Westbrook, Garcia keep streaking Eagles' train rolling
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Some of his teammates couldn't watch David
Akers when he lined up for the winning kick, preferring to let the
crowd's reaction tell them the outcome.
Given recent events around the NFL, nobody could blame them.
![]() The New York Giants are the ninth team to make the playoffs without having a winning record in the regular season and the seventh to come up short in the first playoff game. | ||
23-20 | ||
27-20* | ||
31-17* | ||
27-10 | ||
27-13 | ||
17-10 | ||
16-6 | ||
24-21 | ||
56-7** | ||
* -- Lost following week in Div. Playoffs ** -- AFL Divisional Playoffs |
The fans' roar gave them the news -- snap, hold and kick were
perfect this time.
Akers hit a 38-yard field goal with no time remaining to give
the Philadelphia Eagles a 23-20 victory over the New York Giants in
a wild-card playoff game Sunday.
A day after Dallas lost to Seattle when quarterback Tony Romo
fumbled the hold on what could have been a go-ahead field goal,
snapper Jon Dorenbos and holder Koy Detmer executed the seemingly
routine play that has cost teams important games in recent weeks.
Akers got some encouragement from punter and former holder Dirk
Johnson before he went out to attempt the kick on a sloppy field in
a steady rain.
"Dirk said, 'Those posts look big, don't they?'" Akers said.
"I said, 'Don't worry. We're going to be celebrating in a
minute.'"
Brian Westbrook, playing through stomach cramps that often sent
him to the sidelines, had 141 yards rushing, including a
spectacular, slashing 49-yard TD run in the second quarter. His
65-yard punt return for an apparent score in the third quarter was
nullified by a penalty on rookie Torrance Daniels.
![]() ![]() The Philadelphia Eagles are off to New Orleans for the NFC Divisional Playoffs after defeating the Giants 23-20 on Sunday. Are the Eagles better off with Jeff Garcia? Which coach will be more prepared? Which running back is the best? • Tell SportsNation what you think. |
Jeff Garcia threw for 153 yards, one touchdown and played
efficiently enough to win for the sixth time in seven starts since
replacing an injured Donovan McNabb.
Eli Manning threw two touchdown passes to Plaxico Burress,
including an 11-yard strike that tied it at 20 with 5:04 left.
In his last game, Tiki Barber ran for 137 yards for the Giants.
A three-time Pro Bowl running back, Barber plans to retire after 10
seasons in the NFL.
"This was one of the hardest places I've ever played in,"
Barber said. "It was fitting to come down here and play my last
game."
![]() Akers • Read more Elias Says. |
The Eagles are far from finished, though.
Counted out after a knee injury ended McNabb's season in Week
11, the Eagles (11-6) have won six straight games. They'll play at
New Orleans (10-6) next Saturday night.
The Giants overcame a second-and-30 on their tying scoring drive
as Manning completed consecutive passes of 18, 14 and 11 yards to
Burress.
But the Eagles drove right down the field, mixing in short
passes and Westbrook runs.
That set up Akers' winning kick, a moment with a little extra
drama in the wake of the botched hold in the Dallas-Seattle game
and a bad snap on a critical extra point in a late-season game
between Cincinnati and Denver.
"Kicking balls are very, very slick," Akers said. "That might
be something that needs to be addressed. A lot of people take the
snap, hold and kick for granted. It just shows you how technical
that is."
Detmer, the longtime backup quarterback signed this week
specifically to be the holder, had no trouble putting the snap down
for Akers. Dorenbos replaced injured long-snapper Mike Bartrum last
month.
"Being a holder for the amount of time I've been, you realize
there's nothing given," Detmer said. "None of them are
guaranteed. You have to make it happen."
Led by Garcia and a rejuvenated defense, Philadelphia turned its
season around after a 24-point loss in Indianapolis, captured its
fifth division title in six years and earned the No. 3 seed in the
conference.
Meanwhile, the dysfunctional Giants (8-9) fell apart after a 6-2
start. They lost four in a row and six of seven before a win at
Washington last week put them in the playoffs.
While the Eagles moved within one victory of their fifth trip to
the NFC championship game in six years, the Giants face an
uncertain offseason. Besides Barber, coach Tom Coughlin might not
be back, and the embattled Manning probably will hear more
criticism after failing to win a playoff game for the second
straight year. The Giants lost at home to Carolina last season.
Manning was 16-of-27 for 161 yards, two TDs and one
interception. Garcia was 17-of-31.
"I'm not concerned," Coughlin said about his future.
The Eagles went ahead 17-10 late in the second quarter on
Garcia's 28-yard TD pass to Donte' Stallworth. Garcia completed
6-of-7 passes on the drive, capping it with a perfect strike to
Stallworth, who beat cornerback R.W. McQuarters.
Akers kicked a 48-yard field goal -- the longest in the playoffs
in team history -- to give Philadelphia a 20-10 lead with 2:37 left
in the third quarter.
Jay Feely's 24-yarder cut it to 20-13 early in the fourth.
After going three-and-out on their first three drives, the
Eagles finally got it going on their fourth possession. Garcia
scrambled seven yards up the middle on third-and-6 for a first
down. Two plays later, Westbrook electrified the frenzied crowd at
Lincoln Financial Field with a run for the highlight reels.
Westbrook burst through the line, bounced outside, kept his
balance after getting tripped, cut back inside at the 20, reversed
direction at the 15 and sprinted toward the end zone pylon to tie
it at 7.
On the ensuing possession, Sheldon Brown intercepted Manning's
pass for Burress and the offense started at the Giants 37. The
Eagles had a first down at the 4, but settled for Akers' 19-yard
field that made it 10-7.
Barber's 41-yard run to the Eagles 3 put New York in position to
go ahead. But Philadelphia's defense tightened and Feely kicked a
20-yard field goal to make it 10-10.
New York's offense was crisp at the start. Manning capped a
67-yard drive with a 17-yard TD pass to a wide-open Burress across
the middle. Burress also had a 29-yard catch on the first play from
scrimmage.
Game notes
Eagles Pro-Bowl cornerback Lito Sheppard dislocated his
right elbow in the fourth quarter. His status is uncertain for next
week. ... The Eagles snapped a five-game losing streak to division
opponents in the playoffs. ... Barber had 126 yards rushing
combined in the two regular-season meetings. ... Giants backup QB
Jared Lorenzen, who is listed at 285 pounds, converted a
third-and-1 with a sneak on the opening drive.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Pete Morelli
2023 NFC East Standings
Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dallas | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 70 | 10 |
Philadelphia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 59 | 48 |
Washington | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 55 | 49 |
New York | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 31 | 68 |