Giants 24 - 17 Redskins

“Giants suck!” That was the text message I received from Erik Mitchell just a few moments into this afternoon’s game, and I agreed with the sentiment. After going 6-2 to start last season, the Giants had lost eight of their last ten, including the first two games of this season. Two games in which the defense gave up a total of eighty points! So it was that I sat down to watch today’s game against the Redskins with very low expectations.

Sure enough, things were going pretty much to script in the first half. The Giants scored first, a field goal, to take an early 3-0 lead. The Redskins then scored seventeen unanswered points to make it 17-3 at the half. Eli Manning, the target of my derision for most of last season, has had a good season so far, and that continued today. Unfortunately, everyone he was throwing to forgot how to catch. So, despite the ball landing in their hands, on six different occasions, the ball found it’s way onto the turf.

The second half was a different story. The Giants opened the half with a great drive to close to within a touchdown. They then tied the score early in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, the defense was shutting the Redskins down. It was like a completely different team had taken the field in the second half.

With just over five minutes to go in the game, Manning found Plaxico Burress in the flat, and the receiver ran thirty six yards and split the defense to score the go ahead touchdown.

The offense had gotten the lead, but it was up to the defense now to preserve it. It looked as though another late game collapse was on the cards as the Redskins converted third down after third down. Out of timeouts, the Redskins found themselves with first and goal with 58 seconds left. Surely they’d send this game to overtime. Somehow, this Giants defense, who many (including myself) had written off for the season, held firm. After spiking the ball on first down to stop the clock, the Redskins had three chances to reach the end zone. All three came up short.

An incredible road victory for the Giants, and one that has to boost the confidence for the rest of the season. Too bad their next opponents are the equally rejuvenated Eagles who, after looking downright anemic in their first two games, exploded for fifty six points yesterday in a home win over the Lions. I don’t think NBC was expecting two 1-2 teams when they set the schedule, but this Sunday night’s got the making of another classic chapter in the history of the great NFC East rivalry.