Eli Manning, New York Giants embarrassed in blowout loss to Philadelphia Eagles

Eli Manning, New York Giants embarrassed in blowout loss to Philadelphia Eagles

Leonard Weaver gets the Eagles off and running with a 41-yard
touchdown run less than two minutes into the game.

PHILADELPHIA - For two weeks and two losses, the Giants kept insisting it was not time to panic.

So how about now?

This once powerful team hit what they can only hope is rock bottom Sunday, when the Giants were embarrassed by the Philadelphia Eagles, 40-17, at Lincoln Financial Field. For the second straight week, Eli Manning was inept, throwing two more interceptions, and for the second time in three weeks the Giants' defense was a disaster, giving up 391 total yards.

That's three-straight losses for the reeling and fading Giants who, just three weeks after getting off to a 5-0 start, are sitting in third place in the NFC East for the first time in two years.

The Giants (5-3) deserve that less than lofty place in the standings their absolutely dreadful performance against an Eagles team that was playing without Giant-killer Brian Westbrook (concussion). They were down 13-0 before anyone broke a sweat on the Giants offense. And as soon as they made it a game, closing to within 16-7 late in the first half, the Eagles turned it into a blowout before anyone could blink their eyes.

The start was particularly pathetic, considering how desperate the Giants should have been. On the third play from scrimmage, Leonard Weaver - the Eagles fullback - went almost untouched up the middle for a 41-yard touchdown putting the Eagles up 7-0. And three plays after that, Eagles corner Asante Samuel picked off Manning and returned it to the Giants' 10, setting up another easy touchdown.

And it could've been worse. Way worse. Manning may have only thrown one interception in the first quarter, but four of the first five passes he threw were touched first by Eagles receivers. S Quintin Mikell dropped two interceptions on his own.

Still, it was a game and the Giants were only down 16-0 late in the second quarter, when Manning jump-started a long drive with a 22-yard delay pass to tight end Kevin Boss, followed by a 35-yard pass down field to rookie receiver Hakeem Nicks. And when the drive ended with a pretty, turning, 18-yard touchdown catch by Boss, the Giants were only down 16-7 with just 1:54 left in the half.

That, though, proved to be way too much time. Eagles cornerback Ellis Hobbs returned the ensuing kickoff 39 yards to near midfield. And on the next play, Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson found a remarkably large seam between Giants corner Corey Webster and safety C.C. Brown and got wide open for a 54-yard touchdown pass from McNabb.

That put the Eagles (5-2) up 23-7, but they weren't done yet. Two plays in to the next drive, Manning again badly overthrew his intended receiver, this time missing Sinorice Moss and finding safety Quintin Demps. Two plays after that, McNabb hit rookie receiver Jeremy Maclin for a 23-yard touchdown with just 46 seconds left in the half.

Just like that, in 68 seconds, what was a nine-point game became a 30-7 Philly rout at halftime. And, again, it just kept getting worse. Domenik Hixon fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half, leading to a field goal that gave the Eagles a 33-7 lead. And then after the Giants showed some life with a third-quarter touchdown, LeSean McCoy killed them again with a 66-yard touchdown run that put Philadelphia up 40-17.