Today’s shocking Eagles-Giants finish will be remembered first for DeSean Jackson’s game-winning touchdown, scoring on a punt return as time expired, but there was a lot more drama than that.
Herewith, a Twitter retrospective (written with 20-20 hindsight):
#Giants punt it away, leading 24-10, 13:00 left. Joe Buck says their inability to run more clock might hurt them.
Trailing 24-10 with 12:48 left, #Eagles have 173 yards. Season average is an #NFL-best 403. #justyouwait
Ah, the DeSean Jackson fumble-that-should-not-have-been. Remember when we were outraged about Andy Reid and his flag?
#Giants finish off TD drive for 31-10 lead with 8:17 left as #NFL Nation overloads Twitter w/ Andy Reid jokes. “It’s a four-touchdown day for Eli Manning,” Joe Buck exults.
#Giants blitz, deep safety Kenny Phillips misses the tackle, Brent Celek 65 yards for #Eagles TD. 31-17, 7:28 left.
#Giants totally caught napping on deft David Akers onside kick. #Eagles take over at their own 43, down 14 points.
Vick ducks Deon Grant blitz, escapes up the middle for 35 yards to the #Giants 9.
Antrel Rolle free off the left side, but Vick darts inside him for short TD on third-down QB draw. 31-24, 5:28 left.
#Giants drain clock to 3:08 but have to punt after false start and QB/WR confusion on hot read vs. blitz.
#Giants Aaron Ross loses contain on Vick on #Eagles third-and-10 at their own 12 with 2:50 left. Vick runs 33 yards.
Now across midfield, Vick escapes up the middle for 22 more yards to the #Giants 20. #Eagles trail by 7 at 1:58.
#Giants CB Terrell Thomas misses tackle on Jeremy Maclin curl route. 13-yard #Eagles TD ties it with 1:16 left.
2 incompletions by Eli (one of them nearly picked), then an #Eagles sack. #Giants have to punt with 12 seconds left.
Aikman notes that Coughlin admitted before the game he couldn’t ask too much of #Giants rookie punter.
High snap by Zak DeOssie but #Eagles don’t rush hard. Matt Dodge’s punt is a leaden duck, wobbling on a line.
DeSean Jackson bobbles and drops the punt, which only entices #Giants coverage men to abandon caution.
Jackson retreats to his own 30 as #Giants overpursue, then bursts up the middle of the field, eluding dives by FB/TE Bear Pascoe and Dodge.
With one final block (Jason Avant on DeOssie), Jackson breaks free at midfield for the winning TD as time expires.
Tom Coughlin handles the stunning loss with class, berating his rookie punter.
