Patriots 38, Giants 35

The Patriots complete their perfect regular season, beat Giants

Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- With one mighty heave, Tom Brady and Randy Moss took care of the record books. Now it's down to business for the unbeaten New England Patriots: stamping themselves as the greatest team in NFL history.

The Patriots completed a perfect if somewhat joyless journey through the regular season Saturday night, finishing with a remarkable 16-0 record following a thrilling 38-35 comeback victory over the New York Giants.

Still, New England became the first NFL team since the 1972 Dolphins to win every game on the schedule, and that one was only 14-0. This victory required a comeback from a 12-point deficit engineered by the brilliant Brady, and smashed the Patriots' league mark for consecutive victories.

"Going undefeated during the regular season is a remarkable achievement," 1972 Dolphins coach Don Shula said. "I know firsthand how difficult it is to win every game, and just as we did in 1972, the Patriots have done a great job concentrating on each week's opponent and not letting any other distractions interrupt that focus. If they go on to complete an undefeated season, I will be the first to congratulate Coach Belichick and the Patriot organization."

Validation of the Patriots' inexorable march through the season can only come by adding a Super Bowl championship, their fourth of the decade. Do that and there'll be no challenge to their spot at the top.

"I think it's a lot of hard work," Brady said. "I'm proud of the way this team responded. We're losing there in the second half and came out and played some of our better football."

In gaining their 19th straight win over two seasons, the Patriots also got record-setting performances from Brady and Moss, including the winning score, a 65-yard bomb with 11:06 remaining. Brady beat Peyton Manning's mark of 49 touchdown passes by throwing two to Moss against the Giants (10-6), giving the star quarterback 50. Moss broke Jerry Rice's record of 22 TD receptions. And the Patriots finished with an incredible 589 points for the season, another single-season record.

The Giants, already guaranteed a playoff game against Tampa Bay next weekend and with little to play for except spoiling New England's perfect ride, led 28-16 in the third quarter. It was the Patriots' largest deficit all year as the Giants showed no fear and plenty of versatility, scoring the most points New England allowed in a game during this remarkable run.

RECAP:
http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29435&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2007&week=REG17

NFL Roundup:
http://www.nfl.com/scores

Giants 38, Bills 21

Giants clinch playoff berth with win over Bills

Associated Press

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Neither rain, sleet nor snow -- and not even Bills tight end Kevin Everett's inspirational return to Buffalo -- could prevent the New York Giants from clinching a playoff berth Sunday.

A rediscovered running attack and an opportunistic defense carried the Giants past the Bills and the elements in a 38-21 win.
"I'm very proud," said running back Brandon Jacobs, who scored twice and finished with a career-high 145 yards. "I'm proud of my team. I'm proud of the defense. It means a lot."

Even coach Tom Coughlin could shrug off his sourpuss public persona for a moment, cracking a joke about the Gatorade bath he received on the sideline.

"It was the chunks of ice that gave me some mixed thoughts on the intention there," Coughlin said, smiling.

The game began with a pelting rain and winds gusting at more than 30 miles per hour, and ended with flurries and wind gusts above 50. The conditions contributed to the teams committing four turnovers each and not mounting much of a passing attack.

Good thing the Giants had a plan to run the ball, something they were criticized for failing to do in a 22-10 loss to the Redskins last week. They rushed for 291 yards, their most since they had 351 on Nov. 29, 1959, against Washington.

Jacobs' two scores, including a powerful 43-yard run, rallied the Giants from a 14-0 first-quarter deficit. And when he left the game with a sprained left ankle in the fourth quarter, New York kept running the ball, with backup Ahmad Bradshaw scoring on an 88-yard touchdown run that put the Giants up 31-21 with 6:12 left.

New York's defense did the rest, as Kawika Mitchell intercepted Trent Edwards and returned it 20 yards for the go-ahead score early in the fourth quarter. Corey Webster then sealed the victory by scoring on a 34-yard interception return 22 seconds after Bradshaw's touchdown.

The Giants (10-5) won their seventh straight road game to establish a single-season franchise record. And they avoided what could've been a must-win finale against the league's top team, the New England Patriots, next weekend.

RECAP:
http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29421&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2007&week=REG16&override=true

NFL ROUND-UP:
http://www.nfl.com/scores

Redskins 22, Giants 10

Redskins use classic formula of running, defense to down Giants

Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- With every game having playoff implications for the Redskins these days, Clinton Portis and the new proud pop, Todd Collins, made sure Washington had something to play for next week.

Portis ran for 126 yards and a touchdown and Collins led the Redskins on five scoring drives in his first start in 10 years, outplaying Eli Manning in a 22-10 victory that put a little doubt into the New York Giants' once seemingly certain road to the postseason.

"It was another game we had to get and we just have to keep it going," Portis said after Washington (7-7) won its second straight game and moved within a half-game of Minnesota for a wild-card berth. "We have a lot of strong will in this room."

After losing four straight, Washington is back in the hunt after enduring the tragic shooting death of Pro Bowl safety Sean Taylor in late November.

The Vikings (7-6) play the Chicago Bears on Monday night, before meeting the Redskins in Minnesota next week. New Orleans also is 7-7 with two games to play.

"We're thrilled," Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said. "I told our players that they were taking me for a ride."

No one had a wilder ride this week than Collins, the journeyman who took over as the starting quarterback after Jason Campbell was hurt against the Bears 10 days ago.

Not only did he lead them to victory again, he did it two days after his wife, Andrea, gave birth to their second child, Jack. Collins was in Boston for the birth on Friday and flew to the game Sunday morning in owner Daniel Snyder's private jet.

"I definitely felt an electricity in the locker room before the game, like there was something special going on," said Collins, who completed 8-of-25 passes for 166 yards. "The guys were really pumped up. I don't know if it was Sean or what, but it was not a surprise that we came out and played the way we did."

The loss was the third straight at home for the Giants (9-5), and this one was costly as Pro Bowl tight end Jeremy Shockey was lost for the season with a broken left leg early in the second half.
New York still can clinch a playoff berth with a win at Buffalo next weekend. It had better win, because the final regular-season game is at home against New England, which will probably be looking to put the finishing touches on a perfect regular season.

"It's just disappointing with everything on the line and everything that we had, win the game and we're in the playoffs, and in that situation to come out and play as poorly as we did," Manning said.

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29417&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2007&week=REG15

Sunday NFL Roundup 12/16/07

BAMBINO:Although pro sports to me is joke these days, with all the showboating, unsportsmanlike play, and flat out thuggery, it's good to see a true American Hero like Brett Favre do his thing. Favre is padding his Hall of Fame career with an MVP like season. He has surpassed Dan Marino as the all time passing yards leader today with the Packers win in St. Louis 33-14. Way to go Brett! Coach Lombardi would be proud.

Packers 33, Rams 14

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29412&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2007&week=REG15

Patriots 20, Jets 10

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29409&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2007&week=REG15

Titans 26, Chiefs 17

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29407&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2007&week=REG15

Panthers 13, Seahawks 10

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29405&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2007&week=REG15

Jaguars 29, Steelers 22

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29411&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2007&week=REG15

Browns 8, Bills 0

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29406&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2007&week=REG15

Buccaneers 37, Falcons 3

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29406&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2007&week=REG15

Saints 31, Cardinals 24

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29410&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2007&week=REG15

Dolphins 22, Ravens 16 (OT)

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29408&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2007&week=REG15

Colts 21, Raiders 14

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29414&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2007&week=REG15

Eagles 10, Cowboys 6

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29415&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2007&week=REG15

Chargers 51, Lions 14

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29416&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2007&week=REG15

Still to come:

Redskins at Giants (Sunday 8:15pm)

Bears at Vikings (Monday 8:30pm)

Giants 16, Eagles 13

Giants hang on to defeat host Eagles
Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA -- A dejected David Akers buried his head in his hands while the New York Giants celebrated all around him.
It was the other way around the last time these teams met here.

Eli Manning threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress, Lawrence Tynes made three short field goals and the Giants moved closer toward clinching a playoff spot with a 16-13 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

Akers hit the right upright on a 57-yard attempt with one second left after Donovan McNabb drove the Eagles 50 yards in the final minute.

Last January, Akers kicked a 38-yarder with no time remaining to give Philly a 23-20 victory over New York in a wild-card playoff game. He was trying to tie his career-long kick.
Now the Giants (9-4) have all but eliminated the Eagles from playoff contention with their sixth consecutive win on the road. New York is almost locked into the No. 5 seed in the conference with three games left.

"We're playing pretty well on the road," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "We hang together. We battle. We believe in each other. We believe that we can find a way to win and we never stop playing. We have good heart. It's not always pretty, but some how, some way we scratch and find a way."

The defending NFC East champion Eagles (5-8) can start looking ahead to next year following their third straight loss and fifth loss by four points or less.

McNabb hadn't played since spraining his right ankle in the second quarter against Miami on Nov. 18. A.J. Feeley led the Eagles to a win over the Dolphins, but threw costly interceptions in the final minutes of losses to New England and Seattle.

After McNabb led the he Eagles into the end zone on their first possession, they managed just a pair of field goals the rest of the game.

"It's really frustrating," McNabb said. "It's a collection of things at the wrong time that keeps leading to us getting field goals instead of touchdowns."

The Giants were driving to put the game away when defensive end Juqua Thomas came from behind and forced Brandon Jacobs to fumble following a 21-yard gain. Thomas recovered it at the Eagles 5 with 5:51 left.

Philly drove to New York's 44, but McNabb's pass to Jason Avant on fourth-and-6 was incomplete and the Eagles didn't get the ball again until the final minute. It appeared linebacker Antonio Pierce hit Avant early, but no flag was thrown.

"It was a call that was missed, but the refs are human, too," Avant said. "He hit me. Then the ball came."

With no timeouts and 53 seconds remaining, McNabb moved the Eagles from their 11 to the Giants 39, but Akers couldn't send it into overtime.

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/boxscore?game_id=29395&displayPage=tab_box_score&season=2007&week=REG14

Santana Sweepstakes

BAMBINO: Fact: Johan Santana is one of the best pitchers in the game. Another Fact: The New York Yankees are the most successful sports franchise in the history of sports. With that said, the Yankees pulled out of the Johan Sweepstakes and now it looks like the Red Sox were being used as leverage against the Yanks. News is the Angels appear to be the front runners for the lefty ace.

As a Yankee fan, I am glad the Yanks didn't make the deal. As far as I was concerned, let Boston have him. The Yanks were giving up too much in my opinion for a guy that has one year left on his contract. Phil Hughes is a homegrown stud and comes cheap. Melky Cabrera rounded into a fine young ballplayer. Giving up these two players would have hurt the Yankees in my opinion. Melky has injected youth into the team and man, the guy is always smiling and loves being a Yankee. He's a very good outfielder with a great arm, he's a switch hitter, can bunt, runs the bases well, and puts the ball in play when needed.

Hughes is a future ace for the Yanks. With Andy Pettitte returning for another year, the Yanks have two ace starters in Andy and Wang, and 3 good starters with Mussina, Hughes, and Joba Chamberlain. Ian Kennedy can go to the pen and spot start, and Kei Igawa can also be called on to spot start. Gaining Johan Santana would have been expensive and overkill. I am glad Baby Steiney pulled the deal off the table. The Red Sox were in play, but it's clear the Twinkies were using them as leverage against the Bombers. Without Johan, the Sox are still the team to beat in the AL. With him, it's lights out, everyone go home.

Pitchers and cathers can't come soon enough!

Giants 21, Bears 16

Manning leads late touchdown drives as Giants rally to beat Bears

Associated Press

CHICAGO -- Eli Manning's second pass landed in Brian Urlacher's hands. There was a fumble that led to a field goal, too, and just when it seemed his day couldn't get much worse, he threw an interception in the end zone.

Then, everything turned around.
Manning redeemed himself just in time, and the New York Giants dealt the Chicago Bears' playoff hopes another staggering blow.

Manning led two late touchdown drives, and Reuben Droughns scored on a 2-yard run with 1:33 remaining to lift the Giants to a 21-16 victory over the Bears on Sunday.

Manning was awful for most of the game but delivered in the latter stages after throwing four interceptions the previous week in a drubbing by Minnesota.

"It's easy to forget bad plays," Manning said. "And to be a quarterback, to be a football player, you have to be able to do that. You have to be able to forget the week before. You have to be able to forget the play before and just move on and work out the next play."

The embattled quarterback threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Amani Toomer, which was initially ruled incomplete, with 6:54 left to cap a 75-yard drive and cut the Giants' deficit to 16-14.

"I knew I caught it," Toomer said. "And I knew (the replay) was going to look like I caught it, so it wasn't a problem. I don't know if it hit my arms or hands, but I was underneath it. I didn't even think it was that close."

After the Bears (5-7) punted, the Giants launched a 77-yard drive that ended with Droughns running around the right end with 1:33 left. Manning hit David Tyree with a 24-yard pass and threw a 15-yarder to Plaxico Burress that put the ball on the 2.

The Bears got the ball with 1:28 remaining and marched from their 41 to the Giants 28 before Rex Grossman threw three incompletions -- the last one broken up by James Butler.

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29384&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2007&week=REG13