After a thrilling 30-27 comeback win over the San Francisco 49ers (1-4) on Sunday Night Football, the Giants (3-2) find themselves in sole possession of first place in the NFC East. Big Blue next heads to the City of Brotherly Love for a Monday night matchup with Philadelphia. The Eagles (2-3) are coming off a blowout 39-17 home win over New Orleans (1-4).
Elsewhere in the division, the Dallas Cowboys (2-3), who started the year 2-0, have now dropped three straight. Dallas, still playing without Tony Romo and Dez Bryant, are coming off a rough 30-6 home loss to the undefeated New England Patriots (4-0). The Cowboys have a bye this week before playing the Giants in the Meadowlands October 25. Washington (2-3) dropped a tough one Sunday, falling to Atlanta in overtime. Washington visits the Jets (3-1) this Sunday.
With Week 5 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 5
NFC East: No. 10 Giants, No. 17 Washington, No. 18 Eagles, No. 22 Cowboys
NFL Top 5: Patriots, Packers, Bengals, Broncos, Falcons
Comments: Congrats to Big Blue, which more than earned that win Sunday night, as well as the right to never have to watch a daily fantasy commercial again. Eli Manning, for what it's worth, looks like a completely different player than he did in 2012 and 2013. To maestro that game-winning march, with the bargain-basement parts he had on offense, was beyond impressive. Helluva catch there, Larry Donnell.
Gameday photo timeline from Giants Week 5 matchup vs. 49ers
4:30 PM - Fans tailgating hours before the Giants take on the 49ers at Metlife Stadium - View Gallery
6:00 PM - Players take the field to begin their pregame warmups - View Gallery
8:30 PM - Giants kickoff against the 49ers at Metlife Stadium
1ST QTR, 11:19, Colin Kaepernick completes a 30-yard pass to Bruce Ellington, which sets up a Phil Dawson 43-yard field goal, SF 3 - NYG 0
1ST QTR, 6:22, Odell Beckham hauls in a 49-yard pass from Eli Manning, which sets up a 22-yard Josh Brown field goal, NYG 3 - SF 3 - Watch Highlight
2ND QTR, 12:15, Eli Manning hits Odell Beckham for a 31-yard completion, which sets up a Shane Vereen 2-yard touchdown run, NYG 10 - SF 3 - Watch Highlight
2ND QTR, 3:57, After a 43-yard drive, Josh Brown hits a 41-yard field goal, NYG 13 - SF 3
2ND QTR, 1:01, Colin Kaepernick drives down the field with a series of completions, setting up a Phil Dawson 22-yard field goal, NYG 13 - SF 6
Giants induct four new members into the Ring of Honor during Sunday night's halftime ceremony - Watch Ceremony
3RD QTR, 8:00, Colin Kaepernick hits Anquan Boldin for a 3-yard touchdown, NYG 13 - SF 13 - Watch Highlight
4TH QTR, 11:49, Colin Kaepernick hits Garrett Celek for a 5-yard touchdown, NYG 20 - SF 20 - Watch Highlight
3RD QTR, 1:14, Odell Beckham catches a pass from Eli Manning and takes it in for a 17-yard touchdown, NYG 20 - SF 13 - Watch Highlight
4TH QTR, 4:29, After a few key Shane Vereen rushes, Josh Brown kicks a 24-yard field goal, NYG 23 - SF 20
4TH QTR, 1:45, Carlos Hyde rushes for a 2-yard touchdown, SF 27 - NYG 23
4TH QTR, 0:21, Eli Manning drives the ball 82 yards in 1:24, and hits Larry Donnell in the end zone for a 12-yard game winning touchdown, NYG 30 - SF 27 - Watch Highlight
Final Score: New York Giants 30, San Francisco 49ers 27. Giants get ready for their October 19th game at Philadelpia Eagles - Watch Game Highlight
Coach Coughlin addresses the team immediately following the Giants win against the 49ers - Watch Giants Locker Room Celebration
NYG: 10
Movement: Up 3
NFC East: No. 10 Giants, No. 16 Cowboys, No. 17 Eagles, No. 20 Washington
NFL Top 5: Packers, Patriots, Bengals, Broncos, Panthers
Comments: Eli Manning is carrying this team now. He is so clutch in the fourth quarter. Now comes a tough game at Philadelphia.
NYG: 9
Movement: Up 2
NFC East: No. 9 Giants, No. 16 Eagles, No. 19 Washington, No. 21 Cowboys
NFL Top 5: Patriots, Packers, Bengals, Broncos, Falcons
Comments: QB Eli Manning called a timeout he didn't want with an ill-advised hand signal. WR Odell Beckham suffered a hamstring injury that some speculated occurred on a TD celebration (Beckham and Coach Tom Coughlin said otherwise). The Giants squandered another fourth-quarter lead. And still, they managed to come back Sunday night and beat the 49ers on Manning's late TD pass to TE Larry Donnell. The Giants are the only winning team in the NFC East and, really, should be unbeaten if they hadn't somehow found inexplicable ways to lose to the Cowboys and Falcons in the first two weeks.
NYG: 9
Movement: Up 4
NFC East: No. 9 Giants, No. 14 Cowboys, No. 21 Washington, No. 24 Eagles
NFL Top 5: Patriots, Packers, Bengals, Broncos, Falcons
Comments: They should be 5-0. 3-2 is still good enough to lead one of the worst divisions in football.
NYG: 12
Movement: Up 11
NFC East: No. 12 Giants, No. 16 Cowboys, No. 18 Eagles, No. 19 Washington
NFL Top 5: Patriots, Packers, Bengals, Broncos, Falcons
Comments: What a throw by Eli Manning, what a catch by Larry Donnell, but is anyone else worried that Odell Beckham just can't seem to shake these hamstring issues?
NYG: 13
Movement: Down 3
NFC East: No. 13 Giants, No. 18 Cowboys, No. 19 Washington, No. 20 EaglesNFL Top 5:
Patriots, Packers, Bengals, Broncos, Cardinals
Comments: Can't say they were impressive after making Colin Kaepernick look like a legit quarterback again. But ... #FirstPlace
NYG: 12
Movement: Up 3
NFC East: No. 12 Giants, No. 15 Eagles, No. 18 Cowboys, No. 21 Washington
NFL Top 5: Patriots, Packers, Falcons, Broncos, Bengals
Comments: Deja vu all over again? The Giants have now won three straight after starting 0-2 for the second consecutive season. Last year, the Giants followed that up with seven straight losses.
NYG: 10
Movement: Up 1
NFC East: No. 10 Giants, No. 16 Cowboys, No. 17 Washington, No. 18 Eagles
NFL Top 5: Patriots, Bengals, Packers, Falcons, Cardinals
Comments: After failing to lead a fourth quarter two-minute drive in Week 2, thanks in part to a dropped pass, Eli Manning led the Giants on an impressive 82-yard game-winning touchdown drive in Week 5. If the Giants can get linebackers Devon Kennard and Jon Beason healthy, they are arguably the most complete team in the NFC East.
The Giants Broadcast team hands out its game balls after the Giants defeat the San Francisco 49ers
QB ELI MANNINGIn addition to his 32nd career game-winning drive, here is a list of accomplishments Manning notched on Sunday night: set the franchise record for number of completions (41), broke Phil Simms' Giants record with his 102nd career victory, and moved ahead of Kerry Collins (40,922) for 12th place on the all-time passing yards list.
TE LARRY DONNELLScored the game-winning touchdown on a 12-yard pass from Eli Manning with 21 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
WR ODELL BECKHAM JR.Finished with seven receptions for a game-high 121 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown in the third quarter. It was Beckham's ninth career 100-yard game.
RB SHANE VEREENLed the Giants with eight receptions for 86 yards, including a 24-yarder on the game-winning drive, and a two-yard touchdown.
TE DANIEL FELLSThe Giants dedicated the game to tight end Daniel Fells, who has been hospitalized with a MRSA (staph) infection, and his family. "And thank God we got him the game ball," coach Tom Coughlin said. "That was some football game tonight and to have a guy from his (position) room go up there and make that catch at the end of the game was just incredible."
