Philadelphia Eagles vs New York Giants Match Player Stats On Jan 03, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Jan 3, 2016

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Walter Thurmond returned an interception 83 yards for a touchdown in a 35-30 win over rival New York in what could have been Giants coach Tom Coughlin's final game.

The Eagles held the lead until midway through the third quarter when the Giants, who converted two Eagles turnovers into 14 points, took a 27-21 lead on a forced fumble by linebacker Jasper Brinkley. Giants quarterback Eli Manning threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to receiver Rueben Randle to increase the lead to six.

The Eagles jumped out to a 14-6 lead on a 54-yard, opening drive touchdown run by running back DeMarco Murray and a 6-yard score by running back Darren Sproles, the latter of which was set up by a 60-yard pass completion from Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford to tight end Zach Ertz.

Manning capitalized after Giants linebacker Jonathan Casillas' interception when he found rookie tight end Will Tye for a 9-yard score to close the Eagles' lead to 14-13.

Manning was 24 of 43 for 302 yards and two touchdowns. Rashad Jennings rushed for 170 yards on 27 carries for the Giants.

Bradford connecting on a 4-yard score to receiver Jordan Matthews on the first of his two scores of the day, and the Giants with a 2-yard touchdown run by Jennings.

Thurmond fought Giants running back Shane Vereen for the ball and took it to the house for the Pick-6 and the 28-27 lead.

Bradford and the Eagles extended their lead in the fourth quarter by chewing six minutes, 12 seconds off the clock on a 13-play drive ending in a 3-yard catch by Matthews, his second score of the day, to give the Eagles a 35-27 lead prior to Giants kicker Josh Brown's third field goal of the day, this from 48-yard field goal, to make it a 35-30 game.

By finishing in second place in the NFC East, the Eagles will avoid having to face the Rams next season in London. Instead, the Giants draw that assignment.

NOTES: Eagles QB Sam Bradford, who finished with 320 passing yards in this game, has topped the 3,500 mark for the third time in his career. Bradford, completing his first season with the Eagles after being acquired by trade last year, previously threw for more than 3,500 as a member of the St. Louis Rams in 2010 (3,512 yards) and 2012 (3,702 yards). … Eagles RB DeMarco Murray's 69 yards on 12 carries snapped a three-game streak in which he had run for 100 or more yards against the Giants. … Giants QB Eli Manning, who turned 35 Sunday, finished with 35 touchdown passes, one shy of the franchise single season record set by Y.A. Title (36) in 1963.