Giants Squander 4th Quarter Lead, Lose to Redskins

Monday, December 3^rd, 2012

Post Game Recap

Final Score: New York Giants: 16 Washington Redskins: 17

Giants Squander 4^th Quarter Lead, Fall to Redskins

The Giants let a great chance to take a stranglehold on the NFC East slip through their fingers with a tough loss at Washington Monday night.  Robert Griffin III could not be defeated for a second time this season and the Giants lead in the division shrunk to one game, leaving it back up for grabs.

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The first half the Giants did a great job of keeping the ball away from Griffin and the Redskins offense, going on three long drives and going into the half with a 13-10 lead.  The second half the offense was unable to get going and Griffin took advantage.

In the first half alone, the Giants had the ball for over 20 minutes with three time consuming drives.  One driving force in the dominant time of possession was the Giants ability to convert on third down, as they went eight for 10 in the first half. 

The running game was also on point for the Giants early on, as Ahmad Bradshaw had 77 yards rushing in the first half alone.  Martellus Bennett ran rampant in the secondary as well, catching five passes for 82 yards and a touchdown in the first half. 

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The breaks were not going the Giants way though, as the first half lead could have turned even more into the Giants favor if not for a lucky bounce on Griffin fumble.  Griffin scrambled a little past the half-way point of the first quarter and was stripped going down to the ground by Stevie Brown; a fortunate bounce had the ball end up in wide receiver Josh Morgan’s hands and he finished the play off in the end zone.

Other tough breaks for the Giants were of the self-inflicted variety as they committed nine penalties for 73 yards in the game.  Many of the penalties were drive killers, causing the Giants to settle for field goals or not even get a scoring opportunity.

In the first half, Sean Locklear was called for a questionable holding call that pushed the Giants back 10 yards, forcing them to eventually settle for a field goal.  A false start call on Hakeem Nicks also stalled another drive, as the Giants had to settle for yet another field goal.

The most crippling penalties came in the fourth quarter when the Giants were attempting to mount a comeback.  David Wilson returned a kick to around midfield, but it was called back by a Jim Cordle holding penalty, pitting the Giants on their eight-yard line and going three and out.

The other was a holding call on Will Beatty that nullified a third-and-ten conversion from Eli Manning to Bennett.  Instead of a first and ten, the Giants were faced with a third-and-twenty and that was the last time the offense was on the field for the night.

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Manning had two opportunities to lead the Giants on a comeback drive after being down 17-16 early in the fourth quarter but was unable to get going.  Penalties hindered both drives and left the Giants in tough spots. 

On a positive note for the Giants, Kenny Phillips was able to suit up and play but did not start.  He came out of the game without any more damage being done, so look for his workload to increase next week, as the pass happy New Orleans Saints and Drew Brees will pay a visit to MetLife Stadium to take on the Giants.