RECAP: GIANTS ADVANCE, DEFEAT FALCONS, 24-2
After waiting three years to get a taste of postseason play, the Giants are going to stay around and savor it for a while.
Using a smothering defense and an opportunistic, big-play offense, the Giants routed the Atlanta Falcons, 24-2, Sunday in an NFC Wild Card Game in MetLife Stadium. It was the Giants' first postseason victory since Super Bowl XLII and their first home playoff win since the 2000 NFC Championship Game triumph over Minnesota.
The fourth-seeded Giants, 10-7, advance to a divisional round game next week in Lambeau Field against the top-seeded Green Bay Packers, who had a bye this weekend after finishing the regular season 15-1. On Dec. 4, the Packers defeated the Giants here, 38-35, on a 31-yard field goal by Mason Crosby as time expired.
**POSTGAME QUOTES
Coach Coughlin: "I think today we played outstanding defense and that set the tone for everything else that happened in the game. It was wonderful to see it and it has happened over the last two or three weeks of the season. If we can continue to play defense like that, we can make ourselves heard in this tournament. The two fourth down stops were outstanding; the second half we got going on offense and started rushing the ball. I think Brandon Jacobs *set the tone physically. The punter did a nice job today and our coverage teams were good although we had some penalties on punt return, which will drive you nuts, but overall we played hard all the way through. Everybody gave it a great effort. It didn't show up until the second half offensively. They are a good football team or they wouldn't be here. We were very pleased to have an opportunity to play at home in front of our fans, it was great to have a home playoff game and have our fans involved as much as they were. Our players greatly appreciate that."* FULL TRANSCRIPT
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BOX SCORE
|
ATL |
NYG | |
|
1st Downs |
14 |
19 |
|
Passing 1st downs |
9 |
11 |
|
Rushing 1st downs |
4 |
8 |
|
1st downs from Penalties |
1 |
0 |
|
3rd down efficiency |
4-14 |
8-15 |
|
4th down efficiency |
0-3 |
1-1 |
|
Total Plays |
64 |
64 |
|
Total Yards |
247 |
442 |
|
Passing |
183 |
270 |
|
Comp-Att |
24-41 |
23-32 |
|
Yards per pass |
4.5 |
8.4 |
|
Rushing |
64 |
172 |
|
Rushing Attempts |
21 |
31 |
|
Yards per rush |
3.0 |
5.5 |
|
Red Zone (Made-Att) |
0-1 |
1-3 |
|
Penalties |
3-15 |
7-73 |
|
Turnovers |
0 |
0 |
|
Fumbles lost |
0 |
0 |
|
Interceptions thrown |
0 |
0 |
|
Defensive / Special Teams TDs |
0 |
0 |
|
Possession |
25:26 |
34:34 |
[PHOTO GALLERY: 1/8 NEW YORK GIANTS VS. ATLANTA FALCONS, METLIFE STADIUM (WILD CARD ROUND)
](http://www.giants.com/media-vault/videos/Falcons-are-stuffed/511f19f0-3a4c-4126-9421-e6114e1a1533)HIGHLIGHT: FALCONS ARE STUFFED | WATCH COMPLETE GAME ONLINE IN HIGH DEFINITION | VIEW EXCLUSIVE COACHES TAPE FOR 2012 GAMES
