OFFENSE
No touchdowns, no red-zone efficiency but also no turnovers, which made all the difference. Eli Manning (25-of-38, 246 yards) got the ball out quickly. Peyton Hillis (20 rushes, 70 yards) kept the chains moving and Victor Cruz (7 catches, 86 yards) and Hakeem Nicks (7-51) played ball control. Line was solid protecting Eli. But no TDs.
B-minus
DEFENSE
Eagles were held to 201 total yards and no points on offense and longest run for LeSean McCoy (15 rushes, 48 yards) was nine yards. Evident right away Michael Vick (hamstring) couldn’t move and rookie Matt Barkley wasn’t ready. Four — count ‘em — four sacks and 11 tackles for Terrell Thomas plus another INT for Antrel Rolle.
A-plus
SPECIAL TEAMS
Everything was going fine until Zak DeOssie sailed the snap over the head of Steve Weatherford to give the Birds their only points. Very uncharacteristic of DeOssie. Josh Brown accounted for all the points with career-best five field goals. Weatherford in the third quarter had a spectacular sequence, hitting a 56-yard punt out of bounds at the 5-yard line and following that up with a 68-yarder DeSean Jackson fumbled out of bounds on the 3-yard line.
B
COACHING
Um, that Chip Kelly revolutionary offense was ground to a halt by Perry Fewell’s resurgent defense. Kevin Gilbride smartly kept things more conservative to limit turnovers. Hard to believe, but Tom Coughlin has held this team together after 0-6 start.
A