Epic meltdown: Giants fall to Philly 38-31

The Giants suffered their worst disaster of the year, and one of the hugest in franchise history, in a stunning 38-31 loss to the Eagles today

Not only did the Giants blow a 21-point fourth-quarter lead in all of a 6:14 span, but they lost it in a most horrendous manner. And by doing so, the 9-5 Giants all but blew their chances at an NFC East title, as they fall a game behind the 10-4 Eagles, whose season sweep gives them the head-to-head tiebreaker.

In a span of just over seven minutes, the Giants went from all but clinching a playoff spot to possibly missing the postseason entirely. And they can thank their punter, Matt Dodge, and Eagles returner DeSean Jackson for that.

After the Eagles had stormed back from a 31-10 fourth-quarter deficit on three touchdown drives, one set up by a surprise onside kick, the Eagles held the Giants to a three-and-out. After coach Tom Coughlin ordered the rookie Dodge to kick the ball out of bounds, away from the dangerous Jackson with 12 seconds to go before overtime, Dodge instead lined a punt right at him.

Jackson bobbled the kick at first, but gathered the ball up, and then gathered himself up, and raced up the middle of the punt coverage 65 yards for the winning score with 0:00 left on the clock. For a series that infamously included “The Fumble” game in 1978, this may have been the second most embarrassing defeat in their history.

The Eagles started their comeback with a 65-yard touchdown throw to tight end Brent Celek as the Eagles caught the defense in a blitz. Then, after coach Andy Reid surprised the Giants with an onside kick, Vick, who rushed for more than 100 yards on the day, ran it in from the 5 on a quarterback draw.

The tying touchdown came after Vick scrambles of 33 and 22 yards, with Vick finding Jeremy Maclin from 13 yards out for Maclin’s second touchdown of the day.