|
Giants 19, Redskins 17
Related links - Discuss this in the message boards
November 17, 2002
East Rutherford, N.J. - It wasn't the prettiest football game, but given the wet, windy conditions in Giants Stadium it had no chance to be.
But to the Giants, it was picture-perfect. The Giants got huge contributions from Matt Bryant (four field goals from 43, 34, 33 and 19 yards) and Jeremy Shockey (11 receptions for 111 yards), came up with two key second-half takeaways - including a rare interception - and defeated the Washington Redskins this afternoon, 19-17.
The Giants won their third consecutive game to improve to 6-4 on the season. It is the Giants first three-game winning streak since early in the 2001 season.
Shane Matthews threw two touchdown passes for the Redskins, who scored 10 points off of Giants turnovers. Washington fell to 4-6.
The victory was secured when James Tuthill's 42-yard field goal attempt was low and was blocked by defensive tackle Lance Legree with just over three minutes to play.
Bryant kicked three field goals with 4:28 to lift the Giants from a 17-10 deficit to a 19-17 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Giants had two takeaways during the flurring, including their first interception in almost two months.
Bryant booted a 34-yarder with 2:56 remaining in the quarter to make it 17-13. The seven-play, 15-yard scoring drive was set up by Delvin Joyce's season-long 28-yard punt return. The longest play on the drive was Collins' 12-yard pass to Amani Toomer, which gave the Giants a first down on the Washington 19. But the drive stalled and Bryant was called on to kick the field goal.
On the ensuing kickoff, Ladell Butts fumbled, and the ball was recovered for the Giants by Marcellus Rivers at the Washington 37-yard line. Tiki Barber ran for 23 yards on first down. But the Giants lost a yard on the next three plays, and Bryant was called on to kick a 33-yard three-point, making it 17-16
Washington didn't keep the ball for long. On the third play of its possession, Jason Sehorn stepped in front of Derrius Thompson and intercepted a Matthews pass, It was the Giants first interception since the end of the fourth quarter of the Seattle game on Sept. 22, a span of more than 6 ½ games. Opposing quarterbacks had thrown 215 passes between interceptions.
Earlier in the game, Will Allen and William Peterson had both dropped potential interceptions. In the fourth period, Brandon Short flubbed another opportunity.
The Giants took possession at the Washington 40-yard line. A 13-yard pass to Shockey on the last play of the period moved the ball to the 20. Three plays later, Jeremiah Trotter was penalized for roughing Collins, giving the Giants a first down on the Redskins nine.
Barber failed to gain yardage on first down, then caught a two-yard pass from Collins. On third-down from the seven, Barber gained six yards and was stopped by a group of Redskins just shy of the goal line. Bryant came on to kick the go-ahead field goal, a 19-yarder.
Washington had taken a 17-10 lead with 11:53 left in the third period on Matthews' 11-yard touchdown pass to Rod Gardner. The Redskins scored on the first play after David Terrell's interception and 19-yard return gave them the ball deep in Giants territory. The turnover was the Giants second in four plays in the second half.
On second-and-nine from the 18, Collins threw to Amani Toomer in the middle of the field. But the ball caromed off Toomer's chest, and Terrell made an outstanding diving catch. Terrell then got up and ran to the 11, where Toomer tackled him. On the next play, Matthews threw the ball into what appeared to be a crowd of Giants, but Gardner came down with the ball for the touchdown.
The Giants received the second-half kickoff, but on the second play of the third period, Shockey fumbled when he was hit by Bruce Smith after a reception. LaVar Arrington recover for Washington. The Redskins could not capitalize on the takeaway and punted. Two plays later, Collins threw the interception that led to Gardner's touchdown.
The teams were tied 10-10 at the end of a first half in which the Giants allowed all of Washington's points after dropping certain interceptions. They tied the score on Collins' 35-yard touchdown pass to Amani Toomer with 1:47 remaining in the half. Toomer got open in the center of the field, caught the ball at the seven and stepped into the end zone untouched. The play capped a 72-yard drive that immediately followed a Redskins field goal.
The Giants twice converted third downs on the march. On third-and-four from the 45, Collins and Toomer hooked up fdor a five-yard completion. Moments later, the Giants faced a third-and-10 at the 50. Collins threw for Shockey, who side-stepped one tackle attempt, spun out of another, and took the ball to the 35 for a 15-yard gain. After the two-minute warning (which was actually with 1:54 remaining), Collins threw to Toomer for the score.
The Redskins extended their lead to 10-3 on James Tuthill's 31-yard field goal with 5:01 left in the second period. For the second time in the quarter, the Giants wasted an opportunity to end a Washington drive before points were scored by dropping an interception.
Washington got the ball when Ifeanyi Ohalete intercepted a Collins pass intended for Shockey and returned it 27 yards to the Giants 12-yard line. After the Redskins lost a yards on two plays, Shane Matthews threw to Rod Gardner just short of the goal line. The pass was off-line and went directly to cornerback William Peterson, who had nothing but open space in front of him. But Peterson dropped the ball, as Allen had done earlier, and Tuthill came on to kick the field goal.
Washington took a 7-3 lead on Matthews' six-yard touchdown pass to Willie Jackson just 50 seconds into the second period. The Giants helped keep the Redskins moving with two key penalties and the dropped interception.
The Redskins took possession at their own 29 and immediately advanced 18 yards on Matthews' pass to Gardner. Washington converted a third down when Derrius Thompson caught an eight-yard pass on third-and-six.. The next time the Redskins faced a third down, Matthews' pass to Chris Doering gained nothing. But Allen was penalized 15 yards for taunting Doering, giving Washington a first down on the Giants 21-yard line
On the first play of the second quarter, Peterson was penalized for interfering with Garnder, moving the ball to the eight. Two plays later, Matthews' pass into the end zone sailed over Thompson's head and right into the arms of Allen - but the second-year cornerback dropped the ball.
Washington quickly took advantage of the break. On the next snap, Jackson, a recent acquisition who played against the Giants earlier this season for the Atlanta Falcons, lined up the left side and got a step on Peterson as he cut across the middle. Matthews threw a perfect strike to Jackson for the touchdown.
The Giants led 3-0 at the end of the first period, thanks to Matt Bryant's 43-yard field goal with 6:39 remaining, a score that ended the Giants first possession. Despite the points, the Giants left the field believing it should have scored a touchdown.
After a Bryan Barker punt, the Giants drive began at their own 21. With Shockey catching four passes for 41 yards, the Giants efficiently moved to the Washington 15-yard line, where they had a first down.
But from there the momentum expired. Jason Whittle was penalized 10 yards for holding. On first-and-20 from the 25, Tiki Barber was wide open on the two, but he couldn't get to Kerry Collins' overthrown pass. The Giants experienced more frustration on the next play, when Dan Campbell was two steps behind the defense, but Collins' pass was again too far. On third down, Daryl Jones was in the end zone, but had no chance to catch a pass from Collins. Bryant then came on to kick the field goal.
Related links - Discuss this article in the message boards Copyright New York Giants 2002
|
 |
         |
 |
|
 |
 |
||
            |
 |
