PHILADELPHIA — A brutally tight and typically tense affair was coming down to the wire, with Eli Manning putting the ball into the air at Lincoln Financial Field, his receivers making plays, flags getting thrown in favor of the Giants and the game-winning points a safe distance away from Lawrence Tynes’ reliable right foot.
It was all coming together, late heroics leading to a last-second victory until Manning threw one more pass, one more flag came flying and receiver Ramses Barden was caught as the culprit. That cost the Giants 10 yards and probably cost them the game, as Tynes’ 54-yard field goal attempted with just 15 seconds left dropped just short. And just like that the Giants lost 19-17 last night to the rival Eagles and — stop us if you’ve heard this one before — they are in a sticky situation in the NFC East.
“The pass interference was the worst thing that could have happened and it did happen,’’ Tom Coughlin said.
Yes, it did. Barden made a 31-yard catch to help set up the go-ahead touchdown for the Giants as Manning hit Bear Pascoe on a 6-yard scoring pass with 6:45 remaining to give the Giants their first lead, 17-16. The Giants defense could not hold back LeSean MCoy or Michael Vick as the Eagles marched 75 yards before stalling. Still, the Eagles forced the Giants to burn all their timeouts before Alex Henery hit a 26-yard field goal with 1:49 remaining to put the Eagles back on top.
Manning has been here before and he nearly did it again.
“We wanted it to fall on us as an offense and we feel if we get in those situations we’re going to go win the game,’’ Manning said. “Just didn’t quite finish our job.’’
Rookie David Wilson, a force on kickoff returns all game, got the ball out to the 35-yard line. Manning on a key fourth down hit Victor Cruz for 9 yards and then got a 21-yard pass interference call on Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie — who earlier in the fourth quarter intercepted Manning with the Giants on the doorstep of the end zone — when the cornerback mugged Barden. Another pass interference penalty, this one on Nnamdi Asomugha also against Barden, put the Giants on the Eagles’ 27-yard line. A run by Ahmad Bradshaw picked up just 1 yard, but the Giants were in position for a 44-yard field goal attempt.
That’s when Manning might have got greedy, looking for Barden again on the right sideline. Barden went up with Asomugha, a flag flew and this time it went against the Giants, as Barden clearly committed offensive pass interference.
“I tried to make a play on it, but must have gotten my arm on him,’’ Barden said.
“Looking back on it, I had the corner up top and I should have tried to throw it to Barden’s back shoulder,’’ Manning said.
With the ball moved back to the Philly 36, Manning couldn’t connect with Domenik Hixon and with 15 seconds left Coughlin had a decision: Try for one more play to make it an all more makeable field goal or else bring Tynes out for a 54-yarder. With no timeouts, any completion without going out of bounds would end the game.
“It’s a tough call,’’ Coughlin said. “It’s all a woulda, coulda, shoulda.’’
Tynes, who was 11-for-11 on field goals to that point this season, stuck his kick wide left but got a reprieve when Eagles coach Andy Reid called a timeout just before the kick. Tynes lined up again and this time hit it straight, but about a yard short as the Eagles rejoiced and several Giants collapsed on the field.
“Obviously they’re two different kicks, a 54-yarder into a little bit of a breeze is a little bit different than a 44-yarder,’’ Tynes said. “It’s a tough kick, a kick I can make, a kick I’ve made in my career to win a game before. To not come through is unfortunate.’’
The Eagles at 3-1 took over first place in the NFC East while the Giants fell to 2-2 and, more damagingly, are now 0-2 in the division.
“We’re not going home and hanging our heads about this,’’ Justin Tuck said, “but obviously you’re sick about it.’’
The Eagles have now won eight of their last nine games against the Giants, a dominance dating to 2008. The Eagles were a turnover machine in their first three games, committing 12 of them, but they held on to the ball against the Giants, who did not force a single turnover.
“Here’s a team with 12 turnovers and we didn’t get one,’’ Coughlin said.
paul.schwartz@nypost.com