to many, as the Giants’ once-feared run defense let up a whopping 193 yards on the ground.
First career TD for @CoreyClement_6. #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/PWSEOOXDdo
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) September 24, 2017
The teams went on to exchange field goals, with the Giants possessing the ball on their own 25 with 51 seconds left. Opting for a potential heroic drive, careless mistakes and unforced errors reigned instead. Ereck Flowers picked up two penalties, including a holding on an incomplete pass, and Shane Vereen took a pass on 2nd and 18 out of bounds to stop the clock at 32 seconds. When the inevitable punt came, Brad Wing channeled his inner Matt Dodge, shanking a punt that landed out of bounds at the Philadelphia 38 with 13 seconds to go.
Ereck Flowers picked up two penalties, including a holding call on an incomplete pass, and Shane Vereen took a pass on second-and-18 out of bounds to stop the clock at 32 seconds. When the inevitable punt came, Brad Wing channeled his inner Matt Dodge, shanking the ball, which landed out of bounds at the Philadelphia 38 with 13 seconds to go.
That proved to be more than enough time for Wentz, who found Alshon Jeffrey for a 19-yard gain that set up Elliott’s heroics. Not only was Elliott’s score the longest kick in Eagles’ history, but the longest by a rookie in league history.
61 yards. An #Eagles franchise record. What a moment for Jake Elliott! #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/F4qp10FMs1
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) September 24, 2017
Wasted in the Giants’ loss was a series of strong performances on offense. Eli Manning threw for a season-high 366 yards and three scores, while Shepard ended up with a career-high 133 yards receiving. Beckham had nine grabs for 79 yards, while Brandon Marshall added eight more for 66.
The Eagles (2-1) took over first place in the NFC East with the win. Wendell Smallwood led the team’s potent rushing attack, picking up 71 yards on a dozen carries. Blount and Clement, with a touchdown each, picked up 61 and 22 yards respectively. Ertz led the team in receptions with eight for 55 yards, while Patrick Robinson also tallied an interception. Wentz ended the day with 176 yards and a score.
With the loss, the Giants will look to regroup once again on the road, as they travel to Florida to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next Sunday afternoon. (4:05 p.m. ET, FOX).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffMags5490