Manning and special teams come through in week 1

By Mike Medina  |   Sunday, September 11, 2005  |  Comments( 0 )

New York Giants
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article!
Eli Manning slid out of his "new comer" incubator today and helped the Giants achieve victory over the Cardinals 42-19. In fact, this was the Giants highest point total in more than two seasons. Despite a slow start, Manning threw for 172 yards and two touchdowns as the New York Giants exploded in the second half to rally past Arizona. In doing so, Eli dispelled any notions that he was still suffering from the effects of a sprained shoulder suffered in a preseason game three weeks earlier. He threw for touchdowns of 20 yards to Jeremy Shockey and 13 yards to Plaxico Burress. He also let his guns fly, connecting on a 44-yard bomb to Burress that led to a 5 yard score from Brandon Jacobs. Burress finished the game with 5 receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown. Shockey had two catches for 29 yards and a touchdown. Tiki Barber ran well recording 62 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown.

At half time, the Giants trailed 13-7. Their defense clamped down in the second half, allowing only 6 points in the third quarter and zero in the fourth. This is where the offense blew up. Manning and company scored 21 points in the third quarter and 14 in the fourth to ice the game. The special teams came up big scoring two touchdowns. Willie Ponder returned a kickoff 95 yards for the G-Men. Chad Morton, signed by the Giants a week and a half ago, returned a 52 yard punt for a touchdown in the fourth quarter for the final score.

Kurt Warner, the former two-time MVP acquired from the Giants, finished 27-for-46 for 264 yards and one touchdown in his first start for Arizona. Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby had two interceptions, one of which he ran back for an 18-yard touchdown to give Arizona a 10-7 lead in the second quarter. Larry Fitzgerald had a monster game recording 13 receptions for 155 yards and one touchdown. The rushing attack for the cardinals was horrid. You know it was bad when Kurt Warner led the ground game with three attempts for 11 yards. Arizona now will get ready to face the Seahawks, while New York plays on Monday night against New Orleans.
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article! (0)

About Mike Medina

Sorry, Mike Medina's bio is currently not available. Please check back soon!
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report