Giants run over Panthers, clinch No. 1 seed
December 22
Charlotte Observer
"Some ultra-hyped games fall flat, but Carolina and the New York Giants had a monster-sized bash Sunday night in the Meadowlands that more than lived up to its billing.
There was drama aplenty, with long runs, hard hits, comebacks by both teams and, ultimately, overtime in one of the most important NFL regular season matchups in many years.
The stakes hardly could have been higher: The No. 1 seed in the NFC and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs awaited the winner, a scenario that last happened 15 years ago when Dallas beat the Giants in overtime at Giants Stadium, where Sunday's game was held. The Panthers came oh so close to matching that Cowboys' accomplishment.
Carolina led by 8 points midway through the fourth period and had a field goal attempt to win in the final seconds of regulation, but couldn't put away the defending Super Bowl champions.
The Giants won 34-28 in overtime on Brandon Jacobs' 2-yard touchdown, which completed an 87-yard drive and clinched the top seed for New York (12-3).
If the Panthers (11-4) want to reach their Super Bowl dream, they very well might have to have a return to Giants stadium for a rematch. With the loss, there's a chance Carolina could slip all the way to a wild-card berth.
The Panthers need either to win at New Orleans next week or for 10-5 Atlanta to suffer an upset loss at home to the 3-12 St. Louis Rams.
"We're in the playoffs," said coach John Fox. "That was the goal for the season. The team that won it a year ago (the Giants) wasn't the first season. It hasn't been that way for a while. So the playoffs were a priority. Tonight wasn't meant to be."
As much as Carolina wanted to have homefield advantage throughout the playoffs, Fox has a point."
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