LANDOVER, Md. — Playing for their playoff lives, Eli Manning and the New York Giants were efficient, focused and dominant.
Playing for their new general manager, the Washington Redskins did a good job of convincing the boss that maybe everyone ought to be fired.
The Giants kept themselves in the postseason hunt Monday night with one of the most lopsided victories in the long, storied series against their NFC East rival. New York scored on six of its first seven possessions and controlled every facet of the game in a 45-12 victory that wasn’t as close as even that margin of victory would indicate.
Manning completed 19 of 26 passes for 268 yards and 3 touchdowns, and Ahmad Bradshaw ran for two scores for the Giants (8-6), who are one game behind Dallas and Green Bay in the battle for wild-card spots with two weeks remaining in the regular season.
The Giants marched downfield at will to take a 24-0 halftime lead. At one point in the second quarter, they held a 226 to minus-2 advantage in total yards, a 16-0 dominance in first downs, and the time of possession gap was roughly 21 minutes to 4 1 /2. The Redskins (4-10) went three-and-out on their first three possessions, finally got a first down on the fourth, then tried a fake field goal on the fifth that produced a Giants interception to end the half.
Even when the Redskins scored their first touchdown- with the game already out of reach in the third quarter - the Giants blocked the extra point.
The Giants set the tone by taking the opening kickoff and driving 80 yards for a touchdown in a 16-play drive that took 9:13. The second drive was 63 yards in 11 plays over five minutes.
The holes were there even though the offensive line was a patchwork job. Right tackle Kareem McKenzie missed the game with a left knee injury, and left guard Rich Seubert limped off with a right knee injury after Bradshaw’s first touchdown run.
NY Giants ................. 7 17 14 7 - 45 Washington............... 0 0 12 0 - 12 First Quarter NYG-Bradshaw 3 run (Tynes kick), 5:47.
Second Quarter NYG-Bradshaw 4 run (Tynes kick), 14:21.
NYG-FG Tynes 38, 8:05.
NYG-Smith 6 pass from Manning (Tynes kick), 4:36.
Third Quarter Was-Davis 11 pass from Campbell (kick failed), 10:30.
NYG-Hagan 23 pass from Manning (Tynes kick), 6:21.
NYG-Thomas 14 interception return (Tynes kick), 6:07.
Was-Ganther 1 run (run failed), :09.
Fourth Quarter NYG-Manningham 25 pass from Manning (Tynes kick), 12:48.
Attendance-78,359.
NYG Was First downs ......................................23 15 Total Net Yards...............................387 302 Rushes-yards...........................30-114 17-89 Passing...........................................273 213 Punt Returns................................2-24 2-6 Kickoff Returns............................2-30 8-119 Interceptions Ret..........................3-87 0-0 Comp-Att-Int...........................22-30-0 17-33-3 Sacked-Yards Lost.......................2-22 5-36 Punts.........................................2-37.0 4-42.8 Fumbles-Lost.................................0-0 1-0 Penalties-Yards............................3-15 6-52 Time of Possession ................... 34:15 25:45 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING-NY Giants, Bradshaw 9-61, Jacobs 16-52, G.Johnson 2-4, Nicks 1-(minus 1), Carr 2-(minus 2). Washington, Campbell 2-36, Mason 4-25, Ganther 10-21, Cartwright 1-7.
PASSING-NY Giants, Manning 19-26-0-268, Carr 3-4-0-27. Washington, Campbell 15-28-2-192, Collins 2-4-0-57, Smith 0-1-1-0.
RECEIVING-NY Giants, Smith 5-40, Boss 3-57, Manningham 3-44, Bradshaw 3-29, Nicks 2-66, Hixon 2-21, Hagan 1-23, Pascoe 1-9, Beckum 1-4, Jacobs 1-2. Washington, Davis 5-65, Moss 3-55, Randle El 3-25, Mason 2-25, Ganther 2-19, Cartwright 1-51, Kelly 1-9.
MISSED FIELD GOALS-None.
Sports, Pages 18 on 12/22/2009