EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- They will tell stories about this one for as long as they tell stories about the Eagles. Trailing by 24-3 at halftime, looking for all the world like a beaten team in the biggest game of the season against the New York Giants, the Eagles came all the way back to tie it at 31-31 with 1 minute, 16 seconds left in regulation time.
And then it happened.
DeSean Jackson, after fumbling the final punt of the game, picked it up and returned the ball 65 yards for the stunning, astounding, Westbrookesque, game-winning touchdown for the Eagles.
They will talk about it forever, another miracle at the Meadowlands.
Eagles 38, Giants 31.
Michael Vick willed them down the field in the fourth quarter. There is no other way to describe it. Down by 24-3 at the half, the Eagles kept plugging and the Giants fell into a shell of contentment. With 7:27 left, a juggling 65-yard touchdown pass to tight end Brent Celek cut the deficit to 31-17. Then, after Riley Cooper recovered a David Akers onsides kick, Vick pretty much willed the ball down the field by himself, scoring on a 4-yard quarterback draw with 5:28 remaining that cut it to 31-24.
Then, scrambling with impunity to set them up, Vick hit Jeremy Maclin with a 13-yard touchdown pass with 1:16 left to make it 31-31. The Eagles' defense then held, forcing the final punt.
Then, it happened.