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Giants' D Cracks Down On Detroit

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The Associated Press

Published: November 19, 2007

DETROIT - The New York Giants leaned on their defense to gain the advantage in the NFC wild-card race.

Barely.
Michael Strahan had a season-high three sacks, while James Butler and Sam Madison both had key late interceptions, helping New York beat the Detroit Lions 16-10 Sunday.

Eli Manning threw a touchdown pass to Brandon Jacobs, who later left the game with an injury, and Lawrence Tynes kicked three field goals to give the Giants more than enough offense.

Or, so it seemed.

Detroit finally put together a strong drive, ending with Calvin Johnson's 35-yard TD catch to pull within six with 4:34 left.

After a three-and-out drive, Detroit drove to midfield and Jon Kitna heaved an up-for-grabs pass to Shaun McDonald that Butler leaped to snag just inside the end zone.

The Lions had one more chance, getting the ball at their 32 with 1:25 left, but a pass went off McDonald's hands in New York territory and right to Madison in the final minute.

New York (7-3) broke a third-place tie with Detroit in the conference and improved its chances of making the playoffs. In the Super Bowl era, 78.4 percent of teams that won seven of their first 10 games ended up in the postseason.

The win came at a price: Jacobs was sidelined in the third quarter with a left hamstring injury and linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka broke his left leg early in the game.

Detroit (6-4) dropped back-to-back games for the first time this year and lost for the first time at Ford Field, where it will host the NFC North-leading Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving.

New York kept the Lions in the game by fumbling twice inside their 30.

NYG-FG Tynes 28, :37.

Second Quarter

NYG-Jacobs 10 pass from Manning (Tynes kick), :23.

Third Quarter

Det-FG Hanson 42, 10:52.

NYG-FG Tynes 46, 2:39.

Fourth Quarter

NYG-FG Tynes 20, 11:15.

Det-Johnson 35 pass from Kitna (Hanson kick), 4:34.

A-60,675.

RUSHING-N.Y. Giants, Jacobs 11-54, Droughns 11-13, Manning 5-5. Detroit, Jones 11-25.

PASSING-N.Y. Giants, Manning 28-39-0-283. Detroit, Kitna 28-43-3-377.

RECEIVING-N.Y. Giants, Shockey 5-41, Jacobs 4-49, Burress 4-47, Moss 4-46, Toomer 4-39, Droughns 3-26, Hedgecock 2-14, Boss 1-15, Matthews 1-6. Detroit, McDonald 7-113, Williams 6-106, Furrey 5-41, Johnson 3-45, Jones 3-12, FitzSimmons 1-21, Walters 1-19, McHugh 1-18, Bradley 1-2.

MISSED FG-Detroit, Hanson 52 (BL).

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