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Giants rally in fourth to edge Bears

Dec 3, 2007 - 3:43 AM By Dennis Sheehan & Bill Marquard PA SportsTicker Contributing Writers

CHICAGO (Ticker) - Eli Manning and the New York Giants rallied with a fourth-quarter comeback to deliver a blow to the fading playoff hopes of the Chicago Bears.

Manning threw a TD pass in the fourth and was instrumental on another Giant scoring drive as New York rallied for a 21-16 victory over the Bears at a rain-soaked Soldier Field.

With New York down 16-7 midway through the fourth quarter, the Giants drove 75 yards on 11 plays, scoring on a six-yard touchdown pass from Manning to Amani Toomer. Toomer's diving catch was originally ruled incomplete, but a successful Giants challenge gave New York the TD.

"We ran the ball so effectively in the first half that it set up the passing game in the second half," Toomer said.

After the Bears were quickly forced to punt, Manning went to work again. Despite a lackluster first half (5 for 9 for 54 yards), Manning was 11-for-18 for 141 yards in the final two quarters, including 4-for-4 for 62 yards on New York's final possession.

That drive was keyed by a 24-yard pass from Manning to David Tyree.

"The offensive line did a great job of giving me time to get that key pass to Tyree," Manning said.

Reuben Droughns capped the drive with a 1-yard TD plunge to give the Giants (8-4) a 21-16 lead with 1:33 to play.

Chicago was able to move into New York territory and ran their final play form the Giants 28, but Rex Grossman's pass into the end zone as time expired was knocked down by safety James Butler.

Manning, coming off a four-interception performance last week, had to overcome three turnovers this week two interceptions and a fumble. Manning tossed a pick to Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher to stall what had been a 31-yard opening drive.

Manning's pre-game preparation was not affected by his performance last week and Giants coach Tom Coughlin believed Manning was unaffected by the opening interception as he walked off the field.

"He was very, very cool, looking forward not back," Coughlin said.

"I didn't treat it any differently. You have to be able to forget and move on," Manning said.

Grossman responded to the first Manning turnover by engineering a quick strike drive, completing all five of his passes for 65 yards, including three to tight end Desmond Clark for 25 yards. The drive, which featured a no-huddle offense, was capped by a 1-yard pass to a wide-open Clark in the end zone.

Grossman completed his first eight passes of the game, and finished the first half 17 of 26 for 218 yards.

Momentum shifted quickly early in the second quarter when Bear's speedster Devin Hester beat Giants safeties James Butler and Craig Dahl, but dropped a certain 81-yard touchdown pass from Grossman at the 30.

A five-yard penalty and 13-yard sack of Grossman pinned Bears punter Brad Maynard against the back of his own end zone. His punt was tipped by Tyree, setting up the Giants with great field position on the Bears 32.

Derrick Ward galloped 31 yards on the first play to the Bears one. The Bears defense held on two Reuben Droughns rushes up the middle before Ward capped the drive with a two-yard jaunt.

Robbie Gould kicked a pair of field goals in the second quarter and added another in the third to give Chicago (5-7) a 16-7 lead.

Three of the Bear's four scoring drives were marked by a no huddle offense, including the half-ending two-minute drill. Asked why the Bears didn't continue the no huddle in the second half, Grossman described it as a "coaching decision."

Grossman now seems resigned to missing the playoffs after the Bears were unable to take advantage of a plus-four turnover ratio in the game.

"We don't control our destiny," he said. "Had we won out, we'd be in the playoffs."

"Normally, when you win the turnover ratio, you win the game," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "You have to be able to capitalize and we didn't."

The Giants neutralized Hester, who is fourth on the all-time NFL kick return touchdown list in only his second season. He managed only 16 yards on three punt returns, one 19-yard kickoff return, and had one rush and one pass for a total of minus-three yards.

"One really good thing was we kept the ball from number 23," Coughlin said. "He did not hurt us."

Giants defensive stalwart Michael Strahan had one of New York's six sacks of Grossman, extending his career sack total to 141.5, which is top among active players.

Strahan was pleased with how Manning overcame his three turnovers.

"You want a quarterback who is fearless and he is," Strahan said. "We are looking forward to the afterlife of the post-season."

Toomer put the Giants win in perspective.

"I think it's huge for our psyche, this team, this organization," Toomer said. "Hopefully, we can use this win as a springboard, get some confidence, and keep going into the playoffs."