USA TODAY International Edition
Final score: Giants 21, Patriots 17
Pivotal play: Mario Manningham’s 38- yard reception set the Giants’ final drive in motion.
Critical stat:
Manningham had three catches for 56 yards on the Giants’ final drive.
How it played out:
The first turnover of the game came on the second play of the fourth quarter. Tom Brady avoided a sack and threw deep, but Giants middle linebacker Chase Blackburn stepped in front of Rob Gronkowski for an interception at his own 8- yard line.
For the second time in the second half, the Giants were fortunate to recover their own fumble. Brandon Spikes stripped Ahmad Bradshaw, but New York’s Chris Snee recovered the ball thatnewengland’s James Ihedigbo could not. An offside penalty gave the Giants a chance to keep the ball, and Eli Manning converted with a firstdown pass to Hakeem Nicks. But the drive stalled at the Patriots 43 when Sterling Moore went over the top to break up a pass intended for Manningham.
New England drove down the field, but New York dodged a bullet when open Wes Welker dropped a pass at the Giants 20. New England punted, and New York took over at its 12 with 3: 46 and a timeout left.
A Patriots challenge on a 38yard completion to Manningham was denied. The longest play of the game gave the Giants a first down at midfield with 3: 39 left. A completion to Nicks got the ball to the Patriots 18 at the two- minute warning.
After the Giants drove to the Patriots 6, New England let Bradshaw score, leaving 57 seconds for Brady to try for the win. But it wasn’t to be.
After being sacked by Justin Tuck with 39 seconds left, Brady got the ball to midfield. With five seconds left, he let the ball fly into the end zone. It fell incomplete, and the game ended.