The Atlanta Falcons quarterback threw for over 360 yards to lead his team to a week two victory on Sunday. (Getty)
Final
Atlanta Falcons 7-3-7-7 — 24
New York Giants 0-13-7-0 — 20
It’s going to be ok, New York Giants fans. Deep breaths. We’ll get through this together.
For the second straight week, Big Blue blew a double digit lead, as the Atlanta Falcons clawed back from a ten-point deficit to improve to 2-0 on the season. It’s the first time in NFL history a team has blown a double digit, fourth quarter lead.
The Falcons were pretty pleased:
*drops mic* #ATLvsNYG http://t.co/QVaZFfMqaS
Once again, the Giants were hurt by their own mistakes, including a delay of game on third down, allowing Atlanta to get the ball back late in the fourth quarter. New York did have one final drive but Preston Parker failed to haul in a pass on fourth down and the game ended, once again, in disappointment and boos.
The loss is black mark on what was an otherwise dominant afternoon for Odell Beckham, Jr. The second-year wideout finished with 146 yards and one touchdown on seven receptions. Eli Manning finished 27-for-40 for 292 yards and two touchdowns.
Meanwhile, on the Falcons side, it was another late-game performance by Matt Ryan who finished the day 30-for-46 for a whopping 363 yards and one touchdown. Click here to check out a full box score of the game.
Devonta Freeman Put the Falcons Up With a Minute to Play
Touchdown, @devontafreeman!!! #ATLvsNYG
Deja vu, anyone?
After the Falcons cut into the Giants lead earlier in the quarter, Atlanta’s defense forced New York to punt before marching down the field on the ensuing possession. It took a little while, including an over-turned Julio Jones touchdown catch, but the Falcons got into the end zone and took the lead.
Devonta Freeman notched the score from two yards out to give the Falcons a four-point lead over Big Blue.
A Giants Turnover Led to a Falcons Touchdown
HANK!!!!!! Touchdown!! #ATLvsNYG
It was another costly mistake for Eli Manning late in the third quarter as the NY quarterback held onto the ball for a second too long. Manning was sacked from behind and lost the ball on the Falcons nine-yard line and instead of adding to their lead, the Giants were suddenly forced to try and slow down a momentum-seizing Atlanta offense.
Matt Ryan made the Giants pay on the ensuing drive, marching his team 91 yards down the field on 12 plays before finding Leonard Hankerson in the back of the end zone.
Once again, New York was facing a big-time emotional shift, nursing a slim three-point lead with just over 12 minutes left in regulation. That was also Hankerson’s first TD reception since October 27, 2013.
Larry Donnell Caught His First TD Pass of the Season in the Third Quarter
Larry Donnell with the TD reception, Giants take a 20-10 lead #NYG t.co/8nP8d0Y8wx
If at first you don’t succeed…
After Giants tight end Larry Donnell got tripped up in the end zone on the first attempt in the end zone, New York opted to go right back to him on third down and this time, he made the play. Donnell caught his first touchdown pass of the season on the 10-yard pass from Eli Manning with just under 11 minutes left in the third quarter.
Although Donnell gets the end zone glory, the drive was actually kept alive by Shane Vereen who reeled off a 37-yard catch and run just a few plays before the touchdown.
The Giants Led the Falcons 13 – 10 at Halftime
Big Blue found its footing as the first half progressed, taking a three-point lead over the Atlanta Falcons into the break. (Getty)
After a slow start, New York found a spark in the form of Odell Beckham, Jr.
The Giants wideout finished the half with 139 yards and one touchdown on six receptions, jumpstarting the offense and waking up the crowd at MetLife Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Beckham’s TD reception tied up the game but it was Eli Manning – and his feet – that gave Big Blue the lead in the waning seconds of the half.
Manning kept the Giants final drive of the half alive with a 23-yard run that was actually the longest of his career. This is Manning’s twelfth season in the NFL.
Make that a 23-yard run for Eli Manning. … I was so surprised by that I couldn’t count right.
By the end of the half, Manning finished with 184 yards passing on 15-of-21 while Matt Ryan was 17-of-29 for 146 yards. Not to be left out, Julio Jones also had a pretty solid first half with eight receptions but just 49 yards.
Odell Beckham Tied the Game on a 67-Yard TD Reception
No sophomore slump here.
The New York Giants widout made his presence known with a catch and 67-yard sprint late in the second quarter to tie up the game with just over three minutes left in the half. At this point in the game, Beckham has five catches for 120 yards and one touchdown.
From @BobPapa_NFL: Odell Beckham, has 101 catches through first 14 NFL games. That ties NFL record for catches in a player’s first 16 games.
In other words, Beckham’s fantasy owners are pretty pleased.
Odell Beckham Jr. Caught His 100th Career Pass
Don’t try to understand Odell Beckham Jr.
Just enjoy his super-human powers. #ATLvsNYG http://t.co/u4nqHuvJYC
Let that sink in for just a second.
Odell Beckham, Jr. caught his 100th career pass in the second quarter with this sweet diving catch along the sideline against the Falcons. Let’s not forget, Beckham missed four games last season and was mostly shut down against the Cowboys in week one. That makes 100 career receptions all the more impressive for a guy who has seen limited action on the field.
The catch led to a Giants field goal as well, so Beckham is still the sparkplug of this Big Blue offense. Also, that catch helped Eli Manning set some records of his own as well:
With that 26-yard pass to Odell, Eli Manning is now the 15th QB in history with 40,000 passing yards! http://t.co/gQFFaxgZZ9
Tevin Coleman Got the Falcons on the Board
The Atlanta Falcons rookie running back got his team on the board in the final seconds first quarter with a one-yard run. It was Coleman’s first NFL touchdown.
The run capped off a long drive for the Falcons that saw Atlanta execute a whopping 13 plays, including an overturned touchdown call on the play just before Coleman’s.
Touchdown overturned. Time to punch it in #ATLvsNYG
Wide receiver Leonard Hankerson was originally called in the end zone but after review, officials determined that he was down just inches outside of the goal line.
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Left the Game in the First Quarter
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was a defensive sparkplug for the Giants last week, returning an interception for a touchdown. (Getty)
And another cornerback goes down in New York.
Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was declared questionable to return to the game after leaving with a shoulder “burner” in the first quarter. It’s another hit to an already depleted Big Blue secondary and a big-time loss against a Falcons offense that has Julio Jones.
Here’s who is left in the secondary:
So the Giants’ CBs are Prince Amukamara and Jayron Hosley, with Trumaine McBride in as the nickel.
Game Preview
The New York Giants spent the better part of this past week still reeling from a crazy and disappointing last-second loss to the Dallas in week one. It is time for the New York Giants to get over it.
Big Blue faces another big test in week two, squaring off against an Atlanta Falcons that is feeling nothing but confident after holding on for a 26-24 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles last week.
While the Falcons offense was the talk of the statistical town over the last few days, Atlanta’s defense was a big part of that victory, clamping down when it mattered most and picking off Philadelphia QB Sam Bradford on the Eagles final drive of the game. The Falcons pass rush looked surprisingly good last week and got consistent pressure in the backfield. New York’s offensive line will need to step up its collective game on Sunday afternoon if Eli Manning is going to have more than a few seconds to look down the field.