Philadelphia Eagles 23-28 New York Giants: Odell Beckham Jr impresses
Sunday 6 November 2016 23:34, UK
Odell Beckham Junior grabbed two touchdowns as the New York Giants hung on for a 28-23 victory over NFC East rivals Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium.
Beckham celebrated his November 5 birthday in style as the Giants capitalised on two early turnovers to lead 14-0 after the opening seven minutes, and despite a career best 364 yards from Carson Wentz, the Eagles were left to rue turning down kickable field goals early on.
In 140 characters - OBJ lands two TDs as NYG improve to 5-3 with third straight win but Eagles lose again as 4th down decisions cost a big division victory.
MVP - Eli Manning. The veteran quarterback landed four touchdown passes totalling 89 yards in a game where he racked up 257 yards to lead the Giants to a third successive victory.
Game-changer - Take your pick from the Eagles' field goal opportunities to keep them in touching distance, but let's give Jason Pierre Paul the credit for a stunning block of Caleb Sturgis' 40-yard attempt just before half-time that would have brought Philadelphia to within eight points.
Stat of the game - 364. Carson Wentz continues to impress and it's his receiving options who cost him at crucial times during a career-best total of 364 yards. The rookie is here to stay.
The Game
A big divisional match-up with both teams entering the game above .500 and chasing the NFC East-leading Dallas Cowboys, and it was the Giants who roared out of the starting blocks.
Wentz had begun his rookie season with a staggering run of clean passes but the much-vaunted New York defence hassled him into two early interceptions that proved to be all important despite Wentz's recovery.
First up on the Eagles opening drive, Landon Collins made the interception handing the Giants a first down on the 31-yard line and, within a couple of plays, Manning found Beckham for a 26-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
That was doubled within a few minutes, this time Andrew Adams picking off Wentz in an almost identical spot and Manning found a 30-yard pass to Roger Lewis, Robbie Gould adding the extra point again.
A Caleb Sturgis field goal got Philadelphia on the board and with the kicker in red-hot form, the decision by Doug Pedersen to twice run the ball on the fourth down seemed all the more surprising and would prove pivotal in the final conclusion.
Ryan Matthews capped off a 70-yard drive from Wentz, which featured Brice Treggs heavily, to bring the Eagles within four points, only for OBJ to get on the end of a one-yard pass to re-establish the lead with his second score of the game.
When Pedersen did opt for the field goal just before half-time, Jason Pierre Paul's brilliant block kept Sturgis out from 40 yards and ensured New York's 21-10 lead remained in tact.
Kenjon Barner got on the board early in the second half to keep Philadelphia within touching distance, Nelson Agholor making the big play to set up the score only for the Giants to come back themselves with another big play from Manning.
The quarterback chalked up a third 25+ yard TD pass when he threw for 32 yards to find Sterling Shepard for what would prove to be the game-winning touchdown.
Two Sturgis field goals pulled the Eagles to within five points for a dramatic final couple of drives, but it was the defences who stayed on top, the Giants having the final say when they held up the Eagles with just over a minute remaining.
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