Giants Extend Lead In NFC East Race

Giants 36, Eagles 31

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 9 -- The New York Giants continued to keep the drama out of the NFC East race. They remained comfortably atop the division that could be football's best by coming here and controlling the game practically from start to finish on their way to a 36-31 triumph over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night at Lincoln Financial Field.

The defending Super Bowl champions improved their record to 8-1 and increased their lead over the second-place Washington Redskins, who were idle this weekend and are 6-3, to two games. The Eagles dropped into a third-place tie with the Dallas Cowboys, also off this weekend, with identical 5-4 records.

The Giants are 3-0 in NFC East play. Quarterback Eli Manning threw a pair of first-half touchdown passes, and tailback Brandon Jacobs ran for two second-half touchdowns. The Giants got three field goals by veteran kicker John Carney and even got a trio of important instant replay reviews to go their way.

"We didn't play the game we wanted to play," wide receiver Amani Toomer said. "We needed every play we made. But any time you can get a win on the road, especially in this place, you can't really complain."

Jacobs had 126 of the Giants' 219 rushing yards. His second touchdown gave the Giants a 36-24 lead with 9 1/2 minutes to play. The Eagles got to within 36-31 with 5 1/2 minutes left on a two-yard, fourth-down touchdown pass from quarterback Donovan McNabb to wide receiver Kevin Curtis. It was McNabb's third touchdown pass of the night. He'd given the Eagles a third-quarter lead with a touchdown throw to wideout Hank Baskett.

The Eagles got the ball back, but tailback Brian Westbrook was stopped shy of a first down on a fourth-and-one carry with 1:47 to go.

"We had some big drives," Manning said. "We ran the ball tremendously. . . . We've always been a pretty good team when we're down. When we're behind, we're good at making stuff happen. It's a good thing to have."

The Giants dominated play in the first half and seemed, at times, on the verge of turning the game into a lopsided affair. But their mistakes kept them from doing that. Manning gave the Eagles an early touchdown with a tipped-ball interception. And Jacobs, with the Giants leading 17-7, lost a fumble to set up the Eagles' second touchdown. Instead of a one-sided game at the half, the Giants led 20-17.

Manning threw first-half touchdown passes to wide receiver Plaxico Burress and tight end Kevin Boss. The Eagles got first-half touchdowns on rookie wide receiver DeSean Jackson's run on a direct snap, and McNabb's pass to wideout Jason Avant.

"I know how good we are," Eagles Coach Andy Reid said. "I know what we should be doing. We're a good enough football team to win all these games. We've just got to take care of a couple things."

The Eagles had the early lead. Manning's pass on the Giants' opening possession was batted into the air by Mike Patterson, then intercepted by the Philadelphia defensive tackle. He rumbled 21 yards before being dragged down at the 9-yard line by Jacobs.

After a first-down incompletion by McNabb, Jackson lined up at quarterback and took a direct snap. He raced right, got to the sideline and dove into the end zone.