PHILADELPHIA -- Michael Vick barely got off the pitch to LeSean McCoy on fourth-and-1 at midfield, a nearly-broken play that produced the go-ahead touchdown with 4:25 left that led to a 27-17 Eagles victory.
In the process, Philadelphia (7-3) took the NFC East lead from the depleted Giants (6-4). New York was minus four injured offensive starters: receiver Steve Smith, fullback Madison Hedgecock, left tackle David Diehl and center Shaun O'Hara.
The Giants seized momentum in the second half, rallying from a 13-point deficit to go up 17-16. Then, down seven, Eli Manning converted a fourth down near midfield with his feet -- before diving into the ground and fumbling away the ball without being touched. Manning would not get his hands on the ball again until New York trailed by 10 with mere seconds remaining.
On the first play six nights ago at Washington, the Eagles got an 88-yard touchdown from Vick to DeSean Jackson. On their sixth play, Vick scooted into the end zone. On their 12th play, Vick passed to McCoy to make it 21-0. Three plays later, Jerome Harrison rumbled 50 yards to paydirt.
And when the Eagles got the ball back, Vick lofted a 48-yard touchdown to Jeremy Maclin and Philadelphia was cruising 35-0 just nine seconds into the second quarter.
On their first play at home Sunday night against the Giants, Vick scrambled for a yard. Five plays later, Philadelphia notched just 22 yards and had yet to cross midfield. On their 12th play, the Eagles totaled 59 yards and had yet to score. Three plays later, they had only 68 yards and the game remained scoreless. Vick did score on the next play, but this game wasn't going to be nearly as easy.
Some thoughts on the game:
• With the Giants trailing 16-3 in the final minute of the third quarter, and facing a third-and-14 at the Philadelphia 33-yard line, Eagles safety Quintin Mikell was flagged for a pass interference penalty against New York receiver Mario Manningham near the end zone. Manning tossed a 2-yard touchdown to backup tight end Travis Beckum on the next play to cut the deficit to six points.
• On the third play of Philadelphia's subsequent series, Justin Tuck sacked and stripped Vick. New York's Barry Cofield recovered at the Philadelphia 27 and after a 22-yard pass to running back Brandon Jacobs, Manning found just-signed receiver Derek Hagan for the touchdown. Lawrence Tynes' extra point gave the Giants their first lead of the night with 13:35 remaining.
• Philadelphia was methodical during much of the first half Sunday night, driving 13 plays in 68 yards to take a 7-0 lead, completing their second series with 2:16 left in the first quarter.
• New York nearly matched that march on its subsequent possession, driving 74 yards in 14 plays but ultimately settling for a 24-yard Tynes field goal when Eagles rookie safety Nate Allen prevented tight end Kevin Boss from catching Manning's third-down pass into the end zone.
• Ahmad Bradshaw is having a fine debut in his first season as the Giants' No. 1 running back, but his fumble at his own 25 midway through the second quarter was his sixth in 11 games. Other than quarterbacks, who handle the ball on every snap, only Cleveland's Peyton Hillis came into Week 11 with as many fumbles as Bradshaw. A challenge by Giants coach Tom Coughlin saved Bradshaw another fumble with 8:31 left.
• Philadelphia cornerback Asante Samuel's interception of Manning's pass at the New York 23 late in the second quarter and his repeat late in the fourth quarter gave him four picks off the Manning brothers in three weeks. Samuel intercepted two of Peyton Manning's throws in the Eagles' 26-24 victory over Indianapolis on Nov. 7. Two plays after the Giants got the ball back after his first interception, Samuel was flagged for the nasty helmet-to-helmet hit he delivered on receiver Hagan. And Samuel fumbled away the second turnover when hit by Bradshaw.
• These two teams have some of the NFL's most reliable targets, but Jackson and fellow Eagles wideout Jason Avant each dropped an all but certain touchdown toss in the second quarter, forcing Philadelphia to settle for a pair of David Akers chip shots field goals. And then Boss, who made a huge, clutch grab in New York's Super Bowl upset of New England three years ago, couldn't hold Manning's pass in Philadelphia territory on third down with his team trailing 13-3.
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