The Giants (5-5) enter the bye leading the NFC East, but a win over the undefeated New England Patriots (9-0) would have made for a much more pleasant week off.
Eli Manning threw for two more touchdown passes, giving him 21 on the season. The defense sacked Tom Brady three times, but it was Stephen Gostkowski's 54-yard field goal with one second left that gave the Pats a 27-26 win. The Giants return to action in a Week 12 matchup in Washington (4-5).
Elsewhere in the NFC East, the Eagles (4-5) blew a 16-3 first quarter lead to the Dolphins (4-5) and lost, 20-19. Philly hosts Tampa Bay (4-5) on Sunday. The Bucs just handed the Cowboys (2-7) their seventh straight loss. Dallas is expected to get quarterback Tony Romo back under center when they visit the Dolphins this week.
With Week 10 of the NFL regular season in the books, Giants.com takes a look at power rankings coming in from outlets across the country:
NYG: 10
Movement: Up 3
NFC East: No. 10 Giants, No. 15 Eagles, No. 17 Washington, No. 26 Dallas
NFL Top 5: Patriots, Panthers, Bengals, Cardinals, Vikings
Comments: The Giants looked like Belichick Bashers for much of Sunday afternoon, even playing like a complete football team -- well, at least for an NFC East team. Call that division the greatest soap opera in football, minus a real leading man -- nope, not even the Maximus-bearded Kirk Cousins or the slick Mark Sanchez qualifies. The closest thing to the most important player in the NFC East -- other than a certain Dallas QB who's been sidelined since Week 2 -- is Eli Manning. It's getting dangerously close to Coughlin Time: when Big Blue ekes out the division title in December before making their "presidential" (that is, once every four years) Super Bowl appearance, while their coach's face turns all Rudolph-like.
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NYG:11
**Movement:Down 1
NFC East:No. 11 Giants, No. 18 Washington, No. 21 Eagles, No. 27 Cowboys
NFL Top 5:Patriots, Panthers, Bengals, Vikings, Cardinals
Comments: The catch-that-wasn't by WR Odell Beckham and the dropped interception by S Landon Collins ended the Giants' magical run against the Patriots. There was no reason to believe entering the game that the Giants could win. But by the time the game's late stages arrived, there was no way they should have lost.
NYG: 15
Movement: Up 1
NFC East: No. 15 Giants, No. 16 Eagles, No. 21 Washington, No. 22 Cowboys
NFL Top 5: Patriots, Panthers, Bengals, Cardinals, Broncos
Comments: You probably have to feel better about the Giants today, after they nearly beat the Patriots. They defended the pass way better than they did in the previous few games.
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NYG:12 **Movement:Up 4 NFC East:No. 12 Giants, No. 15 Washington, No. 20 Eagles, No. 28 Cowboys NFL Top 5:Patriots, Panthers, Bengals, Cardinals, Vikings Comments: Their last regular-season loss to the Patriots vaulted them on their Super Bowl XLII run. So good news, right?
NYG: 15
Movement: None
NFC East: No. 15 Giants, No. 21 Washington, No. 22 Eagles, No. 30 Cowboys
NFL Top 5: Patriots, Panthers, Cardinals, Bengals, Vikings
NYG: 10
Movement: Up 5
NFC East: No. 10 Giants, No. 19 Eagles, No. 20 Washington, No. 27 Cowboys
NFL Top 5: Patriots, Panthers, Cardinals, Bengals, Vikings
Comments: The Giants are 5-5, but in four of their losses they held a lead at some point in the final two minutes of regulation.
NYG: 10
Movement: Up 1
NFC East: No. 10 Giants, No. 14 Washington, No. 23 Eagles, No. 29 Cowboys
NFL Top 5: Patriots, Panthers, Cardinals, Vikings, Bengals
Comments: In four of the Giants' five losses, they have led the game with 2 minutes or less remaining in the fourth quarter. They could be 7-3 or 8-2.
Photo timeline from the Giants Week 10 matchup against Patriots
1:00 PM – Fans tailgating hours before the Giants take on the Patriots at MetLife Stadium- View Gallery
2:30 PM – Players take the field to begin their pregame warmups – View Gallery
4:20 PM – U.S. servicemen and women honored shortly before kickoff and Giants rollout a field-length American flag during the National Anthem
6:48, 1ST QTR, Tom Brady completes a long opening drive and throws a one-yard touchdown pass to Scott Chandler, NE 7 – NYG 0
6:03, 1ST QTR, Eli Manning passes to Odell Beckham for an 87-yard touchdown, the longest reception of Beckham's career, NE 7 – NYG 7 – Watch Highlight
13:20, 2ND QTR, Julian Edelman catches three passes for 48 yards to help set up a Steven Gostkowski 31-yard field goal, NE 10 – NYG 7
3:53, 2ND QTR, After three short rushes by Orleans Darkwa, Josh Brown kicks a 37-yard field goal, NE 10 – NYG 10
1:09, 2ND QTR, Eli Manning passes deep to Rueben Randle for 31 yards – Watch Highlight
0:39, 2ND QTR, Eli Manning hits Will Tye for 31 yards, Tye gets tackled just short of the goal line – Watch Highlight
0:18, 2ND QTR, Dwayne Harris closes out the half with a 1-yard touchdown catch from Eli Manning, NYG 17 – NE 10 – Watch Highlight
9:37, 3RD QTR, Eli Manning scrambles for 10 yards, helping set up a 38-yard Josh Brown field goal, NYG 20 – NE 10
6:36, 3RD QTR, Brad Wing punts the ball 42 yards to Danny Amendola who returns it 82 yards to the NYG 7
4:52, 3RD QTR, LeGarrette Blount leaps for a one-yard touchdown, NYG 20 – NE 17 - Watch Highlight
0:54, 3RD QTR, Josh Brown kicks a 53-yard field goal, NYG 23 – NE 17
15:00, 4TH QTR, Tom Brady is strip-sacked by Jasper Brinkley, fumble returned by Markus Kuhn to NE 31 – Watch Highlight
11:51, 4TH QTR, Tom Brady throws deep to Rob Gronkowski for a 76-yard touchdown, NE 24 – NYG 23 – Watch Highlight
6:10, 4TH QTR, Tom Brady's pass intended for Brandon LaFell is intercepted by Trumaine McBride at the NYG 1 – Watch Highlight
2:10, 4TH QTR, Eli Manning throws to Dwayne Harris for an 18-yard reception
2:06, 4TH QTR, Eli Manning throws to Odell Beckham for 5 yards in the end zone. Originally ruled a touchdown, the call reversed after replay officials ruled it an incomplete pass
1:50, 4TH QTR, Josh Brown kicks a 29-yard field goal to give Giants the lead, NYG 26 – NE 24
1:47, 4TH QTR, Tom Brady's pass nearly intercepted by Landon Collins
1:08, 4TH QTR, On fourth-and-10, Tom Brady throws to Danny Amendola for a first down to keep the game alive
0:06, 4TH QTR, Steven Gostkowski caps off the final drive by kicking a game-winning 54-yard field goal – Watch Patriots Game-winning Drive
Final Score: New England Patriots 27, New York Giants 26. Big Blue looks to regroup as they head into their bye week – Watch Game Highlight
