A “Giant” Victory
Eagles cut down Giants 40-17
By DAN STAMM
Updated 5:55 PM EST, Sun, Nov 1, 2009
The Eagles used big offensive plays from DeSean Jackson, Leonard Weaver and LeSean McCoy along with defensive pressure to crush the New York Giants 40-17 Sunday.
The Eagles (5-2) got on the board quickly after Weaver dashed for a 41-yard score just 94 seconds into the game.
Weaver, who entered the game with only four rushes for 16 yards, ran for 75 yards on eight runs Sunday. He picked up some of the running slack left after Brian Westbrook was ruled out after suffering a concussion last week.
The rest of the running duties were covered by “Shady” McCoy who was held in check for most of the game before breaking out for a 66-yard fourth-quarter dash that capped the Birds' scoring. Shady finished the game with 11 rushes for 82 yards total.
The Birds rushed for an astonishing 180 yards against the usually taut Giants defense.
The Birds also threw the ball up and down the field. Donovan McNabb threw for an impressive three scores and 240 yards on 17-of-23 passing.
He spoke about the offense needing to not just be explosive but also be consistent.
"I think we're just touching the surface," he said. "When you have games like this, you have to have a better game next week."
The biggest recipient of McNabb’s on Sunday was “Action” Jackson. He caught three passes for 78 yards including a 54-yard bomb that put the Birds up 23-7.
The Giants (5-3) turned the ball over and just 54 seconds later D-Mac found Jeremy Maclin for a 23-yard score that put the Birds up 23 at the half.
Tight end Brent Celek also had a nice game catching four balls for 61 yards and a score. He fired up the crowd in the second half after he ran over a defender on a first-down grab.
The defense came up huge at points Sunday. They held New York’s Brandon Jacobs to 86 yards on 20 carries and kept the big back out of the end zone.
They also kept pressure on QB Eli Manning all afternoon. He still managed to throw for 222 yards and one score on 20-of-39 passing. But, the tenacious Birds defensive attack sacked Manning twice and forced two interceptions.
The win put the Birds into a first-place tie with the Cowboys in the NFC East. The two rivals meet next week on Sunday Night Football on NBC.
The Birds game was just the appetizer in a marathon day in the N.Y.-Philly rivalry. The Yankees and Phillies were set for the first pitch of Game 4 of the World Series across the street only hours after the Eagles' rout ended.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC Philadelphia
First Published: Nov 1, 2009 4:37 PM EST
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