![]() | |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- The Philadelphia Eagles never will break their 18-game road winless streak if they get no offense. Philadelphia's defense provided most of the team's points, but the Eagles fell short once again in an ugly 16-15 decision to the New York Giants. The Giants (2-2) have won five straight games against the Eagles (0-4), who have not scored an offensive touchdown since the first quarter of the season opener on September 12, a span of 15 quarters. The mistake-prone Giants nearly gave Philadelphia enough to win, turning over the ball five times and recovering four of their own fumbles. Because backup Kerry Collins led the Giants to the winning points, a 23-yard field goal by Brad Daluiso midway through the final quarter, the Giants now have a quarterback controversy, as do the Eagles. Collins completed passes of 28 and 16 yards on the 11-play, 67-yard drive that took 4:54. "It was an easy decision," Giants coach Jim Fassel said of inserting Collins for Kent Graham. "Kent was struggling big-time. Like I said to you guys and I said to them, I will do whatever it takes to win that particular game. I felt like I had to get him out right there. "I'm not going to make a decision (on next week's starter) right now because I'm upset with the way we performed." Collins is in no hurry to become the starter. "We'll wait and see what Jim says. Whatever decision he makes, I'll accept it," he said. "I think when interceptions and turnovers start happening, Coach feels compelled to make a change. I felt pretty good. I was fired up, definitely." Said Graham, "I can understand it. I've got to keep staying positive. I'm not surprised. ... I feel I should be (starting), but it's up to him (Fassel)." Eagles coach Andy Reid has been starting journeyman Doug Pederson, but has brought in Donovan McNabb, the second overall pick in the draft, to play the second half three straight games. "I will go back and I'll review that and I'll let you guys know later," Reid said of making a decision on a starter. "I came in with the same frame of mind that I've been in the last few games. If I felt we were struggling offensively, then I would make a move and bring Donovan in and give him an opportunity to see if he could get the offense going." In the first quarter, New York gave up a safety after cornerback Jason Sehorn intercepted Pederson deep in Giants territory and then lateraled into the end zone, where teammate Phillippi Sparks had to cover the ball. On the final play of the quarter, Graham threw a pass that was intercepted by Bobby Taylor and returned 18 yards for a touchdown. Sehorn attempted to explain the ill-advised safety. "I was just trying to make a play," said Sehorn, who made his first interception since returning from the knee injury that cost him the 1998 season. "I knew I wasn't going anywhere else and I figured if I flip this out here, maybe Perce (Percy Ellsworth) can take off and go someplace. I saw him out of the corner of my eye and went, Here, you take it, I'm tackled." "Jason has missed some time, but I have said I do not want the ball lateraled," Fassel said. "I told the entire defense I never want to see the ball lateraled ever again, in practice, ever. You can bring me the ball if you intercept it." The Eagles are winless on the road since a 21-20 victory here over the New York Jets on December 14, 1996. They were outgained by the Giants, 361-174, and registered just three first downs in the second half -- all in the fourth quarter. Gary Brown, who missed the first three games of the season with a sprained left medial collateral ligament, bolstered the Giants' ground game with 87 yards on 27 carries. "I was very rusty," said Brown, who also had an offseason motorcycle accident. "I made a lot of runs I shouldn't have. Next week I've got to get better." Where Brown added stability, Graham did not, throwing three interceptions before getting pulled in favor of the high-priced Collins with 3:01 left in the third quarter. Collins completed 6-of-12 passes for 86 yards, while Graham was 15-of-29 for 171 yards. Amani Toomer caught eight passes for 123 yards and Ike Hilliard, who had New York's only touchdown, a nine-yard reception from Graham in the first quarter, had 64 yards on four catches. Taylor's touchdown gave the Eagles a 9-7 lead they nearly brought into halftime. But Graham drove the Giants 56 yards in 10 plays and Daluiso booted a 35-yard field goal six seconds before the intermission for a 10-9 New York lead. With the momentum, the Giants took the second-half kickoff and burned off 7:11 in 15 plays, with Daluiso converting from 25 yards for a 13-9 advantage. Faced with a 4th-and-1 from the Philadelphia 23, Graham was able to run two yards and extend the drive. On the ensuing 3rd-and-9, Graham ran seven yards and fumbled, but Tiki Barber picked up the ball and got the first down. New York held the ball for 11:13 in the third quarter and made five first downs to none for the Eagles, who nonetheless got a 26-yard field goal from Norm Johnson with 3:11 remaining. Graham was intercepted by linebacker Jeremiah Trotter on his own 13, setting up the field goal that made it 13-12. McNabb led the Eagles on a nine-play, 44-yard march to Johnson's 32-yarder that gave Philadelphia the lead, 15-13, with 12:37 left in the game. McNabb was 3-of-7 for 38 yards after Pederson went 6-of-15 for 95 yards and was picked off twice. Duce Staley carried 21 times for 62 yards. The Giants had five sacks, three by defensive end Michael Strahan -- his first of the season -- and two by linebacker Jessie Armstead. "I've been starving for a sack," Strahan said. "After I got the first one, I felt like I could play. It freed me up to do other things. These sacks are not easy to come by. You realize how hard it is to get sacks."
|