EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Washington Redskins' kept their playoff hopes alive and put a little doubt into the New York Giants' once seemingly certain road to the postseason.
Clinton Portis ran for 126 yards and a touchdown and Todd Collins led the Redskins on five scoring drives in his first start in 10 years, outplaying Eli Manning in a 22-10 victory.
The win was the second straight for the Redskins (7-7) and it moved them within a half-game of Minnesota for a wild-card berth. The Vikings (7-6) play the Chicago Bears on Monday night, before meeting the Redskins in Minnesota next week.
New Orleans also is 7-7 with two games to play.
The loss was the third straight at home for the Giants (9-5), and this one was costly as Pro Bowl tight end Jeremy Shockey was lost for the season with a broken left leg early in the second half.
New York still can clinch a playoff berth with a win at Buffalo next weekend. It had better win, because their final regular-season game is at home against New England, which will probably be looking to put the finishing touches on a perfect regular season.
Portis scored on a 5-yard run, Ladell Betts got in from 14 yards out on a draw play and Shaun Suisham kicked three field goals on a blustery evening. The swirling wind knocked down passes, blew rolling punts an extra 20 yards and made life miserable for the offenses.
Manning had a horrible night, completing 18-of-52 for 184 yards in a game in which his receivers dropped at least eight passes.
The biggest drop was by veteran Amani Toomer late in the third quarter with New York trailing 22-10.
Manning had hit rookie Kevin Boss with a 19-yard touchdown pass on the previous series and he found Toomer wide open around midfield with a wind-whipped wobbly pass. With no one around him and the chance to draw New York within five points, the Giants' all-time leading receiver dropped the surefire touchdown.
The drive eventually ended with Lawrence Tynes missing a 38-yard field goal and New York never threatened again.
Collins was 8-of-25 for 166 yards. While the number wasn't impressive, the journeyman quarterback made big plays to set up points in his first start since 1997 for Buffalo. He lost that game to a Tom Coughlin-coached Jacksonville club.
This time he beat Coughlin's team.
Suisham gave Washington the lead for good late in the first quarter with a 49-yarder with a stiff wind behind his back. He added a 31-yarder through the wind in the second quarter after Collins hit consecutive passes of 36 yards to Santana Moss and 30 yards to Todd Yoder.
A 34-yard sideline route to Moss set up Betts' touchdown run on a third-and-9 for a 13-0 lead.
A silly personal foul against LaRon Landry for taunting after a third-down incompletion got New York on the scoreboard with 1:16 left in the half on Tynes' 35-yard field goal.
Washington came right back with a 28-yard field goal from Suisham on the final play of the half.
The win was the second straight for the Redskins (7-7) and it moved them within a half-game of Minnesota for a wild-card berth. The Vikings (7-6) play the Chicago Bears on Monday night, before meeting the Redskins in Minnesota next week.
New Orleans also is 7-7 with two games to play.
The loss was the third straight at home for the Giants (9-5), and this one was costly as Pro Bowl tight end Jeremy Shockey was lost for the season with a broken left leg early in the second half.
New York still can clinch a playoff berth with a win at Buffalo next weekend. It had better win, because their final regular-season game is at home against New England, which will probably be looking to put the finishing touches on a perfect regular season.
Portis scored on a 5-yard run, Ladell Betts got in from 14 yards out on a draw play and Shaun Suisham kicked three field goals on a blustery evening. The swirling wind knocked down passes, blew rolling punts an extra 20 yards and made life miserable for the offenses.
Manning had a horrible night, completing 18-of-52 for 184 yards in a game in which his receivers dropped at least eight passes.
The biggest drop was by veteran Amani Toomer late in the third quarter with New York trailing 22-10.
Manning had hit rookie Kevin Boss with a 19-yard touchdown pass on the previous series and he found Toomer wide open around midfield with a wind-whipped wobbly pass. With no one around him and the chance to draw New York within five points, the Giants' all-time leading receiver dropped the surefire touchdown.
The drive eventually ended with Lawrence Tynes missing a 38-yard field goal and New York never threatened again.
Collins was 8-of-25 for 166 yards. While the number wasn't impressive, the journeyman quarterback made big plays to set up points in his first start since 1997 for Buffalo. He lost that game to a Tom Coughlin-coached Jacksonville club.
This time he beat Coughlin's team.
Suisham gave Washington the lead for good late in the first quarter with a 49-yarder with a stiff wind behind his back. He added a 31-yarder through the wind in the second quarter after Collins hit consecutive passes of 36 yards to Santana Moss and 30 yards to Todd Yoder.
A 34-yard sideline route to Moss set up Betts' touchdown run on a third-and-9 for a 13-0 lead.
A silly personal foul against LaRon Landry for taunting after a third-down incompletion got New York on the scoreboard with 1:16 left in the half on Tynes' 35-yard field goal.
Washington came right back with a 28-yard field goal from Suisham on the final play of the half.
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.