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| Philadelphia Eagles' DeSean Jackson celebrates as he returns a punt for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the New York Giants at New Meadowlands Stadium, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2010, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Eagles beat the Giants 38-31. |
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- DeSean Jackson never thought he'd get a chance to field the ball, and Matt Dodge was ordered to punt away from the Eagles' elusive return man.
Well the rookie punted all right, straight to Jackson, who bobbled the ball before taking off on one of the greatest plays in the NFL history - a breathtaking 65-yard punt return for the winning touchdown on the final play of the game.
The Eagles did it again to the New York Giants, this time 38-31 at the New Meadowlands Stadium on Sunday - a bitter loss that revived memories of "The Fumble."
"I was thinking to myself like 'they're not going to kick it to me,'" Jackson said. "I was thinking he was going to kick it out of bounds. But it got to me. From there, I just used my instincts and my speed to get into the end zone."
The dramatic ending put the Eagles (10-4) in first place in the NFC East, one game ahead of the deflated Giants (9-5). And it took the play of the season to make it happen.
The stunning turn of events brought back memories of Joe Pisarcik. In 1978, the Giants quarterback botched a handoff at the end of the game, allowing the Eagles' Herm Edwards to scoop up the loose ball and run in for the winning points.
This time, it was Jackson who made the play that capped a team-record 28 points in the final 7:28 that left the Giants searching for answers.
"I'll take full responsibility for the last play," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "With him back there, you don't punt the ball to him."
They did, and the play will go down in NFL lore - a play believed to be the league's only game-winning punt return on the last play from scrimmage.
"I've never been around anything like this in my life," Coughlin said. "It's about as empty as you get to feel in this business, right there."
The play occurred with 13 seconds left. Long snapper Zak DeOssie delivered high snap, and Dodge was unable to do as instructed and kick the ball out of bounds. And then there were the Giants players, who failed to make the tackle, even after Jackson fumbled the punt.
After the muff, Jackson stalled, allowing his blockers to create a seam. They did so, up the middle, which he darted through. At midfield, DeOssie had a chance to make up for his high snap. He could have stopped Jackson. At the least, he could have surrounded him, allowing his teammates to converge.
He never got the chance. Eagles receiver Jason Avant laid him out with a textbook block that could be used in a how-to film.
"I had plenty of time. But there's nothing more you can say," Dodge said. "You can't give the most explosive returner in the game a line drive in a situation like that."
Once DeOssie was drilled, it was over. Jackson bolted toward the end zone. He slowed down at the 3, where he began to prance along the goal line into the left corner, before walking onto the blue painted turf and into the history books. For added measure, he threw the ball about 20 rows into the seats.
"I was definitely looking out of bounds the whole way," Dodge said. "I got the snap and tried to get it off quick. Not a good time to hit a line drive, that's for sure."
Dodge wasn't the only one surprised.
"I haven't had a big return or a return for a touchdown the whole season, so it was an honor to be in that situation," Jackson said. "It was a blessing."
Meanwhile. Coughlin had thrown the papers in his hand to the ground, and confronted his punter, clearly agitated at what had happened.
When it was all said and done, the Giants were staring at themselves, and the Eagles were staring at a likely division title. The scene was surreal, to say the least, considering less than an hour before, they were down 31-10 with 8:17 left in the fourth quarter.
"By far, this is one of the greatest comebacks of my career, being down by such a huge deficit," Eagles quarterback Michael Vick said after throwing for three touchdowns and running for another. "We were able to come back in a short period of time. It's outstanding. I give a lot of credit to my teammates. I have to thank God for the opportunity. But it was, by far, one of the best."
Vick threw for 242 yards and ran for a game-high 130 in the win, which gave the Eagles a sweep of the season series with New York. They need to either win one of their final two home games (Minnesota or Dallas) or have New York lose one of its two road games (Green Bay or Washington) to capture the division.
The Giants dominated the opening half, outgaining the Eagles' top-ranked offense 222-74. Vick was under constant pressure, sacked twice, hit about a half-dozen other times and limited to six completions for 33 yards. He also threw his fifth interception of the season.
Eli Manning was given time by his line and made the most of it early, leading New York on touchdown drives of 71, 73 and 8 yards, the last coming when receiver Jeremy Maclin lost a fumble late in the half and safety Kenny Phillips returned the ball to the Philadelphia 8 with :09 to go. Manning found Hakeem Nicks in the right corner 4 seconds later for a 24-3 halftime lead.
"This game is all about momentum. We had it in the first half. They had it in the second," Giants center Shaun O'Hara said. "I don't think there are enough words in the dictionary to describe how we feel right now."
Manning finished with 289 yards passing and four touchdowns. Mario Manningham had eight catches for 118 yards and two scores. But it was all for naught in the loss, which clinched a playoff spot for Atlanta (12-2).
"I like to do things for excitement," Jackson said of his outlandish celebration. "That's what the fans and all the crowd pay for. So I like to bring that out."
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