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Ward Leads Giants' Win

The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 22, 2008

Updated: 12/22/2008 12:22 am

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The NFC road to the Super Bowl will run through the Meadowlands because the New York Giants did what you have to do in bad weather - run the ball.
Derrick Ward ran for career-best 215 yards and set up Brandon Jacobs' winning 2-yard touchdown run with 9:57 left in overtime and the Super Bowl champion Giants clinched the NFC's top seed for the postseason with a 34-28 comeback victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday night.

The final score warmed the hearts of the fans, who brazed blustery wind and snow packed under their seats to see New York pull off the dramatic win. They tossed snowballs on to the field earlier and threw it like confetti when Jacobs won the game.

New York (12-3) forced the overtime when Jacobs plowed into the end zone from a yard out, and Eli Manning hit Domenik Hixon on a slant pattern for the tying 2-point conversion with 3:21 to play.

The Giants drove 44 yards in seven plays for the equalizer, with Kevin Boss putting New York in position with 12-yard catch to the 5. On the following play, cornerback Ken Lucas was whistled for pass interference against Hixon in the end zone.

The Giant got the ball on the 1 and Jacobs punched it in.

The Panthers had a final shot to win in regulation, but John Kasay's 50-yard field goal attempt was wide left with 4 seconds remaining.
DeAngelo Williams ran for four touchdowns for Carolina, tying his own team record for rushing touchdowns in a game.

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Ward Leads Giants' Win