Giants strut by Falcons in rout
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-paul could not be more cocky as his team prepares to visit the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers for next Sunday’s divisional playoff game.
“One hundred percent we’ll win,” he said. “We’re the best.”
While top-seeded, once-beaten Green Bay surely would beg to differ, Pierre-paul can be forgiven his braggadocio.
New York needed to win its last two regular-season games to secure the NFC East title, and the Giants evoked memories of its magical run to a Super Bowl title in 2007 with a 24-2 rout of the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in the wildcard round of the playoffs.
“If we can continue to play defense like that,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said, “we can make ourselves heard in this tournament.”
Atlanta (10-7), after averaging 25 points, produced its only score on a safety when quarterback Eli Manning was called for intentional grounding as he tried to escape pressure in the end zone in the second quarter. The Falcons could not convert third-down opportunities (4-for-14) and misfired on all three of their fourth-down tries.
Green Bay presents a much sterner challenge after rolling along at a 35-points-per-game clip and outscoring New York 38-35 here Dec. 4. But the Giants have taken on a different vibe in recent weeks.
“This is a game of momentum. You’ve got to grasp it and run with it,” defensive end Dave Tollefson said. “We’ve got a hold of it, and we’ve got to use it in our favor.”
New York (10-7) built up a head of steam for its trek to Lambeau Field with every fourth-down stop it made working the hometown fans into a frenzy.
-With Atlanta holding a 2-0 edge and pushing for more on fourth-and-1 at the New York 24yard line on the first play of the second quarter, linebacker Michael Boley and tackle Linval Joseph stuffed Matt Ryan on a quarterback sneak.
-With New York ahead 10-2, Pierre-paul and linebacker Chase Blackburn again repelled Ryan on fourth-and-1 at the Giants 21 with 4:21 left in the third quarter.
“I felt it was disrespectful on fourth-and-1 to go for it,” PierrePaul said. “You see the outcome.”
New York’s refusal to budge — end Osi Umenyiora yanked down Ryan and tackle Will Svitek for a sack on fourth down on Atlanta’s last play — underscored how physical its defense has become.
“You can throw out all the fancy X’s and O’s. Fourth-and-1 is about heart, about want-to,” defensive tackle Chris Canty said. “We wanted it more than they did.”
New York’s ground game, which had been largely dormant in ranking last with 89 rushing yards during the season, erupted for 172 yards on 31 carries. Running back Brandon Jacobs set the tone with 14 carries for 92 yards.
Manning continued his strong play by completing 23 of 32 attempts for 277 yards and three touchdowns.
The Giants did not have a turnover.
“All three phases are starting to play together better than they have,” Canty said.
“And what better time to do it than January in the NFL?”