The New York Giants advanced to a divisional round meeting with the Green Bay Packers with a dominating 24-2 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in an NFC Wild-Card Playoff game Sunday at MetLife Stadium. The Giants and Packers will meet Sunday, Jan. 15 at 4:30 p.m. ET (FOX) at Lambeau Field.
The Giants trailed, 2-0, after a second-quarter safety. From there, however, New York was dominant. The Giants took the lead with 2:55 left in the first half on a four-yard pass from Eli Manning to Hakeem Nicks. The play completed a 13-play, 85-yard drive that took 7:32.
New York controlled the game in the second half, scoring on a 22-yard field goal by Lawrence Tynes, a 72-yard catch-and-run by Hakeem Nicks and a 27-yard pass from Eli Manning to Mario Manningham.
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Manning completed 23-of-32 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns for the NFC East Giants, compiling a passer rating of 129.3. Nicks caught six passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns, and Mario Manningham had four catches for 68 yards and one score.
The Giants had their best day of the season running the football. After finishing last in the league in rushing during the regular season the Giants compiled a season-high 172 yards rushing on 31 attempts, an average of 5.5 yards per carry. Brandon Jacobs ran for 92 yards on 14 carries and had a season-best 34-yard run. Ahmad Bradsahw had 63 yards on 14 carries, including a 30-yard run.
New York was also impressive on defense, holding Atlanta to 247 yards total offense. The Giants twice stopped the Falcons on fourth down and less than a yard, and held Atlanta to one-for-five on third- or fourth-down and two yards or less during the game.
Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan went 24-for-41 for 119 yards. The Falcons are now 0-3 in playoff games with Ryan at quarterback. Michael Turner, who ran for more than 1,300 yards during the regular season, was held to 41 yards in 15 carries.