THINKS THE EAGLES STOLE ONE
As had happened in October, the landscape resettled after an earthquake and left an open path for a Philadelphia team.
And the Giants somehow had lost their Mojo in that Manhattan nightclub when Plaxico Burress shot himself in the leg.
Now if the Tampa Bay whatever-they-ares can just knock off the Red Sox. Oh, sorry. Wrong sport.
But maybe the right theory.
FIRST QUARTER
GIANTS: The hosts won the toss and took the ball. And Ahmad Bradshaw's kickoff return made it look like a wise decision, bringing the football back 65 yards to get the crowd on its feet.
But with a first and 10 at the Eagles' 11, the Birds' defense stiffened. It held Brandon Jacobs to just 2 yards on two carries, and caused the Giants to bring on John Carney to kick a 22-yard field goal.
Drive: 4 minutes, 52 seconds, 9 plays, 31 yards. 22-yard field goal.
Giants, 3-0
EAGLES: After a 10-yard completion to DeSean Jackson on first down, the Eagles went three-and-out.
Drive: 2:23, 4 plays, minus-1 yard. Punt.
GIANTS: Eli Manning took center stage right here. The Eagles clearly planned to shut down Jacobs and the Giants' running game, forcing Little Brother Eli to throw. On first down he overthrew a receiver and the pass was picked off by that man - Asante Samuel - who returned it to the Giants' 2.
Drive: 0:13, 1 play, 0 yards. Interception.
EAGLES: After two ineffective rushes by Brian Westbrook, Donovan McNabb dove/was pushed/leaned into the end zone, holding the ball out like a serving tray.
Drive: 1:32, 3 plays, 2 yards, 1-yard touchdown.
Eagles, 7-3
GIANTS: Six plays and a punt.
Drive: 3:54, 6 plays, 14 yards. Punt.
EAGLES: Three-and-out.
Drive: 1:55, 3 plays, 0 yards. Punt.
GIANTS: The Giants got the ball just as the quarter was ending and went four-and-out.
Drive: 1:45, 4 plays, 14 yards. Punt.
SECOND QUARTER
EAGLES: The quarter opened with one of the weirder plays of the season. The Giants' coverage team made a spectacular effort to down the punt on the 5-yard line.
On second down, under heavy pressure, McNabb flipped a pass into the right flat. Unfortunately, no receivers were within 20 yards, and the call was intentional grounding. When committed from the end zone, that results in a safety.
Drive: 44 seconds, 2 plays, minus-5 yards. Safety.
Eagles, 7-5
GIANTS: After a short drive, John Carney missed a 46-yard field-goal attempt.
Drive: 3:35, 8 plays, 40 yards. Missed field goal.
EAGLES: The Eagles moved about 20 yards before McNabb overthrew the intended receiver and hit Giant Kevin Dockery at the Giants' 20.
Drive: 4:55, 9 plays, 23 yards. Interception.
GIANTS: The Giants moved to the Eagles' 17, where Carney booted a 34-yarder. With a one-run lead, you had to wonder if Mariano Rivera would get the call in the second half.
Drive: 2:25, 7 plays, 63 yards. 34-yard field goal.
Giants, 8-7
EAGLES: Taking the ball with 1:24 left in the half, the Eagles used all of the clock to take the lead. McNabb hit five straight passes in one stretch, then ran for 9 yards. The Giants helpfully tacked on 5 yards with a penalty, leaving David Akers a 25-yard chip shot for a 10-8 halftime lead.
Drive: 1:24, 12 plays, 68 yards. 25-yard field goal.
Eagles, 10-8.
Halftime musings: See? Karma. Having been outplayed throughout the half, the Eagles were ahead. This was scary.
THIRD QUARTER
EAGLES: Fred Robbins grabbed a tipped McNabb throw on second down.
Drive: 44 seconds, 2 plays, 2 yards. Interception.
GIANTS: After four plays, Carney booted a 36-yard field goal to give the Giants the lead.
Drive: 1:35, 5 plays, 16 yards, 36-yard field goal.
Giants, 11-10
EAGLES: After a workmanlike drive from the 25, Akers reclaimed the lead with a 35-yard boot.
Drive: 4:48, 12 plays, 58 yards, 35-yard field goal.
Eagles, 13-11
GIANTS: A 34-yard completion to Domenik Hixon highlighted a promising drive that ended with Carney missing a 47-yarder.
Drive: 3:19, 7 plays, 40 yards. Missed field goal.
EAGLES: The Eagles moved a step closer to the Valley of the Sun with this drive.
McNabb hit Curtis on third down, then L.J. Smith for a 6-yarder coupled with a 15-yard Giants penalty. He went right back to Curtis for 15, then Brent Celek for 6. Two short runs by Westbrook closed the quarter and gave the Eagles a first down at the 1-yard line.
FOURTH QUARTER
On first down, McNabb hit Celek at the back of the end zone for the touchdown that gave the Birds a nine-point lead with less than a quarter to play.
Drive: 4:24, 10 plays, 63 yards. One-yard touchdown.
Eagles, 20-11
GIANTS: After a first down, the Giants arrived at fourth and 1 on their own 44. Coach Tom Coughlin put on his happy face (just kidding) and ordered Eli to sneak for the first down. Dutifully, Manning hit the line and was stopped cold.
Drive: 2:21, 5 plays, 20 yards. Downs.
EAGLES: Seizing the opportunity handed them by the defense, the Birds went three-and-out.
Drive: 2:07, 3 plays, 7 yards. Punt.
GIANTS: Again. This Eagles' defense has been in Super Bowl form for weeks, and again it stifled the Giants on downs. This time it was fourth and 2 from the Giants' 47 and Jacobs (remember him?) was stopped after a 1-yard gain.
Drive: 3:54, 7 plays, 37 yards. Downs.
EAGLES: If insurance was needed, McNabb and Akers provided it. A 48-yard completion to Jackson keyed a drive that allowed Akers to boot a 20-yarder with just 3:58 left.
Drive: 2:30, 6 plays, 46 yards. 20-yard field goal.
Eagles, 23-11
GIANTS: See ya! Manning threw a horrible pass that was picked off by Quintin Mikell.
Drive: 0:36, 3 plays, 23 yards. Interception.
EAGLES: Sav Rocca punted it away with barely two minutes to play and the Giants needing two TDs to pull it out.
Drive: 1:11, 3 plays, minus-1 yard. Punt.
GIANTS: Desperation ended with a fumble by Steve Smith that was seized by Victor Abiamiri.
Drive: 1:06, 4 plays, 19 yards. Fumble.
EAGLES: Kneel down twice and it's over.
Drive: 27 seconds, 2 plays, minus 2-yards. End of game.
FINALLY: This is what happens when defending Super Bowl champions let a visitor hang around in the first half.
Give the MVP award to the defense but let McNabb carry it to the bus.
or by e-mail at dmckee@phillynews.com.
