Eagles Win NFC East 2001

The Philadelphia Eagles used a little of their own comeback magic to beat the New York Giants – barely.

David Akers kicked a 35-yard field goal with 7 seconds left, and the Eagles clinched their first NFC East title since 1988 with a 24-21 victory over the Giants on Sunday.

The Giants were eliminated from playoff contention a year after reaching the Super Bowl, but not before they nearly won a third straight game in the final minute.

After Akers' kick, New York had time for one play from its 20, and Kerry Collins threw a 14-yard pass to Tiki Barber, who lateraled the ball to wideout Ron Dixon. With blockers leading him down the left sideline, Dixon made it all the way to the Eagles 6, before Damon Moore made the game-saving tackle. The Eagles (10-5) trailed 21-14, but scored 10 points in the last 2 minutes, including Donovan McNabb's 7-yard touchdown pass to Chad Lewis to tie the score.

Philadelphia will play Tampa Bay (9-6) at Veterans Stadium in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight season. The teams also play next week to complete the regular season.

It's the third time New York (7-8) has failed to reach the playoffs the year after going to the Super Bowl.

Giants defensive end Michael Strahan had 3½ sacks in the first half, breaking Lawrence Taylor's team record for sacks in a season. Strahan has 21½ sacks – a half-sack from Mark Gastineau's NFL mark.

Ron Dayne's 16-yard TD run with 2:43 left gave the Giants a 19-14 lead. Barber ran in for the 2-point conversion to make it 21-14.

But McNabb drove the Eagles 67 yards in 54 seconds, capped by his touchdown toss to Lewis with 1:49 left.

After the Giants went three-and-out, Philadelphia got the ball at its own 29 with 58 seconds left.

McNabb completed a 25-yard pass to James Thrash, hit Todd Pinkston for 9 yards, and ran 11 yards to set up Akers' 35-yarder. Strahan helped the Eagles by holding McNabb down after the run, resulting in a delay-of-game penalty that stopped the clock and gave Philadelphia 5 yards.

The Eagles had lost nine straight to New York before a 10-9 comeback victory on Oct. 22. The Giants dominated Philadelphia for 55 minutes in that game, before McNabb rallied the Eagles with an 18-yard TD pass to Thrash with 1:52 left.

McNabb and Thrash connected again Sunday, on a 57-yard TD pass 49 seconds into the fourth quarter to give the Eagles a 14-10 lead.

Thrash beat rookie cornerback Will Allen on a deep route down the right sideline, stretched his arms for a fingertip catch and high-stepped into the end zone.

Morten Andersen's 25-yard field goal with 2:38 left in the third gave the Giants their first lead – 10-7. Andersen hit a 32-yarder to cut it to 14-13 with 8:44 left.

Neither team waited until the game started to get at each other. During warmups, a scuffle broke out between some Giants and Eagles special teams players, including returner Brian Mitchell and wide receiver Dameane Douglas.

After the Giants went three-and-out on the opening possession, the Eagles drove 72 yards on nine plays, capped by McNabb's 5-yard TD pass to Lewis.

Lewis caught five passes for 53 yards in the drive, including a 31-yard catch-and-run on the first play. McNabb was 6-of-7 for 68 yards as the Eagles scored a TD on their first possession for just the second time this season.

New York tied it 7-7 on a 60-yard TD pass from Collins to Amani Toomer on its first play of the third quarter. Collins lateraled to Barber, who tossed the ball back to Collins. Toomer got wide open across the field, caught the ball at the 20 and easily ran in.

When the Giants tried that flea flicker in practice on Wednesday, Barber and Collins botched it. It turned out to be their longest play of the season.

The Eagles twice reached New York's 30 in the first half, but didn't score. McNabb fumbled after being sacked by Strahan and Michael Barrow on second-and-18 from the Giants' 38, and Akers was short on a 43-yard field goal into the wind early in the second quarter. Akers had made a team-record 17 straight FGs.

New York crossed midfield just once in the first half, but Barber fumbled on the next play.

(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Author: 6 - ABC, Action News