2004 Week 15: Giants vs. Steelers

Home Gameday 2004 Week 15: Giants vs. Steelers

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Updated December 18, 2004
Tom Coughlin is a bottom-line coach, so for him just one salient point mattered about an exciting football game with beginning-to-end action. "We played hard," Coughlin said, "but we didn't win. But they came close.

The Giants, heavy underdogs, lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers Saturday in Giants Stadium, 33-30. It was their seventh consecutive loss and Pittsburgh's 12th straight victory. The Giants fell to 5-9, while the AFC North champion Steelers improved to 13-1.

In addition to 63 points, the game featured 747 total yards, a 140-yard rusher, two 130-yard receivers, a kickoff return for a touchdown, three interceptions and two decisions by the officials, one a penalty against the Giants, the other a non-call on a Steelers interception. It was also a game in which the heavily-scrutinized rookie quarterbacks, Eli Manning of the Giants and Ben Roethlisberger of the Steelers, each played perhaps the finest games of their young careers.

Manning threw touchdown passes to Jeremy Shockey and Marcellus Rivers, Tiki Barber ran in for another score, Willie Ponder returned the opening kickoff 91 yards and Steve Christie kicked a field goal for the Giants.

Photos from Week 15: Steelers 33, Giants 30
12/18 Giants Fall to Steelers, 33-30
12/18 Steelers 33, Giants 30: Inside the Numbers!
12/18 Coach Tom Coughlin & Giants Players