New England Patriots at New York Giants - 2.Half ( 1996 Week 17 ) - video Dailymotion

New England Patriots

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Transcript

00:00:00Statistics and all the numbers on the New York Giants side. Here's the worst team offensively in football against one of the best. Yeah, they're all on their side and really you always say these things at halftime. Hey, turnovers, the turnovers today were the real story. They took away a scoring opportunity for the Patriots. It could have got the momentum and got them back in the game. And the other one, they gave the Giants more points on the interception by by Jason Seahorn.

00:00:25Underway and Kevin Alexander, the deep man for the Giants. Alexander in trouble now and does not make it to the 20. Tackled at the 16 yard line, Jim Gray. All right, Dick. Well, the answer, Phil Simms, to your questions is it was a very calm and relaxed Bill Parcells. He says he wasn't mad. He wasn't upset. I said, what did you tell your team? He said, I told him we simply stunk. And if we continue to play like that, we won't win today and we won't go very far in a

00:00:55playoffs. He said, we just stink today. The 1927 Yankees couldn't win playing like this. Now, as for Dan Reeves, Dan told me, he told his team very simply, it was a great first half. I asked him if he feels any satisfaction. He says, I have a little satisfaction right now, but we still have 30 minutes to play. Dick.

00:01:09All right. Thanks, Jim. First down and Brown handing off the downs. No game. The Patriots have been shut out only one other time this year in the first half. And that was the game against Denver when they lost 34 to eight. As you look at the quarterback comparisons and Dave Brown out pitching Drew Bledsoe, who's on his way to the Pro Bowl.

00:01:31Well, Dave Brown and the Giant offense doing it with the big plays today. A couple of screen plays that worked well, but getting the ball down the field and making big plays in the passing game, that's something different for the New York Giants.

00:01:42Well, Callaway and Lewis to the left. And they run the other direction with that. He is belted by Ted Johnson. Is that Johnson playing? Well, he is the one gleaming star on this field for New England today.

00:01:59Ted Johnson doesn't even hesitate, Phil. Well, he's been hustling all day. And again, he sees it. Once he sees it, his body reacts immediately to a situation. Paul, that's why he's always making tackles in the backfield and always around the football.

00:02:14Tackled at the 14-yard line and brings up third and long for the Giants.

00:02:20It's Lewis. It's Lewis. And Dawsey to the left.

00:02:29Callaway right. Shotgun Brown.

00:02:36It's Kevin Alexander or Lawrence Dawsey. Dawsey with a catch. Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer and a first down on a 15-yard throw.

00:02:45Wait a minute. You know, a week ago, these guys couldn't put a yard on the board.

00:02:49And here are the Giants out. You said they dropped 15% of the passes. They're catching everything they throw.

00:02:54They're catching everything. But a great throw and catch by Dave Brown and Thomas Lewis.

00:02:59And good protection by the Giant offensive line. Third and 15. You've got to pressure the other team.

00:03:05You've got to get them in a situation where they can make a mistake.

00:03:08Play action. Brown looks for a big one downfield. And Callaway is pinched in by two Patriots.

00:03:16There's Malloy and Law. So they've got a Law and a Lawyer on that play defensively.

00:03:22Ty Law and Lawyer Malloy.

00:03:25But I've got to say one thing about that third and 15 real quick.

00:03:28The Patriots win the perfect defense to stop that play.

00:03:32They broke down. Otis Smith goes inside. Should have been back.

00:03:36And they give up an easy completion in a situation where they shouldn't have.

00:03:4252 drives have ended this year. Three and out.

00:03:45That leads the NFL. Another negative stand.

00:03:49And yet they've been able to make all their third downs today.

00:03:51What Dave Brown just did at the end of this play typifies what the Giants are doing today.

00:04:11And to the man. Now I'm telling you these guys are playing. Watch what Brown does here.

00:04:17He's going to run. He made up his mind to run. Now he's going to get hit.

00:04:21You can go out of bounds. That's easy to do. Not this guy.

00:04:24Look at this. And picks up another four yards. That's beautiful.

00:04:27Seven yard total on the play.

00:04:28And Dave Brown and Dan Reese have not necessarily been on the same page in the Reeves time here.

00:04:35No, they haven't. But I tell you, he shows you given protection and opportunity that he can make some plays.

00:04:41And that's what infuriates, I guess, a lot of people, fans, and media.

00:04:44It just doesn't happen on a consistent basis.

00:04:46And that's the first time that the Giants have not been able to convert on third down this afternoon.

00:04:57This is Brown's fault here. I mean, he throws the ball behind.

00:05:00He's got to step into this ball and throw it ahead and lead.

00:05:03If he throws ahead and lead, look at that.

00:05:05Darcy is wide open.

00:05:08So the punt is Horan. Only his second punt today in the first one.

00:05:12There was a very short kick that took about a 20, 25-yard roll.

00:05:17Megan, pro bowler, as a special teamer, is at the 20 for New England.

00:05:22Beautiful high kick.

00:05:25Megan searching in the sky. Pulls it down at the 15.

00:05:28And there come the Giants.

00:05:30Charles Wade and Sehorne on special teams to make the tackle.

00:05:3649-yard punt.

00:05:37The NFL.

00:05:41The world's great cities, New York.

00:05:44Another great city, the capital of Italy, Rome.

00:05:46And next Saturday at 4 Eastern.

00:05:48Be sure to watch the encore presentation.

00:05:50The award-winning film aired during our coverage of the 96th Olympic Games,

00:05:53The Wonders of Rome.

00:05:55That's next Saturday, 5 Eastern.

00:05:57Bledsoe tripping and had to unload another one.

00:06:01And no flag this time.

00:06:04There's Jesse Armstead who was trying to put the pinch on Bledsoe.

00:06:08Delayed blitz by Armstead.

00:06:09The Giants are not going to sit back.

00:06:11The offense, the defense, is going to keep pressuring.

00:06:14Corey Whitmer and Jesse Armstead, both linebackers, up inside.

00:06:18Good timing by Jesse Armstead.

00:06:20That enables him to get in the backfield with Drew Bledsoe.

00:06:23He timed that perfectly.

00:06:24He just ran right by the back.

00:06:27He said he came here to play 100%, didn't he?

00:06:2922-0.

00:06:30New England trails.

00:06:31The throw to Sean Jefferson.

00:06:34Not there.

00:06:34He had two men on him.

00:06:36You know, every time that Bledsoe has gone deep, he's thrown into double coverage.

00:06:41I mean, the Giants, they have scouted this team extremely well.

00:06:45And everything that they told us yesterday that New England was going to do offensively,

00:06:49they have done.

00:06:52Dan Reeves knows he'll be fired.

00:06:55But Christmas will be much more pleasant with a win, his 150th.

00:06:59And what did Bill Parcells say yesterday?

00:07:01Hey, how many games has he won as a coach?

00:07:03You don't win 149, 150 games if you're not a good coach.

00:07:08Megan inside, and he slammed to this frozen carpet by Chad Bratzky, who just signed a two-year

00:07:15extension to his contract.

00:07:17I'm telling you, the New York Giants defense from the beginning of this game took over

00:07:22the ballgame, and they've controlled the entire ballgame.

00:07:25It's really amazing physically they're doing it, Paul.

00:07:29They're just beating the big people for the Giants are beating up the big people for the

00:07:33Patriots, and that's why they're winning.

00:07:35Arthur Marshall back as two good punts.

00:07:39Marshall at the 48.

00:07:43And inside, the New England 45.

00:07:4635-yard punt, eight on the return.

00:07:49Early in the third period, 22-0.

00:07:51Welcome back to the Meadowlands, and we do have a scope here in terms of the coaching

00:07:56situation.

00:07:57Paul McGuire, you've announced you definitely are not taking either the Jets or the Giants

00:08:01job.

00:08:01And it took me a long time to decide that, but I'm not going to take either one.

00:08:04I don't care.

00:08:05All right.

00:08:05Who will be the next Giant coach, Phil Sanks?

00:08:08Well, who knows?

00:08:09It's all speculation, Dick.

00:08:10But Jim Fossil, the offensive coordinator of the Arizona Cardinals, is always talked about

00:08:14as being the favorite.

00:08:15Joe Bugle, still out with the Raiders, knows this conference.

00:08:19The NFC East did a good job when he was with the Cardinals, and in Nick Saban's name's

00:08:25thrown around a lot, and Pete Carroll, the ex-Jet coach, has been thrown around, too.

00:08:28Is there any chance that Parcells would come back here on the 100% level?

00:08:33Oh, and at 100%, you have to put it at 5% to get what happened.

00:08:38Thomas Lewis at the 40, and Lewis dancing and digging, and finally pushed out of bounds

00:08:43as Willie Clay gets him out at the 25, a 19-yard play.

00:08:48And Lewis is having a banner afternoons.

00:08:51Phil, this is the one thing Brown read the blitz.

00:08:53He didn't in the first quarter, did now.

00:08:55He reads the blitz.

00:08:56Look at the bottom of your screen.

00:08:57You can see Otis Smith coming on the blitz.

00:08:59Dave Brown sees it.

00:09:01Thomas Lewis sees it.

00:09:02In the first half, they did not pick this up.

00:09:05The Patriots are showing, hey, we've got to take some chances.

00:09:08Giants were ready for it.

00:09:09Seventy-nine yards for Lewis on four catches.

00:09:14Now it's Gary Downs.

00:09:16Downs.

00:09:18Struggles to about the 22-yard line.

00:09:21How about the Jets?

00:09:22Do you have any gut feeling about who might be the next coach here at Giant Stadium for the New York Jets?

00:09:28Well, everybody's been rooming for that job now.

00:09:31Paul, I'm glad you took yourself out of consideration.

00:09:33So that really relieves me a lot.

00:09:35Are you going to take one of these jobs if it was offered?

00:09:38No.

00:09:39Would you ever be a coach?

00:09:40Why would I ever want to leave your side?

00:09:42See, that's what I want to hear now.

00:09:43I can stand by you the rest of my life and look good.

00:09:46Let's just remember that.

00:09:48Stand close.

00:09:49Yeah, you better stand real close.

00:09:51But the Jets job, I don't know.

00:09:53They keep talking about hiring a general manager and letting him make the choice.

00:09:57That seems to be the smart and logical way to go.

00:09:59To the end zone to the tight end, Cross.

00:10:01And Brown overshoots his man.

00:10:04And Howard Cross looked as if he had a step.

00:10:07For those of you that have been out Christmas shopping and you missed the first half of this ballgame,

00:10:11the score, that's right.

00:10:12It's the Giants 22 and the Patriots nothing.

00:10:15And it's been all Giants through this entire ballgame.

00:10:18Yeah, some of those folks that have come back from shopping in Pittsburgh,

00:10:22they might want to send a little gift up to Dan Reeves for the way he's coached his team into this position today.

00:10:28But not over yet.

00:10:30Ten minutes remain in the third quarter.

00:10:32But a touchdown here would almost make it impossible for the Patriots.

00:10:38A blitz and it works.

00:10:40Crashing through with Teddy Brutschke and Mike Jones.

00:10:44Brutschke from the University of Arizona has four sacks this year.

00:10:49Rookie.

00:10:50Yeah, he had 52 sacks with the Wildcats to tie Derek Thomas' NCAA record.

00:10:56Safety blitz.

00:10:57Loyer Malloy, number 36.

00:10:59He comes crashing near Teddy Brutschke.

00:11:01Mike Jones makes the sack.

00:11:02And, hey, the Patriots, they had to blitz get in there and they needed the sack to take the Giants out of field goal range.

00:11:10And that's exactly what's happened as Horan, the punter in.

00:11:14Well, he'll let the clock run down and just go ahead and take the penalty.

00:11:17Take all the seconds off that you possibly can.

00:11:19That's exactly right.

00:11:23And there's the whistle and the delay of game.

00:11:26You know, a field goal by the Giants is huge whenever they get a chance.

00:11:29And they turn down the opportunity to kick a 49-yard field goal.

00:11:33But Dan Reeves likes the way his defense is playing.

00:11:37Keep backing up the Patriots.

00:11:39Make them go the length of the field.

00:11:41Because his defense is showing they can make a play every now and then by taking a chance.

00:11:45And what New England's doing, they're going to refuse the penalty.

00:11:47Delay on the offense.

00:11:50The decline.

00:11:51Still fourth down.

00:11:52The reason they do that, it gives you more room to kick the ball out of bounds with a pooch kick.

00:11:55Now, if Horan's going to kick the football, what he should do is aim.

00:11:58He's aimed for the corner at about the 10-yard line and kick it out of bounds.

00:12:03So, Horan, facing apparently a good rush.

00:12:1110 men up on the line of scrimmage by the Patriots.

00:12:19And he does aim it toward the corner.

00:12:23And that is it.

00:12:24He has made a good kick.

00:12:26They're going to mark it at the 6-yard line.

00:12:3025-yard punt, but that's a solid 25-yarder.

00:12:36Pressure continues on the Patriots.

00:12:39This is the NFL on NBC.

00:12:45Well, it's nice to know that the president of the Phil Simms fan club is here.

00:12:50Appropriately attired.

00:12:52They brought this guy from a mental institution in an armored truck.

00:12:55Well, I'm happy to be back, but I don't know if Bill Parcells is real thrilled about what's going on or happy being here today.

00:13:03And it's a staggering development thus far.

00:13:06From the 6-yard line, Bledsoe gets to Martin.

00:13:10Or is that Meggett?

00:13:10Dave Meggett on first down.

00:13:13And he catches the Giants looking for something else and has a good game.

00:13:18Well, he's just looking for something different, and Dave Meggett does a good job of getting to the hole quick.

00:13:24You can see the offensive line.

00:13:26Todd Rucci, Dave Wollebaugh do a good job inside creating a hole for Dave Meggett.

00:13:31Meggett has rushed for only 102 yards this year, used primarily in third downs.

00:13:36And that's Michael Strahan.

00:13:37And then the backup comes from Chad Bratsky.

00:13:42His first sack today and the first by the Giants.

00:13:45Michael Strahan, I'm telling you, this guy is having a great game.

00:13:49He goes right by Max Lane, number 68, without even slowing down to get back to Bledsoe.

00:13:55He's the guy that really makes this play on the left-hand side of your screen.

00:13:58Here he comes, 92.

00:13:59Look at that.

00:13:59Max Lane, he spins.

00:14:01And when he did that, Bratsky's right there.

00:14:03Bam.

00:14:05Here it comes.

00:14:05Look, Strahan, right on by Max Lane.

00:14:07He doesn't even slow him down.

00:14:11Bledsoe from his own end zone.

00:14:14Over the middle, complete to Terry Glenn.

00:14:16And Glenn, first down and much more.

00:14:20Out to the 39-yard line.

00:14:22A 32-yard pass play.

00:14:25Look, Drew Bledsoe did a wonderful job of hanging in the pocket.

00:14:30And Terry Glenn, number 88, comes in motion, goes across the formation, and keeps running.

00:14:35That's what makes the play work.

00:14:37The zone broke down because the quarterback had a little extra time to throw the football.

00:14:42And what's Drew Bledsoe hangs in the pocket, doesn't panic, lets his receiver get that extra second.

00:14:49That enables Terry Glenn to get open.

00:14:50And gives Bledsoe now some field to work with, out of deep in his own end.

00:14:57Fires to Glenn again.

00:14:58He's open.

00:14:59Tito Wooten bumps him out of bounds.

00:15:02But it's another first down at the 32-yard line in Giants territory.

00:15:06So, 39-and-29-yard plays back-to-back to Terry Glenn.

00:15:12Well, this is something different.

00:15:14Very few teams do this.

00:15:15Drew Bledsoe has a play-action fake.

00:15:18Rows right and then throws across the field to the left to Terry Glenn, who is wide open.

00:15:23Every team in the league runs its play.

00:15:25They always bring the receivers to the side of the quarterback.

00:15:28The Patriots chain up, change it up, and that's why they get a big play.

00:15:32So, he's well beyond the NFL rookie record, formerly held by Earl Cooper of the 49ers.

00:15:39This one to Megan at the 28-yard line.

00:15:44Hit hard there by Philippe Sparks.

00:15:46So, the Patriots trying to get in a scoring mood, trailing 22-0, midpoint of the third quarter.

00:15:56Well, they've had their chances.

00:15:57They had to drive before the half where they made some big plays.

00:16:00And again, here, they can get some momentum going.

00:16:02You never know what can happen.

00:16:04And somebody had to step up, and finally, Drew Bledsoe and Terry Glenn,

00:16:08they stood in there and made some plays to give their team a chance.

00:16:11Sean Jefferson left and played on right.

00:16:13And Robert Harris offside.

00:16:17Was he drawn?

00:16:18No, they were both over the center.

00:16:20Both guys went.

00:16:20When one goes, the other one goes along with them.

00:16:25Crofts went on the defense.

00:16:27Number 97.

00:16:29Five-yard penalty.

00:16:31Harris and Agnew both go at the same time.

00:16:33Wollebaugh is the center, and he doesn't move.

00:16:35And take a look at the center.

00:16:36Just watch the center on the right-hand side.

00:16:38He doesn't move at all.

00:16:39And they move.

00:16:40As soon as he makes contact with the center,

00:16:41they stop the play and penalize.

00:16:43The team, not second and short.

00:16:45Second and one at the 23-yard line.

00:16:54I think to Megan.

00:16:56And throw to Byers.

00:16:57And he is hit by Seahorn.

00:16:59Keith Byers' first catch today.

00:17:02Dick, Phil and I are both,

00:17:04we were both looking at Byers going out.

00:17:06We both saw Seahorn, because he's right in our line.

00:17:08And when Bledsoe threw the ball, it's like,

00:17:10oh, no, this guy's going to get killed.

00:17:12Well, Jason Seahorn is just standing out there waiting for somebody to come in his area.

00:17:17It's his own coverage.

00:17:18They're rolling to that side.

00:17:19Double covering.

00:17:20Why?

00:17:21Because Terry Glenn was up there.

00:17:22They don't want him to beat them.

00:17:24Jason Seahorn's standing there waiting for the receiver.

00:17:26Byers will from tight end back to the backfield with the entry to Sam Gash.

00:17:30The fullback of the Patriots out the rest of the year.

00:17:33Megan squashed at the 20-yard line.

00:17:36As Corey Miller and Corey Widmer, two backers for the Giants, make the stop.

00:17:41Dickie, you know his name.

00:17:42You haven't called today at all.

00:17:44Ben Coates has not caught a ball.

00:17:48Didn't catch a pass last week.

00:17:50And that ended a long consecutive streak for the big tight end,

00:17:55a pro bowler and one of the premier tight ends in all of football.

00:17:58Have not even thrown the ball in his direction.

00:18:00He had gone 63 straight games with a catch.

00:18:04Shutout against Dallas.

00:18:05Shutout again today.

00:18:06Let's have it.

00:18:09Too much company.

00:18:10Robert Harris and then Ray Agnew get him down.

00:18:14You know why they don't throw to Ben Coates?

00:18:15I was just watching him.

00:18:16Jesse Campbell did a great job.

00:18:18Would not even allow him to get a step.

00:18:21When Ben Coates, 87, comes off the line of scrimmage to bottom right,

00:18:24he just can't go anyway.

00:18:25Now, here's the pit.

00:18:27Yeah, look at the Giants.

00:18:28They just crushed a pocket.

00:18:29Everybody getting back there.

00:18:31Robert Harris, Ray Agnew, pressure from the outside,

00:18:34and makes Drew Bledsoe step up.

00:18:36The interior linemen do a good job of getting in there.

00:18:39Bledsoe's four for four on this drive,

00:18:42but he's been sacked twice.

00:18:44That one for a minus 10 yards.

00:18:45And New England will use a timeout.

00:18:53Less than five minutes left in the third.

00:18:56Sam Gash, the fullback, didn't carry the ball much this year.

00:19:03Had 33 catches.

00:19:05But what a severe blocker he is.

00:19:07And Curtis Martin has missed him today.

00:19:09Knee surgery out for the rest of this season.

00:19:13Dave Meggett now getting more duty.

00:19:15Martin being rested was unproductive.

00:19:17Third and long.

00:19:18Bledsoe leaves the pocket, hits Meggett.

00:19:22Meggett to the 23.

00:19:24That's far short of a first down.

00:19:26It'll be about fourth and nine.

00:19:28And Bill Parcells wants something

00:19:31and sends in Adam Vinatieri,

00:19:34a young kicker from South Dakota State,

00:19:36who is 26 for 34 this year.

00:19:40Well, he's kicking a field goal

00:19:41because he's not worried about going for two.

00:19:43They can't get six.

00:19:4441 yards.

00:19:48Let's take some field goals.

00:19:49We're not going to get any touchdowns.

00:19:52Well, they're actually going to say

00:19:52he'll mark it inside the 41,

00:19:54so 40 officially.

00:19:56And it is good.

00:20:0122 to 3.

00:20:03So Bill Parcells at least sees

00:20:05the shutout end at Giant Stadium.

00:20:09You're watching the NFL on NBC.

00:20:14It's the brilliant rookie receiver,

00:20:22Terry Glenn, going back for attention.

00:20:25He was holding his hip.

00:20:28I'd have been injured.

00:20:30I think he was hurt before this play,

00:20:32but you see he comes up limping

00:20:33as he runs this pattern.

00:20:34Yes.

00:20:35On the tackle before this play,

00:20:37he got up limping a little,

00:20:37and then he ran down the field,

00:20:39and he realized, hey, that thing is bothering me.

00:20:41And after that play, he took himself out of the game.

00:20:43Then a Terry to kick it off.

00:20:48Boy, that's a tough one to handle.

00:20:50Conrad Hamilton.

00:20:53And the Giant is out to the 27-yard line.

00:20:55A reminder, tomorrow, NBC Sports

00:20:57presents more exciting NFL action

00:20:5912 noon Eastern, the NFL on NBC.

00:21:02And most of you will see what amounts

00:21:03to a playoff game as Marcus Allen

00:21:06and the Chiefs battle Bruce Smith

00:21:07and the Buffalo Bills.

00:21:09Some of you will see another game

00:21:11with playoff spirit,

00:21:13Carolina's Panthers and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

00:21:16If New England should lose this game,

00:21:18the Steelers need to win tomorrow.

00:21:20They then will get the bye week.

00:21:21If they lose, it reverts back to the Patriots

00:21:24getting the bye.

00:21:25Also, regional action begins at 12 noon tomorrow.

00:21:2822-3, the Giants.

00:21:35Four minutes left in the third.

00:21:37And it's Gary Downs out

00:21:39for a good first-down game

00:21:44to the 35-yard line.

00:21:46Well, Bill Parcells,

00:21:48the days aren't always so great.

00:21:50This one isn't so far.

00:21:52And last year,

00:21:53he was caught bemoaning

00:21:54the fates of a team

00:21:55not playing very well.

00:21:59I tell you, we can't play.

00:22:00We can't play.

00:22:02We're too stupid.

00:22:03We can't run the defensive calls.

00:22:06I tell you, we're getting our ass kicked.

00:22:07What the hell is that?

00:22:09It's unbelievable.

00:22:10Well, that really is appropriate

00:22:12to how he must feel today.

00:22:13Yeah, you're right.

00:22:14He's going to sunny and warm

00:22:16in today's game.

00:22:18Charles way around the corner

00:22:20has a first down.

00:22:21And while the Patriots

00:22:23have not been able

00:22:24to establish a running game,

00:22:25the Giants have.

00:22:26And that's 12 yards for way.

00:22:28Well, we've said it many times today, Dick.

00:22:30It's just the front people,

00:22:31the Giants,

00:22:32the big offensive line.

00:22:34They're just dominating physically.

00:22:36And Charles way

00:22:36and Gary Downs

00:22:38showing speed

00:22:39and enthusiasm

00:22:40about running the football,

00:22:42getting up to the line of scrimmage,

00:22:43and they're breaking a lot of tackles.

00:22:45And these are the lowest-paid players

00:22:46on the team.

00:22:47These guys don't make any money

00:22:48compared to the other guys,

00:22:49the guys that are out.

00:22:50Way with 36 yards rushing

00:22:52and had 43 all season.

00:22:56Now it's Downs.

00:22:59First down,

00:23:00he has about three to midfield.

00:23:03Let's go to Jim Gray.

00:23:04The trainers, Dick,

00:23:05have taken Terry Glenn

00:23:06into the locker room

00:23:07to examine his left hip.

00:23:09They expect that he should be fine.

00:23:10They just want to take

00:23:11a couple of precautions

00:23:12so that he wouldn't be out

00:23:13for the playoffs.

00:23:13Don't think it'll be a problem,

00:23:14and he should return.

00:23:15All right, thanks, Jim.

00:23:17Meanwhile, Gary Downs

00:23:19has run his rushing total

00:23:20up to 50 yards,

00:23:21and Bill Parcells

00:23:23checking the scoreboard

00:23:24and listening to Bob Shepard's

00:23:26public address call,

00:23:28a veteran voice of sports

00:23:30here in New York

00:23:30where the Yankees

00:23:31sends 46

00:23:32and the Giants

00:23:33sends 56.

00:23:35Professor of speech

00:23:36at St. John's.

00:23:38Underneath to Thomas Lewis,

00:23:3945.

00:23:40Let's ask him

00:23:41to the distinguished

00:23:41Mr. Shepard.

00:23:42Brown to Lewis.

00:23:47Stopped by Clay.

00:23:54Third and two.

00:23:58Now, if you don't understand

00:24:00that, folks,

00:24:00you don't understand anything.

00:24:02Third and two.

00:24:04Even when he was

00:24:05with the Giants,

00:24:05he'd get himself caught

00:24:06listening to Shepard,

00:24:07giving the lineup

00:24:09to Yankee Stadium.

00:24:10It's just,

00:24:10it's worth the price

00:24:11of admission.

00:24:11It is.

00:24:12You can't hear him

00:24:12and read the lineup.

00:24:13Such a great tradition,

00:24:15and it really just

00:24:15made this play special

00:24:16because of his voice.

00:24:18The blitz.

00:24:19Brown trying to hit to Lewis,

00:24:21and he was well covered

00:24:23by Otis Smith.

00:24:25Mr. Shepard.

00:24:29Brown to Lewis.

00:24:31McGott is deep.

00:24:41Horan in punt formation.

00:24:45No wasted words,

00:24:47Dick Enberg.

00:24:47No wasted words.

00:24:49Beautiful sound.

00:24:49He couldn't work in TV then.

00:24:52That's, boy,

00:24:53are you right on there.

00:24:54We get paid by the word.

00:24:56Horan.

00:24:57Horan.

00:24:57Horaan.

00:24:57Horaan sails a high kick

00:24:59that Megat-Ferrick catches

00:25:01at the 11-yard line.

00:25:02One-twenty-four left in the third.

00:25:12I kind of like it.

00:25:13I'd like to adapt that.

00:25:15Do you ever hear the famed,

00:25:16the first down?

00:25:19New England.

00:25:22Boy, you sit there and wait.

00:25:24You're trying to help him

00:25:25draw this stuff out.

00:25:26You know what he's going to say,

00:25:27but you have to wait on it.

00:25:29Boy, the power of the pause.

00:25:34So here are the Patriots,

00:25:35and from now on,

00:25:37each possession critical

00:25:38to their hopes

00:25:39of the advantage

00:25:41of a bye next week

00:25:42in the playoffs.

00:25:44That's underneath.

00:25:45Underneath that drill,

00:25:47Terry Widmer

00:25:48rips into the receiver,

00:25:50Troy Brown.

00:25:51Well, we've gotten

00:25:52to the part of the game now

00:25:53where you're the New York Giants.

00:25:55You don't even care

00:25:56about their running game anymore.

00:25:57You play pass

00:25:58if you're a defensive lineman.

00:26:00Defensive backs

00:26:01look for the receivers,

00:26:02jam them,

00:26:02do whatever you can

00:26:03because the Patriot running game

00:26:05probably will have no factor

00:26:06in the outcome now.

00:26:07And force him to throw the ball

00:26:09in the middle of the field,

00:26:10which keeps the clock going.

00:26:11Terry Glenn has returned

00:26:12from the locker room,

00:26:13jogging freely

00:26:14as we see him

00:26:16on the sidelines.

00:26:17To Byers.

00:26:19And Keith Byers,

00:26:20second catch,

00:26:20tackled by Jesse Campbell.

00:26:22Again, inbounds.

00:26:24Out at the 21-yard line

00:26:25will be third and one.

00:26:27Well, another,

00:26:28you look at the pass play here,

00:26:30and it's to Byers.

00:26:30Another short pass play

00:26:32by Bledsoe.

00:26:32He hits Byers,

00:26:33but the interesting thing here,

00:26:35watch what the Giants do.

00:26:36Let's keep him inbounds.

00:26:37Well, and the thing is,

00:26:38that's what says it all.

00:26:39The Giants,

00:26:40the secondary,

00:26:41they're good tacklers,

00:26:42and if you're going to play

00:26:43this style defense,

00:26:45it's imperative

00:26:45that you bring the receivers down

00:26:47once they catch the ball.

00:26:49They've done that today.

00:26:50Well, still on the sidelines,

00:26:52third and one.

00:26:53And Meggett has to really battle

00:26:55and does have the first down

00:26:57out at the 22-yard line.

00:27:00And final seconds

00:27:01of the third period.

00:27:04Fifteen minutes remain

00:27:05for Bill Parcells.

00:27:07New England team

00:27:08will be back

00:27:08after these words

00:27:09from your local station.

00:27:17Presented by the authority

00:27:18of the National Football League

00:27:19and is intended

00:27:20for the private use

00:27:21of our audience.

00:27:21Any rebroadcast

00:27:22or other use of this telecast

00:27:23without the express written consent

00:27:25of the NFL is prohibited.

00:27:28Welcome back.

00:27:29The fourth quarter opens

00:27:30here at Giants Stadium.

00:27:32DeKenberg with Phil Simms,

00:27:33Paul McGuire,

00:27:34and Jim Gray,

00:27:34the New England Patriots

00:27:36shot thus far

00:27:37by the New York Giants.

00:27:3822-3 is the score

00:27:40as Bledsoe fires incomplete.

00:27:43Closest white shirt

00:27:44with Sean Jefferson.

00:27:46That'll bring up second down.

00:27:48Well, at stake in this game today,

00:27:49those of you who have been out shopping

00:27:50or out in Telluride

00:27:52or Aspen or Vail

00:27:53getting early from the ski slopes,

00:27:56it's 22-3.

00:27:58A team that needed to win

00:28:00Bill Parcells, Patriots,

00:28:01to get a week off.

00:28:02An important buy next week

00:28:04and then the next week

00:28:05have home field.

00:28:06The Giants,

00:28:07nothing at stake.

00:28:09They're out of the playoffs

00:28:10except they want to give

00:28:11their coach Dan Reeves

00:28:12and most likely

00:28:13his last game here

00:28:14a win.

00:28:15It's 150.

00:28:17A diving play

00:28:18by Terry Glenn.

00:28:19Does it count?

00:28:20No, he trapped it.

00:28:22What an effort though

00:28:23by Glenn,

00:28:24the rookie from Ohio State.

00:28:26You know what I think

00:28:26about this pass play

00:28:27and this reception

00:28:28by Glenn.

00:28:29Now whether he makes it

00:28:30or we're going to see here

00:28:30on this replay,

00:28:31does this ball hit the ground?

00:28:34No, it does not.

00:28:35That is an excellent catch

00:28:36and this guy's got a bad hip.

00:28:38He got hurt earlier,

00:28:39came back in

00:28:40and look at him.

00:28:41He knows he made the catch.

00:28:42He got his arms

00:28:42underneath it, Phil.

00:28:43I thought so right away, Paul.

00:28:45He got up.

00:28:45The body language

00:28:46said he caught it

00:28:47and didn't argue

00:28:48with the referee

00:28:48because it doesn't help.

00:28:50Terry Glenn

00:28:50who has set a NFL record

00:28:52for a rookie.

00:28:5387 catches this year.

00:28:56Five today.

00:28:58Third and 10.

00:29:00Let's go.

00:29:01This one is caught

00:29:02by Troy Brown

00:29:03and Brown legs it

00:29:05to the 38

00:29:06in Giant territory

00:29:07before he's tracked down

00:29:08by Conrad Hamilton

00:29:10and Percy Ellsworth.

00:29:1138-yard play.

00:29:13Well, again, Troy,

00:29:14I mean, Drew Bledsoe

00:29:16does a good job

00:29:17of standing in there

00:29:18and giving his receivers again

00:29:20that little added time

00:29:21to get open

00:29:22because it is a blitz.

00:29:23You can see all the defenders

00:29:24from the Giants there

00:29:25and Troy Brown down the field

00:29:28with the added time.

00:29:28Look at how long it takes him,

00:29:30number 80,

00:29:31to make the fake

00:29:32and get away from

00:29:32Conrad Hamilton,

00:29:34number 41.

00:29:35But again,

00:29:36when Bledsoe has the time

00:29:38and he stays in the pocket,

00:29:40the pass was perfect

00:29:40because Conrad Hamilton

00:29:42had some pretty good protection.

00:29:43I mean, defensive.

00:29:45Tremendous.

00:29:45You know,

00:29:45when you're a defensive back,

00:29:47Paul,

00:29:47and you're running down the field

00:29:48and you cover a receiver

00:29:49like he did that time,

00:29:50you expect it to be okay

00:29:51because the pass rush

00:29:53should get to the quarterback

00:29:54before he's given

00:29:55that much time

00:29:56to get open.

00:29:56But Bledsoe,

00:29:58the field goal in the third quarter

00:30:02ended a string of scoreless quarters

00:30:05at five.

00:30:07They haven't had a touchdown

00:30:08in a couple of weeks.

00:30:10Two field goals last week.

00:30:12He gets it off to Megan at the 40

00:30:14and Megan spins to the 34-yard line.

00:30:18It'll be second and four.

00:30:19Corey Miller makes the stop

00:30:21for the Giants.

00:30:21There's one that looked like

00:30:22it touched the ground

00:30:23when Megan went down

00:30:24to get his hands on it,

00:30:25but the official was right there.

00:30:28I mean,

00:30:28first of all,

00:30:29this should have been a sack

00:30:30and then Bledsoe,

00:30:32look at this,

00:30:32a little sidearm.

00:30:33Does the small hit the ground?

00:30:34No.

00:30:35It was right on his shoe,

00:30:35right on the top of his shoe.

00:30:37That literally was a shoe-top catch.

00:30:39What?

00:30:39There it is.

00:30:40Oh, no.

00:30:40I thought you were going to get on the side.

00:30:42Angles fooled me.

00:30:44Second down four.

00:30:46Underneath.

00:30:46Ben Coates finally has a catch.

00:30:48His first in two weeks,

00:30:50but it's only for a yard or two.

00:30:51Miller makes the stop.

00:30:53Third,

00:30:53and it'll be a yard.

00:30:55Ben Coates is going to go back

00:30:57into Drew Bledsoe's.

00:30:57Wait a minute.

00:30:58Hey,

00:30:59this is my first catch.

00:31:00I'm in the fourth quarter,

00:31:01and you're going to throw me

00:31:01this little baby here

00:31:02where all these guys

00:31:03are going to nail me.

00:31:04Don't throw me the ball.

00:31:05Now Ben Coates is going wide right.

00:31:12That was Coates' 60th catch of the year.

00:31:17Third,

00:31:18it's a long one.

00:31:20Make it.

00:31:21Easily for the first down

00:31:22to the 26-yard line.

00:31:24So a flicker of hope

00:31:25for Patriot fans

00:31:26as New England moving the ball well,

00:31:28but they trail 22-3

00:31:30here in the fourth quarter.

00:31:32Well,

00:31:32the Giants,

00:31:32the defenders up

00:31:33in the line of scrimmage

00:31:34got the blitz coming,

00:31:35but this time

00:31:36a good job

00:31:37by the Patriots

00:31:38blocking the front,

00:31:39a good lead block

00:31:40by Keith Myers

00:31:41opening up the hole

00:31:42for Dave Megan.

00:31:43Megan has rushed

00:31:44for 21 yards.

00:31:45Martin benched

00:31:46with only 10 yards

00:31:47rushing in the first half.

00:31:49They're a leading

00:31:49runner on the year.

00:31:52On first down,

00:31:53Bledsoe.

00:31:54Goes for the sixth

00:31:55to Glenn.

00:31:56Touchdown!

00:31:57What a throw!

00:31:58What a throw!

00:32:0326 yards to Terry Glenn,

00:32:05the rookie's sixth touchdown

00:32:08of the season

00:32:09on his 90th catch.

00:32:11He just ran away

00:32:12from Jesse Campbell.

00:32:13That's all you can say, Paul.

00:32:15He ran away

00:32:16in one anticipation.

00:32:18But look at the top

00:32:19of the screen,

00:32:19number 88,

00:32:20Terry Glenn.

00:32:21Watch when the ball

00:32:22is in the air already.

00:32:24Drew Bledsoe just threw

00:32:25it high and soft

00:32:26and Terry Glenn

00:32:27with that speed

00:32:28and those good feet

00:32:30gets it in the back

00:32:31of the end zone.

00:32:33That's his 89th catch,

00:32:35but it's for the big six

00:32:36as Ben and Terry

00:32:37adds the extra point.

00:32:39It is 22 to 10.

00:32:42And remember,

00:32:43with a two-point conversion,

00:32:45the Patriots can look

00:32:46at two touchdowns

00:32:48from a possible buy

00:32:49after all.

00:32:52Looking out

00:32:57to the state

00:32:58of New Jersey

00:32:59to the west here

00:33:00of the Meadowlands.

00:33:0222 to 10

00:33:03with 12 minutes

00:33:05plus remaining

00:33:06and the Patriots

00:33:07working their way

00:33:09late back

00:33:10into this game.

00:33:11Short kick

00:33:11by Ben and Terry

00:33:13and it's taken

00:33:14by the tight end

00:33:16Scott O'Brien Saxton

00:33:18and Saxton

00:33:19out to the 28-yard line.

00:33:22The Patriots

00:33:25getting a little life

00:33:26in their team now.

00:33:27It'll be interesting

00:33:28to see if their defense

00:33:29can come out

00:33:29and kind of keep going

00:33:32what the offense

00:33:32started here.

00:33:33In other words,

00:33:34you know,

00:33:34stop them,

00:33:35three plays and out,

00:33:36get the ball back

00:33:37in good field position

00:33:38and really make

00:33:39a game out of it.

00:33:40First touchdown

00:33:41in eight quarters

00:33:42for Bill Barcells.

00:33:43Patriots.

00:33:44They go 88 yards

00:33:45in 10 plays.

00:33:47More importantly,

00:33:48they needed only four minutes.

00:33:50A 12-point game

00:33:52with 12 minutes left.

00:33:56Wade.

00:33:59To the 28-yard line

00:34:01where Chris Slade

00:34:02makes the stop

00:34:03for the Patriots.

00:34:03We had a discussion

00:34:04while we were away.

00:34:05Let's get into it.

00:34:06I think,

00:34:07along with Jim Gray,

00:34:08we think that,

00:34:09you know,

00:34:09Parcells should have gone

00:34:10for two points

00:34:11on that play

00:34:11and get you to 12

00:34:12and put you within

00:34:13a touchdown

00:34:13and a field goal.

00:34:14You don't agree.

00:34:16A touchdown

00:34:17and a two-point conversion

00:34:18in a field goal

00:34:19because that's,

00:34:22you're going on

00:34:22the scenario

00:34:23that you would

00:34:23shut the Patriots out,

00:34:25I mean the Giants

00:34:26out for the rest

00:34:27of the game

00:34:27and I don't know

00:34:28if you can take

00:34:29that as a given.

00:34:30Maybe you should

00:34:30take that chance

00:34:31and do it,

00:34:31I don't know,

00:34:32Paul.

00:34:35A vicious rush.

00:34:38Howard crossed

00:34:39the tight end

00:34:39was his target.

00:34:41The incomplete pass,

00:34:43a favorite play

00:34:44for New England.

00:34:45Well,

00:34:46New England

00:34:46forcing the Giants

00:34:47to get them

00:34:48in a pass

00:34:48and shoot situation,

00:34:49get to the quarterback,

00:34:50Ted Johnson

00:34:51on the blitz,

00:34:52makes Dave Brown

00:34:53step up,

00:34:54doesn't give him time

00:34:55to look down the field

00:34:56and find an open receiver.

00:34:57So you changed

00:34:58your attitude now

00:34:58at the beginning

00:34:59of the ballgame.

00:34:59You didn't want

00:35:00him blitzing Brown.

00:35:01You said,

00:35:02why don't you give

00:35:02him the big play?

00:35:03Now you have to blitz it.

00:35:03Well,

00:35:03it was zero to zero.

00:35:06It's not that score

00:35:07anymore.

00:35:09That ball hitting

00:35:10the ground

00:35:11stops the clock

00:35:12and that favors

00:35:13the Patriots' chances

00:35:14for a comeback.

00:35:15Now third and ten.

00:35:17Here they come again.

00:35:19Brown,

00:35:20incomplete,

00:35:21intended for

00:35:22Lawrence Dawsey

00:35:23and three and out

00:35:25and they used

00:35:25literally

00:35:26about a minute,

00:35:29about a minute

00:35:30on that possession.

00:35:31to be exact,

00:35:3556 seconds.

00:35:36Of course,

00:35:36there'll be

00:35:37some time on the punt.

00:35:38See,

00:35:38this is why

00:35:39they should have

00:35:39gone for two.

00:35:39They stopped the Giants.

00:35:41It could have been

00:35:42within ten

00:35:42if they got the two.

00:35:44Megan at the 30

00:35:45as Horan

00:35:46comes in to punt.

00:35:47And there is

00:35:48a little breeze

00:35:48into the face

00:35:49of Mike Horan,

00:35:51the kicker,

00:35:51so this should be

00:35:52give Dave Megan

00:35:53a chance

00:35:53to make the catch.

00:35:55Oh,

00:35:55they have moved.

00:35:56Hold on.

00:35:56Jason Sehorne

00:35:57moved.

00:35:59Went for the bluff.

00:36:01Yeah,

00:36:02you know,

00:36:02I just wonder

00:36:02sometimes

00:36:03why you go

00:36:04for the bluff.

00:36:05Marty Moore,

00:36:06number 58.

00:36:07Offense,

00:36:09number 31.

00:36:11Five-yard penalty.

00:36:12Still for it.

00:36:12Larry Wiggum

00:36:14is 25.

00:36:14Larry Wiggum,

00:36:1525,

00:36:16but he moves

00:36:16and you see

00:36:17Jason Sehorne,

00:36:1731 of the Giants

00:36:18moving.

00:36:19I don't know

00:36:19why you move.

00:36:20This guy,

00:36:21he's got like

00:36:22three yards

00:36:22before he even

00:36:23gets to you

00:36:23and you're

00:36:23going to back up too.

00:36:24Well,

00:36:25he's fast

00:36:25and he's worried.

00:36:26You know,

00:36:26I mean,

00:36:27it's...

00:36:27Fast guys are worried?

00:36:28No.

00:36:29Jason Sehorne's worried

00:36:30because the other guy's fast.

00:36:31You've never worried

00:36:32in your life.

00:36:33I've never worried.

00:36:33I have never had

00:36:34a worry in my life.

00:36:35I've never been fast.

00:36:36Oh.

00:36:37The punter's having

00:36:38a tough one.

00:36:38Slightly kicked

00:36:39to Meggett

00:36:40at the 39.

00:36:4135.

00:36:42There he goes!

00:36:43Only the kicker

00:36:44to beat,

00:36:45Wren.

00:36:46And Dave Meggett

00:36:47has a touchdown!

00:36:5160 yards

00:36:52for Meggett,

00:36:53his seventh

00:36:54career

00:36:55touchdown return!

00:37:01I'll tell you

00:37:01what Dave Meggett

00:37:02does,

00:37:03he does it

00:37:03so very well.

00:37:04When he gets the ball,

00:37:05he makes a decision

00:37:06right now.

00:37:07The decision was

00:37:08of going straight

00:37:09up the field

00:37:10and to the outside.

00:37:11Hey, Paul,

00:37:11you're right.

00:37:12Just like a good

00:37:12quarterback,

00:37:13make the decision

00:37:13and go with it.

00:37:14That's what he does

00:37:15returning punts.

00:37:16He gets it

00:37:17and right away

00:37:18he knows he's going

00:37:19straight up the field.

00:37:21Well, Dave Meggett,

00:37:22there must be

00:37:22something about

00:37:23Giants Stadium.

00:37:24He had six career

00:37:25punt return touchdowns,

00:37:27all with the Giants,

00:37:28none with the Patriots.

00:37:29He just needed

00:37:30this familiar territory

00:37:32and you saw him

00:37:32kiss the turf

00:37:33in the end zone,

00:37:34number seven

00:37:35for Meggett.

00:37:36And what a big play

00:37:37has been at Terry

00:37:38now with the extra point.

00:37:41And from 22-0,

00:37:42it is now 22-17

00:37:45with 11.09 left.

00:37:48The Patriots have scored

00:37:4914 points

00:37:51in less than two minutes.

00:37:52The Patriots have struck

00:38:00quickly.

00:38:01Two touchdowns

00:38:02in less than two minutes

00:38:03and Dave Meggett,

00:38:04the ex-Giant,

00:38:0560 yards

00:38:06for his seventh career

00:38:07punt return touchdown,

00:38:09one off the NFL record.

00:38:11Wasn't Parcells yelling

00:38:12at him in the first quarter?

00:38:13Yes, here it was.

00:38:14Meggett listens.

00:38:15You can change your opinion

00:38:16now.

00:38:17They love you.

00:38:18And the Terry

00:38:18to Kevin Alexander.

00:38:22Alexander

00:38:22out of bounds

00:38:24at the 26-yard line.

00:38:26Let's go back

00:38:26to Meggett's run.

00:38:27This is what I'm talking

00:38:28about where you make

00:38:29a decision

00:38:29where you're going to go.

00:38:30Watch Meggett now.

00:38:31When he catches the ball,

00:38:31he's going to run

00:38:32to his left.

00:38:33Keep going.

00:38:34Right here.

00:38:34Keep going.

00:38:35Now hold it.

00:38:36See, here's where

00:38:37he makes the turn.

00:38:37Now he's going to go right.

00:38:39He made the decision

00:38:39of going upfield.

00:38:40Let her go.

00:38:41And here he comes.

00:38:42Straight at you.

00:38:43Out to the outside.

00:38:44And all he has now

00:38:45is the kicker.

00:38:46And once he does that,

00:38:47it's over.

00:38:49What a great move.

00:38:52And now with 11 minutes

00:38:54exactly left

00:38:55and Terry Glenn

00:38:56who scored the touchdown

00:38:57on the pass plate

00:38:58just a minute

00:38:58before Meggett's run.

00:39:00And that Patriot side line

00:39:01is fired up.

00:39:03Pressure falls

00:39:04on the Giants.

00:39:06Brown tries

00:39:07a shovel pass.

00:39:08It is incomplete.

00:39:10It bounced

00:39:10before Wade

00:39:11could pull it in.

00:39:14Meggett is the giant

00:39:16record holder

00:39:16in punt returns

00:39:17for touchdowns.

00:39:19His first six

00:39:20coming here.

00:39:22The last two years ago

00:39:23against the Lions.

00:39:28Oh, Charles weighs 30

00:39:30in those days

00:39:31and look at that effort.

00:39:35Emlyn Tunnell,

00:39:36the Hall of Famer,

00:39:37had five punt return

00:39:38touchdowns

00:39:39in his great giant career.

00:39:41Meggett with six

00:39:42and now seven.

00:39:43Brown on second

00:39:46and ten

00:39:47steps out.

00:39:48Side and arms

00:39:48complete to Dossi.

00:39:50And Dossi is close

00:39:51to a first down

00:39:52as he leans

00:39:54to the 34-yard line.

00:39:56This is a great play

00:39:57by two players.

00:39:57First of all,

00:39:58Brown getting away

00:39:59from the rush

00:39:59and second of all,

00:40:00Dossi,

00:40:00who comes back

00:40:01and catches the ball

00:40:01falling down.

00:40:03Watch number 97,

00:40:04Mark Wheeler,

00:40:05get to the quarterback.

00:40:06I don't see how Dave

00:40:07Brown got away from him

00:40:08and Lawrence Dossi

00:40:09doing a good job

00:40:11of stopping,

00:40:12going backwards

00:40:13and making the catch.

00:40:15Well, you know,

00:40:15I'm going to tell you,

00:40:15that first play

00:40:16of Brown only took

00:40:17five seconds.

00:40:18They had to get

00:40:19this clock running.

00:40:20Third down.

00:40:21It's closer to two

00:40:22than one.

00:40:27And Brown will throw for him.

00:40:29And he's going long.

00:40:31Intercepted by Otis Smith,

00:40:33the former eagle.

00:40:34And Smith out of bounds

00:40:36at the 36-yard line.

00:40:44Well, a young receiver

00:40:45makes a big mistake.

00:40:46It's not that bad

00:40:47of a throw by Dave Brown.

00:40:49Single coverage

00:40:50against Otis Smith

00:40:52and Kevin Alexander

00:40:53just does not come back

00:40:55and fight for the football.

00:40:57Otis Smith,

00:40:57now the one thing he does,

00:40:59he waits for the last second

00:41:00and turn

00:41:01and look for the football.

00:41:03But the receiver

00:41:04never let a defender

00:41:05intercept the ball

00:41:06thrown like that.

00:41:07Never.

00:41:08Smith's second interception

00:41:09of the year.

00:41:11His 12th career.

00:41:13And the Patriots

00:41:14with all the momentum

00:41:15here in the fourth quarter

00:41:16and trailing by only five

00:41:18start at their 35-yard line.

00:41:22Megan

00:41:23has taken over

00:41:24the game really

00:41:26as the runner

00:41:26for Curtis Martin

00:41:27and with that

00:41:28scintillating punt return

00:41:30for touchdown

00:41:30as you look at Smith,

00:41:32the pickup

00:41:32that is at the corner

00:41:34replacing Ricky Reynolds.

00:41:35Let's go back

00:41:36to one other thing

00:41:37before we talk about Smith.

00:41:39On that play,

00:41:40when you get second

00:41:40or third

00:41:41and a couple yards,

00:41:42do you go deep?

00:41:43I mean,

00:41:44it's a risky play.

00:41:46Paul,

00:41:46I don't think they wanted to,

00:41:47but the Patriots blitzed

00:41:49and they played man coverage.

00:41:50They forced you

00:41:50to take a chance

00:41:51up to the field.

00:41:53Let's go.

00:41:54He goes long.

00:41:55Sean Jumferson

00:41:56almost pulled it in

00:41:58at the 30-yard line

00:41:59in Giants territory.

00:42:01Jason Sehorne,

00:42:03the defender

00:42:03for the Giants.

00:42:04You know what I'm seeing

00:42:05up here

00:42:06and I kind of like it

00:42:07a little bit.

00:42:07They're letting these guys

00:42:08on the outside play.

00:42:09They're letting a little bit

00:42:10of the casual bumping

00:42:12take place.

00:42:14And, you know,

00:42:14no harm, no foul.

00:42:15That's right.

00:42:16They both were fighting

00:42:17for positions somewhat

00:42:18and Sean Jefferson

00:42:20was a little too preoccupied

00:42:21with Jason Sehorne

00:42:23and that stopped him

00:42:24from getting enough

00:42:25momentum

00:42:26to get outside

00:42:26to catch it.

00:42:27And the noise

00:42:41might have been a factor.

00:42:42Armstrong,

00:42:43the pro bowler.

00:42:46Ball start.

00:42:48Prior to the snap.

00:42:49Offense,

00:42:50number 78.

00:42:51Five-yard penalty.

00:42:52Still third down.

00:42:53Now, Drew Bledsoe

00:42:55looks at third and 13.

00:42:57Well, there he is.

00:42:58You see it right at the bottom

00:42:58of the screen,

00:42:59number 78.

00:43:00Bruce Armstrong.

00:43:01Parson.

00:43:05Only the second

00:43:06Patriot penalty today.

00:43:08Now, here are the Giants.

00:43:09Before we saw them,

00:43:10a lot of three-man rush

00:43:11filled with eight men covered.

00:43:13They got a four-man rush now.

00:43:16Drew Bledsoe's been standing

00:43:17in there pretty well,

00:43:18so now you better put

00:43:19some pressure on him

00:43:20instead of waiting.

00:43:22There comes Sehorne.

00:43:24Corner blitz.

00:43:25And they scream behind him

00:43:27and Sehorne comes back

00:43:28to make the tackle.

00:43:29What a play.

00:43:31Just stay with Jason Sehorne.

00:43:34I'm telling you.

00:43:35Boy, and it's a good play

00:43:37by Jason Sehorne.

00:43:38He's on the blitz.

00:43:40Watch Dave make it hit him.

00:43:4231, folks.

00:43:4331.

00:43:44Let's him go.

00:43:46And this play has

00:43:47big play written all over it.

00:43:49Jesse Armstead,

00:43:50number 98,

00:43:51slows it down just enough

00:43:52so Jason Sehorne can make

00:43:54the play.

00:43:55Now on to punt comes

00:43:56Tom Tipa with Arthur Marshall

00:43:57back at the 25.

00:44:00Almost blocked by Hamilton.

00:44:03And the Patriots will

00:44:04down it at the 36-yard line.

00:44:08Eight minutes,

00:44:0940 seconds,

00:44:10left in the fourth.

00:44:11Giants by five.

00:44:12Look at Grant Hill

00:44:17and his daddy could play

00:44:18at this game.

00:44:19Calvin Hill.

00:44:20Yes, he could.

00:44:22Former star at Yale.

00:44:23And then with the Dallas Cowboys.

00:44:26Well,

00:44:27to whom

00:44:28will Santa present

00:44:29the big win gift today?

00:44:31The Giants or the Patriots?

00:44:3322-17.

00:44:348.40.

00:44:35Left in the fourth.

00:44:37Give to Downs.

00:44:38Nothing there.

00:44:39Patriots picking up their play

00:44:41and led by Ted Johnson

00:44:43and Chris Slade.

00:44:45Number 52,

00:44:47Ted Johnson.

00:44:49When you look at this guy,

00:44:51I mean,

00:44:51he is really physical.

00:44:53I looked at his neck yesterday

00:44:54and it scared me.

00:44:56You gotta put a yoke around it.

00:44:58You know,

00:44:58you don't need to put a necklace.

00:45:0020-inch neck,

00:45:01he says,

00:45:02and this big guy

00:45:03from Colorado

00:45:04loves to read romantic novels.

00:45:06So they get kidding about it,

00:45:08but they always ask me

00:45:09to read a passage.

00:45:11Second down long.

00:45:13Downs.

00:45:14Wiggles through a yard.

00:45:17Wheeler.

00:45:18Malloy.

00:45:19Collaborate on the tackle.

00:45:20Less than eight minutes to go.

00:45:22As cold as it is here,

00:45:23we haven't had a fumble,

00:45:24have we?

00:45:25No, I don't think we've had

00:45:26one fumble in this ballgame.

00:45:28Surprising.

00:45:28Usually when you get games like this

00:45:29to field frozen

00:45:30and all these conditions,

00:45:32usually the ball just slips

00:45:33out of somebody's hands,

00:45:34but it hasn't happened today.

00:45:35And there's some great hits

00:45:36being made here.

00:45:37Giants led 22-0 at halftime,

00:45:40but have struggled

00:45:41to move the ball.

00:45:42This has been the giant team,

00:45:44at least the offense,

00:45:45that has ranked last

00:45:46in so many offensive categories

00:45:48this year

00:45:49in the second half.

00:45:51Third and eight.

00:45:53McGinnis.

00:45:54Able to deflect that one,

00:45:56and Brown acting as though

00:45:57that was a fumble,

00:45:58but it was ruled incomplete.

00:46:01Brown started to chase after it.

00:46:03Well, I thought it might be

00:46:04a fumble because I did not,

00:46:06did not hear the referees blow

00:46:07the play dead,

00:46:09and Willie McGinnis

00:46:09just doing it with speed

00:46:11around Scott Gregg.

00:46:15Willie McGinnis, look at this.

00:46:16I mean, he just gets his arm,

00:46:17and that ball is thrown forward.

00:46:19That's an incomplete pass.

00:46:21His arm's going forward.

00:46:227-17 left,

00:46:24so the Giants on their possessions

00:46:25have not consumed

00:46:26much time at all,

00:46:28giving New England

00:46:29plenty of an opportunity

00:46:30to make this rally.

00:46:32McGinnis again at the 22.

00:46:34He went wild at that time,

00:46:36and he took a pounding 40-yard kick

00:46:39by Horan,

00:46:39three on the return by McGinnis

00:46:41to the 25-yard line.

00:46:43And while the Patriot offense

00:46:46and Drew Bledsoe

00:46:47come out on the field,

00:46:48a reminder tonight,

00:46:49starting at 8, 7 central,

00:46:51gather the family around.

00:46:52The Christmas classic,

00:46:54It's a Wonderful Life.

00:46:56Join NBC's brightest stars

00:46:57in the special 50th anniversary

00:46:59of this timeless holiday film.

00:47:02James Stewart,

00:47:03is it Donna Reed?

00:47:04Donna Reed, absolutely.

00:47:05James Stewart,

00:47:06tonight on NBC.

00:47:07Favorite movie.

00:47:08Remember, he forgot where he was

00:47:09and everything.

00:47:09Remember when he did that bar?

00:47:11Yeah.

00:47:11That was the bartender.

00:47:13You were the bartender?

00:47:13Yeah.

00:47:15Martini.

00:47:16That's his name.

00:47:17I remember.

00:47:18I watched it last night.

00:47:19I was there.

00:47:2025-yard line.

00:47:22Trails by five.

00:47:24Does Bledsoe out.

00:47:24Wheels up to Byers.

00:47:27Byers,

00:47:28the playing fullback today

00:47:29to the 42-yard line.

00:47:32Corey Whitmer

00:47:32got him out of bounds.

00:47:33Good job by Drew Bledsoe.

00:47:35He wants to go down the field.

00:47:37He feels good.

00:47:38I got plenty of time

00:47:39to throw it down there.

00:47:41He's watched his eyes.

00:47:42He looks down.

00:47:43Then he realizes,

00:47:44okay, don't be greedy.

00:47:46Give it to this big guy

00:47:47and he picks up

00:47:47quite a few yards for you.

00:47:51At the 42

00:47:52is Ray Perkins,

00:47:53the offensive coordinator,

00:47:54chewing that gown

00:47:55a little harder.

00:47:59Looking for coach.

00:48:00He's covered.

00:48:01Tried to deal it to Megan.

00:48:03Incomplete.

00:48:04If you want to know

00:48:05why Curtis Martin

00:48:06is not in the ballgame, folks,

00:48:07it has nothing to do

00:48:08with him being ill

00:48:09or anything.

00:48:10It's been a coach's decision.

00:48:12Bill Parcells put him down.

00:48:14I think what he has

00:48:15with Meggett and Byers

00:48:16is a couple of blockers

00:48:17back there,

00:48:18plus guys with great hands.

00:48:19Good in the passing game.

00:48:21I think you said it right, Paul.

00:48:22They know that blitzing,

00:48:24if the Giants do,

00:48:25these guys pick it up well.

00:48:26Also, I think Dave Meggett,

00:48:28just by carrying the ball

00:48:29and catching a few passes,

00:48:30gets him in the flow

00:48:31and it helped him

00:48:32on his punt returns, too.

00:48:34Glenn and Jefferson left.

00:48:35You saw Meggett deploy

00:48:37to the right.

00:48:38Second and ten.

00:48:40Armstead almost got

00:48:41the blitz.

00:48:42Oh, he gets the pass away.

00:48:43Completes the coach

00:48:44for short yardage

00:48:45and he's written down

00:48:47by Bradsky.

00:48:49That's the same old

00:48:50Ben Coastal.

00:48:51I know that blitz

00:48:52was having a problem,

00:48:52but you don't throw

00:48:53the ball out there.

00:48:54Well, this is what they call

00:48:55a zone blitz

00:48:56and to your right,

00:48:57you see the linebackers

00:48:58blitzing.

00:48:58Chad Bradsky, number 77.

00:49:00Look at him.

00:49:01Drop him back

00:49:02in pass coverage

00:49:03and does a pretty good job.

00:49:04Comes up and tackles

00:49:05Ben Coast.

00:49:06Well, he up, yeah,

00:49:06but Bradsky got some help

00:49:08from the umpire.

00:49:08He got in the way

00:49:09and he was to have

00:49:09double coverage on coach.

00:49:11There you go.

00:49:12There you go.

00:49:13Third and a short eight.

00:49:15Six minutes remain

00:49:16on the floor.

00:49:17I've come at him again.

00:49:20Glenn in motion

00:49:21with Sehorne tracking him.

00:49:23Bledsoe throws.

00:49:24Complet the glass.

00:49:26Thomas Randolph

00:49:28makes the tackle.

00:49:29Slows him down.

00:49:29Sehorne catches up

00:49:31at the 40.

00:49:3217 more yards

00:49:33for Glenn

00:49:34and now he has

00:49:3597 catches today.

00:49:3890 on the year.

00:49:39An NFL rookie record.

00:49:40111 yards.

00:49:42I'll tell you,

00:49:42look at what you see

00:49:43right there,

00:49:43Bledsoe,

00:49:44he's staying in now.

00:49:45He doesn't have happy feet.

00:49:46He's staying right

00:49:47in the pocket.

00:49:48He's going to take a shot.

00:49:49And that's just talent

00:49:50making that play

00:49:50by the quarterback

00:49:51and the receiver.

00:49:53Terry Glenn

00:49:53was doubled that time.

00:49:55Jason Sehorne behind.

00:49:57They had a safety in front,

00:49:58but they still make the play.

00:50:02With five minutes 15,

00:50:04it's Curtis Martin in the game.

00:50:06He gained only 10 yards

00:50:07and seven carries

00:50:08in the first half.

00:50:10Doesn't get much here

00:50:11as Robert Harris,

00:50:12the big defensive tackle,

00:50:13makes the start.

00:50:14Now that time,

00:50:15Bledsoe ran a toss,

00:50:16gave it to Martin

00:50:17and ran all the way over here

00:50:18to talk to Parcells.

00:50:20Martin lost a yard.

00:50:21He told Bill,

00:50:22I'm sure he said,

00:50:23I like this play.

00:50:25He's got a feeling

00:50:26about something,

00:50:26something,

00:50:27somebody in the field

00:50:27told him

00:50:28or just what he sees

00:50:29in the defense.

00:50:32Glenn,

00:50:33the man to watch,

00:50:34he's to the right.

00:50:35And Jefferson left,

00:50:36he's single covered.

00:50:38And they toss to Martin,

00:50:39it's a reverse to Glenn.

00:50:40Run well by the Giants.

00:50:44Very well.

00:50:45A loss back to the 43.

00:50:47Bradski and Agnew

00:50:48spoil the play.

00:50:50Chad Bradski,

00:50:51that guy right there,

00:50:52number 77,

00:50:54stay at home.

00:50:54He's got one job.

00:50:56If they're going away,

00:50:57I can't catch it.

00:50:58If they're coming my way,

00:50:59I'm going to get it.

00:50:59Watch what Bradski does.

00:51:00He reads it.

00:51:01Now look at him.

00:51:02Slide the outside.

00:51:03Bledsoe's the only guy

00:51:04going to block him

00:51:05and he's not going to block Bradski.

00:51:06Look at this play.

00:51:07That's outstanding.

00:51:08It's a good play

00:51:09and that's the play

00:51:10Drew Bledsoe said run

00:51:11because they ran the toss

00:51:12before he saw

00:51:14no backside pressure.

00:51:15So he told him that

00:51:16with the next play,

00:51:18there's always

00:51:18a different situation.

00:51:19Bradski celebrating

00:51:20a new two-year contract.

00:51:22Less than four minutes to go.

00:51:24Third and long.

00:51:2613 to go.

00:51:28Bledsoe under pressure.

00:51:29Throw.

00:51:30What a catch!

00:51:31Lying down

00:51:32with Troy Brown

00:51:33and caught the ball

00:51:35flat on his back.

00:51:37Oh, my.

00:51:38It's very close

00:51:40to a first down.

00:51:41So much for cold weather,

00:51:43Phil Simms.

00:51:43Oh, what a catch.

00:51:44The balls are supposed

00:51:45to be hard.

00:51:46The kickers can't kick it,

00:51:47but I'll tell you what,

00:51:48the catchers can catch it.

00:51:49That was a great catch.

00:51:52Marked at the 29-yard line.

00:51:55First down.

00:51:56A first down.

00:51:57Oh.

00:51:58What a clutch catch

00:52:00by Troy Brown.

00:52:02Used sparingly.

00:52:02Had only 14 receptions

00:52:04all year.

00:52:05Keeps the drive alive.

00:52:07Bledsoe for Jefferson,

00:52:09who was the fastest

00:52:10of the Patriot receivers,

00:52:12but a half step short

00:52:13of a touchdown.

00:52:14And what's happened

00:52:15to this defensive line

00:52:16to the Giants,

00:52:17and they've been out there

00:52:18a long time,

00:52:19they're just hand fighting now.

00:52:21Before, at the beginning

00:52:21of this game,

00:52:22the first quarter,

00:52:23second quarter,

00:52:23and then the third quarter,

00:52:24they were coming upfield.

00:52:25Now they're trying

00:52:26to get their hands

00:52:27on the offensive players,

00:52:28and they're kind of

00:52:28riding these guys around.

00:52:30But the offensive line

00:52:31to the Patriots

00:52:31have taken over.

00:52:3322-17.

00:52:36Two rival coaches

00:52:38with higher respect

00:52:39for one another.

00:52:40When you look at Drew Bledsoe,

00:52:41his number is really

00:52:42increasing in this second half.

00:52:44Over 200 yards passing.

00:52:46Second and 10.

00:52:47Ben Coates in motion.

00:52:49Giant show blitz.

00:52:51Bledsoe hits the young

00:52:53receiver Glenn again.

00:52:55And that'll be good

00:52:56for a first down

00:52:56at the 16-yard line.

00:52:58And 13 more yards.

00:53:00Bluton made the stop.

00:53:02Well, the Giants

00:53:03keep blitzing

00:53:03and the Patriots

00:53:04just keep picking it up.

00:53:05One thing about

00:53:06Bill Parcells' team,

00:53:08they're always going

00:53:08to be well-schooled

00:53:09in picking up blitzes.

00:53:11Keith Byers picks up

00:53:12the outside blitz

00:53:13by Corey Miller.

00:53:14And look at the lane

00:53:15that Drew Bledsoe has

00:53:16to throw the football in.

00:53:18The rule of all,

00:53:19Cratch and Roberts

00:53:20just opening a huge avenue.

00:53:222.35 left as Megan

00:53:25gets out of the tackle.

00:53:29Michael Strahan, however,

00:53:30slowed him down

00:53:31until help arrived.

00:53:32And Jesse Armstead

00:53:33makes the play for a loss.

00:53:35That's the play

00:53:35to run the ball down,

00:53:36to run the clock down

00:53:37to the two-minute ward.

00:53:38Now, they'll get

00:53:39another playoff before

00:53:40than they should.

00:53:41He's trying to,

00:53:42Drew Bledsoe sees the clock,

00:53:43trying to hustle

00:53:44the offense up.

00:53:45And, hey, we know

00:53:46it's four-down territory now,

00:53:47so you might as well

00:53:49take your time

00:53:50and make sure

00:53:51you run a proper play.

00:53:52Second and 12.

00:53:54Again, Colts in motion.

00:53:57And a fly down.

00:53:59No play.

00:54:00That usually means

00:54:01full start.

00:54:03Make it.

00:54:04Dave make it.

00:54:04That's right.

00:54:05Full start.

00:54:06Prior to the snap.

00:54:07Offense number 22.

00:54:09Five-yard penalty.

00:54:11Still second down.

00:54:13And that's at 2.01

00:54:14with one second

00:54:16before the two-minute warning.

00:54:17That may be a

00:54:18haste-makes-waste play.

00:54:19They were hurrying

00:54:20to get a play in.

00:54:23Not everyone set.

00:54:25So, five-yard penalty

00:54:28back to the 23.

00:54:30But, Dick,

00:54:30when you have a passing game

00:54:31like the New England Patriots

00:54:32have and you've got guys

00:54:33like Glenn to get downfield,

00:54:35you need as much space

00:54:36as you can.

00:54:37This penalty did not hurt them.

00:54:38Yeah, that's a good point,

00:54:39Paul, because it just gives

00:54:40them a little more room

00:54:41and maybe gives those

00:54:43receivers just enough

00:54:45to get in that hole

00:54:46to make a completion.

00:54:47Second down, 15.

00:54:49Bledsoe, it's tipped.

00:54:50Incomplete.

00:54:51Jesse Armstead,

00:54:52very close

00:54:54to the interception.

00:54:56And that's the two-minute timeout

00:54:57with 1.56 left.

00:55:00Patriots trying to rally

00:55:01to a big win.

00:55:02For those of you not with us,

00:55:07in the first quarter,

00:55:08Bledsoe trying to throw

00:55:09from his own end zone

00:55:10under pressure

00:55:11from Michael Strahan

00:55:12ruled that he threw

00:55:14this one away illegally,

00:55:15a penalty flag down,

00:55:17and a safety awarded.

00:55:18So, that accounts

00:55:19for the five-point difference.

00:55:21Otherwise, the Patriots

00:55:22would be in field goal range

00:55:24for a tie.

00:55:25Now, two plays,

00:55:26third and 17.

00:55:29Flag down, offside,

00:55:31Giants, Bledsoe,

00:55:32three!

00:55:33Team completed.

00:55:34Almost picked off

00:55:35by Jesse Campbell.

00:55:36No, Bledsoe threw that

00:55:38because he knew

00:55:38he had the free play.

00:55:40I mean,

00:55:40otherwise,

00:55:41he would never,

00:55:42never throw that ball.

00:55:44At least,

00:55:44I hope he would never

00:55:45throw it in that corner

00:55:45like that when there's

00:55:46three Giants sitting there.

00:55:47No, he knew he had them

00:55:48offsides,

00:55:49and he was looking

00:55:50in the end zone

00:55:50to make the big play.

00:55:51Offside,

00:55:53defense,

00:55:54number 92,

00:55:55five-yard penalty,

00:55:57still third down.

00:55:57While we were away,

00:55:58Phil,

00:55:58you made a comment

00:55:59these two plays

00:56:00are for a season.

00:56:02Oh, I think they are.

00:56:03I mean,

00:56:03to think that the Patriots,

00:56:04if they lose this game,

00:56:05can go home,

00:56:06win a wild card game,

00:56:08and go on the road

00:56:09for two and win,

00:56:10that's an awful

00:56:11tough scenario

00:56:11for a team

00:56:12that just can't come out

00:56:13and dominate you physically.

00:56:15Versus getting a bye week,

00:56:16and then you only have

00:56:17to win two games,

00:56:18one of them at home,

00:56:19to go to the Super Bowl.

00:56:20That's right.

00:56:21Well,

00:56:22these are the two plays,

00:56:23now third and 12,

00:56:25with Glenn in motion.

00:56:27And they throw back

00:56:27to Megan the other way.

00:56:29Megan,

00:56:29one of the stars

00:56:30for the Patriots,

00:56:31was smothered

00:56:31at the 13-yard line

00:56:33by Jason Sehorne.

00:56:35Sehorne,

00:56:36certainly a star

00:56:37for the Giants

00:56:37as an interception

00:56:39for a touchdown today.

00:56:40And New England,

00:56:41you take a timeout,

00:56:42even though you only have two.

00:56:43Take one now,

00:56:44go over to the sideline

00:56:45and decide on what

00:56:46you're going to do.

00:56:47It's fourth down.

00:56:48Bill is right there

00:56:50that time.

00:56:50The Patriots had somebody

00:56:53going in motion,

00:56:54and Drew Bledsoe

00:56:54forgot to send him across,

00:56:56and that guy was in way

00:56:57of the screen,

00:56:57and that's what

00:56:58Bill Parcells was talking about.

00:56:59Well, he had Glenn in motion,

00:57:01and when Glenn goes in motion,

00:57:02comes behind Bledsoe,

00:57:03nobody went with him.

00:57:06I mean,

00:57:06if they look at that

00:57:07from upstairs,

00:57:08there wasn't a soul,

00:57:09because it looked like

00:57:09it was going to be

00:57:10a reverse of some kind,

00:57:12and it didn't happen.

00:57:13When Glenn goes back,

00:57:14nobody went with him.

00:57:16They need to get

00:57:16to the six-yard line

00:57:18for a first down.

00:57:19The ball rests

00:57:20just inside the 14.

00:57:22Phil, here's what Glenn

00:57:26at number 88

00:57:27is in motion late,

00:57:28but he does get

00:57:29wide open,

00:57:29but they have the

00:57:30screen called,

00:57:31and Bledsoe's going.

00:57:31Once Glenn gets to the

00:57:32outside on the top,

00:57:33look at him.

00:57:34There's not a soul

00:57:34out there with him,

00:57:35but they had the screen

00:57:36called,

00:57:37and it was a good

00:57:37play called.

00:57:38He's just late,

00:57:39like you said.

00:57:40What a call.

00:57:41Fourth down and seven.

00:57:43Trailing by five

00:57:45at the 14.

00:57:4514.

00:57:4614.

00:57:4714.

00:57:4814.

00:57:4914.

00:57:5014.

00:57:5114.

00:57:5314.

00:57:53Let's go to Cope.

00:57:55Complete at the one.

00:57:57And Cope struggles.

00:57:59Did he make it?

00:58:00No signal yet now.

00:58:01Touchdown!

00:58:14The New England Patriots

00:58:16have rallied all the way

00:58:17back from a 22-0

00:58:19half-time deficit,

00:58:20and with a minute 23 seconds left have taken the lead for the first time 23 22 and now we'll go

00:58:30for two points so that a field goal would only tie them there's going to be a minute 23 and the

00:58:38giants have three timeouts but they have just really lost all momentum in the second half

00:58:43now for the two-point conversion and timeout called by the giants

00:58:53ben coats i'm sorry dick that's a critical timeout perhaps when you're trying to catch up with 123 left

00:59:02well ben coats the giants play zone he goes down the field and he just uses his big body pushes off

00:59:09conrad hamilton creates the hole and then drew bledsoe fires a strike sticks him right in the chest

00:59:16but this play was created by just the size of ben coats because really as you can see the two

00:59:23defenders he was doubled down there they were taking care of the inside receivers but his size

00:59:29created that that play for the new england patriots well when you saw that one that brasky knocked down

00:59:34of bledsoe's that time ben coats was the same exact same play he was wide open so they just went back to it

00:59:41bill parcells he was worried about this game he really wasn't he didn't want to come here he didn't want to play this game

00:59:48now we have the two-point conversion trial with buyers in motion

00:59:53let's go

00:59:55to the end zone and knocked away

00:59:59by maurice douglas the veteran safety so it remains a one-point game 23-21

01:00:06and the giants will have a chance yet to spoil the excuse me 23 22 a one-point game and a chance for

01:00:14the giants still to spoil the playoff plans of a bye week for the patriots and i agree with you dick i think

01:00:20that was a critical timeout that the giants took they had three timeouts with a minute 23 to go because

01:00:25when you're running a two-point play the clock doesn't run so they're going to have all of that time

01:00:29now they're down to two timeouts well but it was well worth it paul not to contradict your you know

01:00:37always to argue against you like that but it keeps it now field goal wins the game instead of tying it

01:00:43a minute 23 two timeouts trying to get in field goal position is enough that's plenty enough for a

01:00:48quarterback in an offense usually to move it 30 40 50 yards to kick a field goal what win there is

01:00:54the Giants will be against the Giants but remember they do have one of the strongest legged uh kickers in

01:00:59the league and uh del wiso who is connected this year longest of 46 but is uh hit from 54.

01:01:08can i get to the the point of this game where we always get to it and i don't like phil if new

01:01:13england do they go into prevent now and give them i mean you know here's a tough question that's not tough

01:01:20you keep going with what you've been doing in the second half you have to be aggressive on defense

01:01:26they've gotten back into this game because they they've confused the Giants stay after

01:01:36the Giants to the 36 yard line good field position as conrad hamilton returns the kickoff and uh

01:01:44then the terry is in on the tackle and that return almost ensures that the patriot defense now must

01:01:51be aggressive because they can't they can't play that give and uh that bend and don't break defense

01:01:56because well i feel positioned by the Giants they've got six defensive backs in the game

01:02:02now that tells me prevent

01:02:06giants the second half of punted five times and intercepted once

01:02:10and they've been three and out their last three possessions and uh giant fans know that feeling

01:02:16there have been too many of those this year

01:02:24excuse me dick i said six defensive backs how about seven defensive backs in the game

01:02:29look like ty law the second year corner there too soon that play took four seconds folks

01:02:36interference defense number 24 first down the whole tie violated the law

01:02:47to the 45. tie long chris calloway you could see that left hand wrapped around the side of chris

01:02:53calloway the officials never missed that call a nine-yard penalty

01:03:01shotgun which uh giants used today for the first time this season this throw

01:03:05not near the receiver as dossie went inside and brown threw outside phil you know they're in

01:03:10they're in some a little bit of a premium but i'm going to tell you one thing about when i see this

01:03:14you have seven defensive backs and when that whole thing opens up the middle is open they're going to

01:03:18give you the middle of the field and if brown would sense a couple of guys to the outside and just

01:03:24bring somebody over the middle of the field they're going to be open you know that jet job is still open

01:03:30i know it's opening up before right now i may take a jet job they have some pretty good personnel now

01:03:36brown has completed only one of his last nine throws

01:03:41in second and ten pressure comes brown steps up

01:03:47receivers will cover that time

01:03:51good defense that's what it was dick it's pressure by this patriot defense again and the receivers

01:03:57man coverage down the field the giants have struggled all year getting away from it

01:04:02now go the defensive coordinator called the signals i'm sure they'll stay with that type of defense

01:04:09well on fourth down drew bledsoe 13-yard touchdown to ben coats with uh all the plums sitting out there

01:04:17for the patriots and they've delivered now it comes to two plays for dave brown and the giants to stay

01:04:23alive for a field goal try third and ten slate comes in and brown steps away

01:04:31struggles out to the 48-yard line and the clock runs 54 53 seconds and a timeout called by the giants

01:04:41fourth down and about six and a half

01:04:45oh joe parcells can taste that bye

01:04:55well just as a diversion you folks stay with us as coming up next uh nbc sports presents the lexus

01:05:01challenge hosted by our friend raymond floyd lots of celebrities uh the likes of joe pesci and sean

01:05:07connery kevin costner ken griffey jr with the great names of golf olive palmer chi chi

01:05:13and our host raymond floyd coming up next here on nbc

01:05:19and stay with us for a post-game report guys back in our nbc uh studios nfl on nbc studios will have

01:05:28their comments on the game and uh well both bill parcells and dan reeves could have a lot to say after

01:05:35this game jim gray down there will corral them fourth down this would be it for the patriots

01:05:45brown searching searching

01:05:53a timing pattern callaway fairly well covered by ty law turned and the ball was there

01:05:5912 yards and a first down at the 40 and the giants still alive for a field goal he's good well he

01:06:06that's right paul you can't defend a perfect pass dave brown anticipated and he threw it

01:06:12right into the stomach of chris callaway they only need another 10 yards 45 seconds left

01:06:19safety blitz brown saw it coming throws it away

01:06:30well you know nine seconds i'm going to bring up something that you you talked about after looking

01:06:33at the films of the giants these guys can't get open i mean they got open in the first couple three

01:06:38quarters of this ball game but here there's man to man they ran a blitz i understand it brown rolls out

01:06:43there were three guys in the pattern and all three guys were covered well i know in the few passes that

01:06:48you've seen them complete paul it takes the perfect throw to get it in there and you know that's the

01:06:52one thing they like on offense is just that real big breakaway threat of course everybody would love

01:06:58to have a terry glenn but the giants just do not possess that type of player

01:07:04fairly rare day in terms of the win not strong wins very light wins brown tries to throw it away

01:07:11that'll cost the flag oh that was a very unwise choice by brown

01:07:16now he loses yardage as well as the down as jerome henderson came in on the blitz

01:07:24well the patriots keep coming with it with the pressure they got three down linemen

01:07:32and they bring two outside guys on the blitz and the giants are not ready for it don't pick it up and

01:07:37it causes dave brown to get sacked but then to throw the ball away too and lose yardage on the penalty

01:07:44have intentional grounding on the offense blossom down the third down at the spot

01:07:53look outside the two outside defenders on the screen coming the giants pick up one the one from the top

01:08:00comes free the offensive guard lance smith cannot get out in time to pick up the speed rusher so you

01:08:05lose the down and the yardage from where brown through the ball which would be no different than

01:08:11the sack the 25 seconds we will run 10 seconds off the clock due to the illegal forward pass bless you're

01:08:18behind well there's the big insult at all now they take 10 more seconds off the clock because of a penalty

01:08:25that's in the last two minutes 25 seconds show and the bill parcells can breathe a little easier clock

01:08:35starts to run another five seconds used before the snap brown steps up throws incomplete

01:08:44as it bounds away from thomas lewis that would have been right at the first down sticks oh that was the

01:08:51game i mean it puts him in field goal range everything that day was perfectly thrown oh dave brown creates it

01:08:57steps up gets out of trouble look at this throws it sidearm and look where this ball goes right in the

01:09:03middle of thomas lewis and he drops it he goes through his hands and hits him in the head

01:09:08fourth down and the first down would be a play inside the 30 of the patriots

01:09:23and the patriots call time here they want to be sure that they're set

01:09:2713 seconds left well they did not line up well that formation so that was a good job of the

01:09:33patriots calling a timeout

01:09:37patriots are out of timeouts and the giants still have one so if they do get the first down they

01:09:42have time and which would really put them in field goal range inside the 30 yard line they have time

01:09:47to stop the clock and then kick the field goal well usually in these situations third and long or

01:09:55now fourth and long the giants and dan reeves he loves to take the quarterback rolling out

01:10:00give him some extra time and let the receivers go down the field and make a couple moves to try to

01:10:05get open in a usually in a crease because you always think that a defense will play zone fourth and long

01:10:12and now let's look at the defensive part of it now when you do that you talk to your defensive players

01:10:15be patient don't try to do something you're not supposed to do just stay where you're supposed to

01:10:20stay good point 21 yards to go for a first down on fourth down anything less than that and the patriots

01:10:28have a very dramatic victory and very important one for their highest playoff hopes look at that the

01:10:36seven defensive backs are at the 40 yard line and deeper they're just waiting back just like having

01:10:41a picnic look at all these guys look to the right of your screen folks giants come out with a flood

01:10:46formation to the left and that would be the way that he would roll if phil simms is on the same page

01:10:53with reeves brown doesn't see the sack coming and he throws left hand and incomplete it doesn't matter

01:11:01and the patriots deserve to celebrate what a comeback for them chris slade with a sack

01:11:07well you saw that smile when it belonged to the giants and twice for super bowl championships bill

01:11:18parcells comes back if you weren't with us early he said i hate this game i hate coming back to this

01:11:25stadium where there's so many memories i i don't like the fact i have to win and beat people i like

01:11:29the giants you could really see it in his face at the start of the game and then to fall behind 22 nothing

01:11:35how dismal it looked at halftime and he was able to rally his patriots to a 23 22 win and his biggest

01:11:42concern of all though dick winning this football game going into a game where no matter what you

01:11:48tell your players are they emotionally and physically ready to play a team where they think and know that

01:11:54they're better than there it is the final play and the patriots for the first time since 1978 when it

01:12:01was grogan and sam bam cunningham and harold jackson and russ francis will have a playoff game at home

01:12:08and more importantly for parcells a bye to get ready next week dan reeves monday the announcement will come

01:12:17after four years no longer the head coach of the new york giants 149 wins and jim gray is with dan reeves

01:12:27all right thank you very much dick dan can you explain your emotion right now well disappointment

01:12:32i mean you blow a lead like that it's disappointment we had the opportunity to win the game you got to

01:12:37give them credit i mean they hung in there and came back and uh won it but tremendous disappointment

01:12:42when you blow a lead like that how difficult has this week been for you whole year it's been difficult

01:12:47not just a week about a whole year are you absolutely certain what the outcome of this meeting will be

01:12:51one day i have no idea would you like to continue coaching down i don't know i don't know okay dan

01:12:56thank you for your time dick thanks jim persistent and uh it's going to be a tough time when this is all

01:13:04assimilated for dan reeves but meanwhile for uh every depth the lows of this game there are highs and bill

01:13:12parcells experienced the full range today a painful first half and then a exhilarating climax for the

01:13:23new england patriot coach the patriots the champions of the afc east by then home in the playoffs the final

01:13:3023 22 for paul mcguire phil sims jim gray and all of us at mbc sports merry christmas happy holiday

01:13:38everyone this is dick enberg saying so long from the meadowlands we go to great gumbel in our nfl

01:13:43and nbc studios in new york all right dick thank you coming up on the post game report uh we'll be

01:13:51heading back to the meadowlands for interviews from the winning patriots we will look ahead to

01:13:56tomorrow's big slate of games that includes kansas city at buffalo the winner of that game

01:14:00claims a playoff spot there's lots ahead on the post game report right after these words from your local station

01:14:08the meadowlands

01:14:17hi everyone greg gumbel along with joe gibbs mike ditka chris collinsworth welcome back to our studio

01:14:23the patriots come back to win a thriller 23 to 22 that clinches the number two spot in the afc for new

01:14:29england and a first round by there are most definitely some unhappy pittsburgh steelers around

01:14:34and once again the meadowlands proves to be a terrible place to be if you're the home team the

01:14:39new york jets blow a 20 to 7 lead last week and the giants blow a lead today you said it's pretty

01:14:45significant that chris slade made that final tackle well here's a guy in chris slade and you talk about

01:14:49bill parcells the master motivator perhaps i don't know but earlier this year he put chris slade on the

01:14:54bench and really wanted to see him with a bit of a wake-up call and maybe today that entire defense

01:15:00eventually in the second half the way that they played in that first half to come out and shut out

01:15:04the giants in the second half that game give the offense a chance that was really the difference

01:15:08speaking of wake-up calls we speculated at halftime that bill parcells would be doing anything and

01:15:13everything he had to do in that locker room because the patriots had played so poorly in the first half

01:15:18yet the report we got from the meadowlands was that he was very cool and calm and quiet that surprised

01:15:22you i was surprised because you know knowing bill parcells he's normally explosive he's a little bit more

01:15:26like this guy sitting on my right you know what i mean and so i figured it was going to be an explosion

01:15:30although i will say this greg a coach has to have a certain feel he for some reason his own feelings

01:15:36about his team said hey that's not the approach to take and i think that that's the number one thing

01:15:41for a coach you got to have a feel when to get on them when to when to pick them up a little bit and

01:15:45i think that's the key thing that coach has to have parcells thought hey today wasn't the day to get on

01:15:49him see if parcells doesn't explode mike feels that gives coaches a bad name not necessarily but i i i think what

01:15:55he probably did was right but we don't know what he said in there we we only heard what he said he

01:15:59might have said more than we heard but i'll tell you one thing if new england plays the way they're

01:16:04playing right now in the playoff they will be out of there before you can say jack snap that's all

01:16:09i'm going to say they ran the ball today not totally ineffectively they had to come back with a passing

01:16:14game defensively in the first half they were beat up giants went reverted back to form and dave brown

01:16:20went back to form he did nothing in the second half okay one of the important players for the new

01:16:23england patriots today troy brown big catch in a big game for the patriots a few moments ago he talked

01:16:29with jim gray all right thank you very much greg i'm here with troy brown troy you had that incredible

01:16:35great catch down the stretch there you're laying on your back tell us about it i think we just had a

01:16:39plan where i had an end cut and terry going to draw the defense away from me and uh drew through the

01:16:44balls a little bit behind me and low and i just want to make that catch man because our whole season is

01:16:48riding on that man we want to get that by and i play in the playoffs and uh just take it on to the super

01:16:52bowl man down 22 to nothing at the half what did bill parcells say he told us at halftime he was

01:16:57pretty calm he didn't say anything didn't say anything not a word we just came out what'd you

01:17:02guys say amongst yourselves what sparked this comeback here well everybody was doing a lot of

01:17:06talking so you know we wanted everybody to just be quiet no talking and just get this thing over

01:17:10we'll come back come back out here and put some points up on the board man we know we can do it

01:17:14you know what kind of offense we have is very powerful man and uh we can put some points up there so

01:17:17we know we can come back enjoy this victory in the bye week all right thank you all right let's

01:17:21send it back to greg gumbel in our studio all right jim joe gibbs with one of the great lines of this

01:17:26season so much for halftime adjustments we'll take a time out here when we come back we'll have

01:17:31something to say about tomorrow's huge game between the kansas city chiefs and the buffalo bills

01:17:36we'll continue on the post game report in just a moment welcome back everyone we turn our attention

01:17:48now to tomorrow's action with several key games here on nbc the biggest of those kansas city at buffalo

01:17:54despite very good starts the chiefs eight and three the bills nine and three both teams are now

01:18:00nine and six the winner of this game clinches a wild card the loser in all probability is out of the

01:18:05playoffs our playoffs begin now we'll play the kansas city chiefs here at home rather play them here

01:18:14than there not that it assures you of anything but but uh the two toughest crowds to play against

01:18:20are um are in kansas city and pittsburgh they're tough and i challenge our fans to be as tough

01:18:27both teams find themselves in the same boat and that includes not having played well lately

01:18:31you can take all the stats and everything you want the bottom line is we've given up too much too

01:18:37many points and we haven't scored enough points so that's the problem now whether we solve it or not

01:18:42that that remains to be seen we'll answer it on sunday the health of jim kelly will be a factor and

01:18:47that hasn't gone unnoticed by the chiefs you know kelly uh this is a little banged up um you know he has real

01:18:55problems and um you know he's he's you can tell he's hurt he's not scrambling as much as he and he

01:19:00wants calm he wants to stay in the pocket and complete balls and i think that um it's you know

01:19:05it's costing them a lot of hits you know the quarterback they haven't been doing a very good

01:19:08job up front protecting them but yet you know if they get the running game they take a lot of pressure

01:19:12off of them we're at home and i'm sure that the stands are going to be packed so we can make

01:19:19the kansas city chiefs feel what they make us feel when we go to kansas city i mean i think

01:19:25that's only fair as bad as things have been the last few weeks i think if you win this week and get

01:19:30the playoffs uh i think it starts a whole new ball game i think you certainly forget anything that's

01:19:35happened prior to that because uh the slate's clean it starts over you lose you go home you know it's not

01:19:41unusual for us to talk about the fact that the quarterback position is the most important position on

01:19:46the field yet i find it amazing that not just one but both of these teams come into the biggest game

01:19:51of the season and they're both having quarterback troubles yeah they sure are but you know i think

01:19:55with the buffalo bills you've got a situation where jim kelly's had too much of the burden on him here

01:20:01lately when thurman thomas hurt that ankle that's when this offense really started to slip uh we saw

01:20:06jim kelly make a couple of drives in the ball game last week against the miami dolphins but this has

01:20:11never been a football team that that they want to win the game strictly throwing the football and

01:20:15thurman whether or not that ankle is healthy or not i think is the entire key of the game tomorrow

01:20:19okay kansas city at buffalo what's the most important aspect of this game i think one of

01:20:23the most important assets is home field advantage hey listen we were there we've been there for

01:20:27playoffs this guy right here almost got killed there when we went up to playoff before hey that

01:20:32it is snow people are mad and this is a crowd now if you if you want to see some psychology being played

01:20:37here marv levy you notice what he did right there and coaches have been known to do this he's calling on the

01:20:42crowd stirring things up i wouldn't be a bit surprised to see him on the sideline going hey

01:20:46let's get it up there let's get the tempo up and you used to do that at chicago marv would not do that

01:20:51he's not allowed to do that we don't allow that that that would be a coach showing emotion why will

01:20:56we have any coaches showing emotion that would be silly why tradition just stand out like a dummy huh

01:21:02well i want to bring up one point buffalo is minus nine in turnovers for the year that's the key to the

01:21:07football game forget the quarterbacks if they don't turn it over they win the football game if

01:21:11they turn it over they don't win the football games that's simple the man is a man of logic we'll

01:21:16take a time out and come back and wrap things up on the post game report in just a moment

01:21:28welcome back everyone the new england patriots rallied to beat the new york giants today 23 22 the big

01:21:33point in the game dave maggot's return of a punt for a touchdown a short while ago he talked with

01:21:37jim gray thank you very much greg dave maggot who broke the game open with that big punt return dave

01:21:43what was going on in that locker room with bill parcells afterward there's got to be some kind

01:21:47of relief based on going in 22 nothing at halftime oh absolutely you know the big guy you know actually

01:21:52almost shed a tear you know something well the second time i've seen a situation like that but you

01:21:56know he was just excited for you know for the guys that we were able to come back you know after being

01:22:01you know a deficit like that after being down at halftime you know giants were playing really well

01:22:05you know so it's just a great situation he just felt you know happy for the team that we had that kind

01:22:09of you know ability to be able to come back from deficit like that that emotional huh what did he

01:22:13say you know he just you know happy for the guys you know he just said this is definitely one of the

01:22:17best games he's been a part of you know he just you know just something that we have to build on but

01:22:21you know we just can't play like that during the playoffs enjoy the bye week thank you very much

01:22:25let's send it back to great gumbel in our studios all right jim gray this could really be a

01:22:29microcosm of what dan reeves tenure at the giants was all about today great coaching job and not

01:22:34enough talent to hold on to it well as in the quote in as a quote of a very wise man who once was fired

01:22:39he said and this too shall pass and dan this will pass and you'll find out one thing your golf game

01:22:46will get a hell of a lot better all right mike as we say so long we acknowledge the men and women

01:22:50here at nbc who worked so hard in bringing you today's broadcast the executive producer of nbc sports

01:23:03and the producer of today's patriots giants game is tommy roy the coordinating director of the nfl on

01:23:08nbc and the director of today's patriots giants game is john gonzalez the nfl on nbc is produced by

01:23:15ricky diamond and directed by john gill martin co-producer billy matthews our technical directors mitch

01:23:21gillard and barry spring

01:23:51gillard and barry ihnen

01:23:56so

01:23:59so

01:24:12so

New England Patriots at New York Giants - 2.Half ( 1996 Week 17 )

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