WASHINGTON (AFP) –
Mark Barron and Brandon McDonald of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers converge on Hakeem Nicks of the New York Giants during a game at MetLife Stadium on September 16, 2012 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. New York Giants rallied for a 41-34 NFL victory over Tampa Bay
Andre Brown ran two yards for a touchdown with 31 seconds to play as quarterback Eli Manning and the New York Giants rallied for a 41-34 NFL victory over Tampa Bay.
With the dramatic victory, the reigning Super Bowl champion bounced back from a season-opening loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Manning, bedevilled by three first-half interceptions, atoned with two of his three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter. His 510 passing yards were a career high and just three yards shy of the club record of 513 set by Phil Sims in 1985.
Brown carried the ball 13 times for 71 yards and a touchdown. Victor Cruz caught 11 passes for 179 yards and a TD and Manning connected with Hakeem Nicks 10 times for 199 yards and a score.
“No one wants to start 0-2, even though we’ve done that before and made a run and got into the playoffs,” Manning said. “It’s a big win, especially with the first half, playing poorly and last week not playing well.
Andre Brown #35 of the New York Giants holds off Mark Barron #24 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during a game at MetLife Stadium on September 16, 2012 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Brown ran two yards for a touchdown with 31 seconds to play
“We’ve got to get back to that level of playing good football, and the second half was really good — no fumbles, no turnovers, we did some things better obviously, made some big-time plays and stepped up when we needed.”
The Giants were trailing 27-13 early in the third quarter when Lawrence Tynes’ field goal got the rally rolling.
New York scored 21 straight points to take a 34-27 lead with 3:59 remaining.
Tampa Bay responded with a touchdown as Mike Williams caught a 41-yard pass in the left side of the end zone to knot the score.
But Manning and the Giants had the answer. Nicks caught a 50-yard pass down the right sideline to put the Giants in scoring position.
Brown followed with a nine-yard run and reached the end zone for his first career touchdown on the next play.
The game ended on an acrimonious note after Bucs coach Greg Schiano instructed his defensive players to go hard against the Giants as Manning knelt down to let the clock tick down on the final play.
Head coach Greg Schiano of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers talks with Josh Freeman #5 and Dan Orlovsky #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth quarter against the New York Giants on September 16, 2012 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The move irked Giants coach Tom Coughlin, who confronted Schiano after the game while Manning called it “a little bit of a cheap shot”.
“We taking a knee, in a friendly way. They are firing off, and it’s a way to get someone hurt,” Manning said.
While the Giants were back in the winner’s circle, the New England Patriots and superstar quarterback Tom Brady were shocked 20-18 by the visiting Arizona Cardinals.
By his standards Brady had a tough day. He was intercepted on New England’s first offensive play and sacked four times.
Brady completed 28 of 46 passes for 316 yards and extended his streak to 34 games with at least one touchdown pass. That’s the fourth-best such streak in NFL history, but it proved too little when Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed a 42-yard field goal attempt with one second remaining.
The Patriots had not lost a home opener since moving into their current Gillette Stadium in 2002.
Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots is taken down by Quentin Groves #54 of the Arizona Cardinals in the second half at Gillette Stadium on September 16, 2012 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriots were shocked 20-18 by the visiting Cardinals.
“Nobody gave us a chance,” said Cardinals Coach Ken Whisenhunt. “But our guys believed they could do it, and it’s great to see them operate that way.”
In Indianapolis, Adam Vinatieri kicked a game-winning field goal with eight seconds left as the Colts edged the Minnesota Vikings 23-20.
It was a first NFL victory for Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who was taken with the first pick in the NFL draft to succeed four-time NFL Most Valuable Player Peyton Manning.
Ryan Tannehill also notched his first win as an NFL quarterback, throwing for 200 yards with his first touchdown to help Miami to a 35-13 victory over Oakland.
In other games, Carolina defeated New Orleans 35-27, handing the Saints their first 0-2 start to a season since 2007. Philadelphia quarterback Michael Vick dived across the line for a touchdown with 1:55 to play to lift the Eagles to a 24-23 victory over Baltimore.
Buffalo bounced back from a tough opening defeat to the New York Jets with a 35-17 victory over Kansas City. Cincinnati defeated Cleveland 34-27 in an Ohio derby, Houston beat Jacksonville 27-7, St. Louis edged Washington 31-28, Seattle thumped Dallas 27-7, Pittsburgh beat the New York Jets 27-10, San Diego defeated Tennessee 38-10 and San Francisco beat Detroit 27-19.
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