Giants running back Brandon Jacobs, clutching ball, crosses the goal line past Cowboys linebacker Keith Brooking.

0 comments | Print

Giants season recap: Game by game

Published: Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012 - 12:00 am
Last Modified: Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012 - 11:21 am

WEEK 1

REDSKINS 28, GIANTS 14

The Redskins scored the final three touchdowns, including an interception return in a clunker of a New York opener. To think now that the Redskins had early playoff hopes.

WEEK 2

GIANTS 28, RAMS 16

Eli Manning tossed two touchdowns and Michael Boley scooped up a Sam Bradford lateral and ran in 65 yards. Mumbled Giants running back Brandon Jacobs later: "We can play so much better than we showed today."

WEEK 3

GIANTS 29, EAGLES 16

New York scored the only points in the final quarter - 15 - with Eli Manning passing for 254 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions to halt a six-game losing streak to rival Philadelphia. It was the coming-out party for wide receiver Victor Cruz, who caught his first two NFL touchdowns.

WEEK 4

GIANTS 31, CARDINALS 27

Trailing 20-10 entering the fourth quarter, New York piled on three touchdowns to move to 3-1. Manning, returning to the site of his 2008 Super Bowl triumph over New England, fired two touchdowns in a 58-second span. Said Arizona cornerback Patrick Peterson, "Honestly, (Manning) didn't do anything impressive."

WEEK 5

SEAHAWKS 36, GIANTS 25

In one of the season's early shockers, one-win Seattle scored the final two touchdowns at New York's MetLife Stadium, including a 94-yard interception return by Brandon Browner off Manning, who had three touchdown passes.

WEEK 6

GIANTS 27, BILLS 24

New York cooled the 4-1 Bills, the season's early AFC surprise team, despite Manning not tossing any touchdown passes. Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for 98 yards and three scores, and Lawrence Tynes hit a 23-yard field goal late for the difference.

WEEK 7

Bye

WEEK 8

GIANTS 20, DOLPHINS 17

New York shut out the winless Dolphins in the second half, and Manning passed for 349 yards and two touchdowns while Miami managed 246 yards. The Giants took the lead on a Cruz 25-yard touchdown reception.

WEEK 9

GIANTS 24, PATRIOTS 20

New York held off New England thanks to drives of 85 and 80 yards and touchdown passes from Manning in his duel with Tom Brady, who was picked off twice. It was scoreless at the half. So giddy was Brandon Jacobs, he hoisted Tom Coughlin in the locker room before the coach gave his speech. Said Jacobs, "Coughlin's a little heavy, a little heavy."

WEEK 10

49ERS 27, GIANTS 20

Who could've sanely predicted this as an NFC title preview show? Manning passed for 311 yards and two scores but was intercepted twice, and Justin Smith batted down a late attempt to seal it. Alex Smith passed for 242 yards and one touchdown, and Frank Gore's 49ers franchise-record streak of five consecutive 100-yard games came to an end with a knee strain.

WEEK 11

EAGLES 17, GIANTS 10

Backup Vince Young drove Philadelphia 80 yards and hit Riley Cooper for a touchdown with 2:45 left, and Manning later was hit and fumbled as New York lost back-to-back crushers. Said Coughlin in ripping his bunch for a no-show performance, "This is as big a disappointment as we have had in a long time."

WEEK 12

SAINTS 49, GIANTS 24

New Orleans stormed to a 21-3 halftime lead, and Drew Brees scorched the secondary for 363 yards and four touchdowns and he ran for one as New York lost its third in a row.

WEEK 13

PACKERS 38, GIANTS 35

As the Packers moved to 12-0, the free-falling Giants fell to 6-6 and threatened to drop out of the playoff picture. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers passed for 369 yards and four touchdowns to offset the 347 yards and three scoring passes from Manning. The Packers won on a 31-yard field goal with three seconds left.

WEEK 14

GIANTS 37, COWBOYS 34

New York overcame Tony Romo's four touchdown passes, with Manning going for 400 yards and two scores, and Jacobs won it with a one-yard touchdown run to snap a four-game losing streak. Said Coughlin, "That's what we're talking about!"

WEEK 15

REDSKINS 23, GIANTS 10

New York was stunned by Washington for the second time, with Manning suffering his poorest game of the season - no touchdowns, three interceptions. The Giants mustered no running game, either, and suddenly New York was back on life support. Said Coughlin, "I accept full responsibility."

WEEK 16

GIANTS 29, JETS 14

Bradshaw rushed for two touchdowns, Cruz caught 164 yards worth of passes from Manning and a score, and New York inched over .500 in eliminating the testy Jets.

WEEK 17

GIANTS 31, COWBOYS 14

In a winner-take-all match, New York clinched the NFC East to secure a playoff berth. The Giants led 21-0 at the half, with Manning passing for 346 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in eliminating Dallas from the playoffs. Said Manning, "I think we can really do some things in the playoffs if we play like this."

WILD-CARD PLAYOFFS

GIANTS 23, FALCONS 2

Manning continued to heat up, passing for three touchdowns, two to Hakeem Nicks, with no interceptions, and the defense allowed little on the ground. The only gaffe was Manning being penalized in the end zone for a safety.

DIVISIONAL ROUND

GIANTS 37, PACKERS 20

Revenge was sweet as New York stunned 15-1 Green Bay at Lambeau Field, with Manning continuing his hot hand with three more touchdown passes, two to Nicks, and the Giants getting pressure on Aaron Rodgers. The crushing play for Green Bay was allowing a long touchdown pass from Manning to Nicks on the final play of the half for a 20-10 lead.

© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.


About Comments

Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "Report Abuse" link below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.

What You Should Know About Comments on Sacbee.com

Sacbee.com is happy to provide a forum for reader interaction, discussion, feedback and reaction to our stories. However, we reserve the right to delete inappropriate comments or ban users who can't play nice. (See our full terms of service here.)

Here are some rules of the road:

• Keep your comments civil. Don't insult one another or the subjects of our articles. If you think a comment violates our guidelines click the "Report Abuse" link to notify the moderators. Responding to the comment will only encourage bad behavior.

• Don't use profanities, vulgarities or hate speech. This is a general interest news site. Sometimes, there are children present. Don't say anything in a way you wouldn't want your own child to hear.

• Do not attack other users; focus your comments on issues, not individuals.

• Stay on topic. Only post comments relevant to the article at hand.

• Do not copy and paste outside material into the comment box.

• Don't repeat the same comment over and over. We heard you the first time.

• Do not use the commenting system for advertising. That's spam and it isn't allowed.

• Don't use all capital letters. That's akin to yelling and not appreciated by the audience.

• Don't flag other users' comments just because you don't agree with their point of view. Please only flag comments that violate these guidelines.

You should also know that The Sacramento Bee does not screen comments before they are posted. You are more likely to see inappropriate comments before our staff does, so we ask that you click the "Report Abuse" link to submit those comments for moderator review. You also may notify us via email at feedback@sacbee.com. Note the headline on which the comment is made and tell us the profile name of the user who made the comment. Remember, comment moderation is subjective. You may find some material objectionable that we won't and vice versa.

If you submit a comment, the user name of your account will appear along with it. Users cannot remove their own comments once they have submitted them.

hide comments
Sacramento Bee Job listing powered by Careerbuilder.com
Quick Job Search
Buy
Used Cars
Dealer and private-party ads
Make:

Model:

Price Range:
to
Search within:
miles of ZIP

Advanced Search | 1982 & Older



Find 'n' Save Daily DealGet the Deal!

Local Deals