Living on the edge has become the hallmark of the 2015 Giants. In three of their five games this season, the Giants’ margin of victory and defeat has been miniscule, and the outcomes have been decided in the final few possessions.
Additionally, their 24-10 win versus the Buffalo Bills in week four wasn’t sealed until late in the fourth quarter, despite the Giants dominating their opponent for the better part of 60 minutes.
This past Sunday night, facing the San Francisco 49ers in New Jersey at MetLife Stadium, the Giants nearly suffered another devastating defeat similar to their week one and two losses to the Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons, respectively. Instead, they crafted a gripping drive on their last offensive possession to capture a 30-27 victory and take sole ownership of first place in the NFC East with a record of 3-2.
Trailing by 23-20, Eli Manning’s 12-yard pass to tight end Larry Donnell at the edge of the end zone with 21 seconds remaining culminated in an eight-play, 82-yard drive that immediately followed an 80-yard touchdown drive led by 49ers quarterback Colin Kapernick to put San Francisco ahead 27-23.
The grab by Donnell was spectacular, given the circumstances and its high degree of difficulty, requiring him to both maintain possession and stay in bounds. It was also ironic because Donnell, a product of Grambling University, has had his share of struggles with both dropped passes and fumbles. “Once I had it, I had to hold that thing,” said Donnell. “You know, the game was on the line and I had to make a play.”
The Giants will take their momentum to Philadelphia to challenge the 2-3 Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field Monday night in a much-anticipated meeting of division rivals. The Eagles’ offense found its footing last Sunday after looking fractured for much of the season, amassing 519 total yards in a 39-17 trouncing of the New Orleans Saints.
