Eli Manning’s Three Interceptions Hurt Giants In 24-19 Loss To Eagles

The New York Giants had a chance on Thursday night to clinch their first playoff berth since 2011, but were doomed by their porous defense and Eli Manning’s three interceptions in a 24-19 loss to the Eagles in Philadelphia.

Eli Manning’s Three Interceptions Hurt Giants In 24-19 Loss To Eagles

The Eagles (6-9) led 14-0 after scoring touchdowns on their first two drives. The Giants (10-5), however, struggled, and four of their drives ended with field goals.

Philadelphia defeated the Giants at home for the sixth time in the teams’ last eight meetings. Given the result of Thursday night’s game, the Dallas Cowboys (12-2) have now secured the NFC East title and will enjoy home-field advantage in the playoffs.

The Giants can still earn a postseason berth without another regular-season victory if the Atlanta Falcons lose to the Carolina Panthers this weekend, or if the Detroit Lions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the Green Bay Packers lose or tie their games. The Giants play their final regular-season game at Washington on Jan. 1, and could also clinch a playoff appearance with a win that day.

“We had to take care of business, and we didn’t, but we’ve got another game,” said Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who had 11 receptions for 150 yards on Thursday, but no touchdowns. “It’s not the end of the season.”

It was not one of New York’s most prolific games, nevertheless.

As Giants coach Ben McAdoo said: “They scored touchdowns, and we kicked field goals. We turned the football over three times. They won the penalty battle. We didn’t tackle well. The quarterback got hit too much. It’s not a recipe for success.”

The Giants last won the Super Bowl in Feb. 2012 after qualifying for the playoffs as a wild-card team.

Manning threw for 356 yards and completed 38 of an eye-opening 63 passes, but it was mostly a harrowing game for him. His first two interceptions were caught by Malcolm Jenkins, and the third to Terrence Brooks in the final seconds of the game. The pass picked off by Brooks was intended for Will Tye near the end zone on a third down.

It wasn’t all Manning’s fault, however. On the quarterback’s final interception, he was not able to step into the throw because he was getting hit in the pocket.

“I made some bad decisions and sometimes couldn’t throw the ball the way I wanted to as I was getting hit,” Manning said. “It’s disappointing, but we can still get a win next week, and that definitely helps under the circumstances.”

In the first quarter, only two plays after a 25-yard Darren Sproles touchdown, Manning attempted to force a pass on a third-and-four and was picked off by Jenkins, who returned it 34 yards to put Philadelphia up 14-0.

Rookie Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz was also picked off by Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie early in the second quarter. Wentz later left the game due to injury and was replaced by Chase Daniel. Giants defensive end Olivier Vernon knocked Wentz out of the game after sacking him and drawing a questionable roughing the passer penalty.

In the final minute of the first half, with the Eagles leading 21-6, Manning connected with Sterling Shepard on a 13-yard TD pass to cap off a 12-play, 84-yard drive.

The Eagles capitalized on Malcolm Jenkins’ second interception of the game, pushing the ball 33 yards down the field on seven plays. They eventually settled for a 41-yard Caleb Sturgis field goal.

The Giants’ final score was a 41-yard field goal by Robbie Gould, which should have been a 36-yard field goal, but New York drew a false start penalty.

Some of the Giants’ problems in the defensive backfield could be traced to the absence of the Pro Bowl cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who sat out Thursday’s game with a bruised back sustained in the Giants’ last game, against Dallas.

“I didn’t coach well enough; they didn’t play well enough,” McAdoo said. “But we’ve got time, and we have to get healthy and make a push against Washington.”

The Eagles will host the Cowboys for their final regular-season game on New Year’s Day.