Giants, Chargers advance in playoffs

TAMPA, Florida: Eli Manning threw three touchdown passes on Sunday to lead the New York Giants past Tampa Bay 24-14 and into a second-round National Football League playoff matchup next week at Dallas.

The playoff triumph was the first in three attempts for Manning, the younger brother of Super Bowl champion Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning, and the first for the Giants in seven years.

"It's a great feeling after our third year in a row in the playoffs and not getting past the first round," Manning said.

Philip Rivers threw for 292 yards and a touchdown to spark San Diego past Tennessee 17-6, as the Chargers also moved into the second round of the playoffs.

The Chargers, who went 11-5 this season, will travel to Indianapolis next Sunday to face the Colts, who were 13-3. The Chargers defeated Indianapolis 23-21 earlier this season.

New England will face Jacksonville on Saturday in the other AFC second-round matchup.

Manning marched the Giants 92 yards in a drive lasting eight minutes and 37 seconds that led to his 4-yard touchdown pass to Amani Toomer to give the Giants a 24-7 lead with 8:03 remaining.

Manning completed 20-of-27 passes for 185 yards against the NFL's leading pass defense.

"Everybody worked well," Manning said. "We did a good job with the short passing game. Receivers getting open. Guys stepped up and made big plays in big situations and that's how we got the win."

Tampa Bay answered when Jeff Garcia, who had already beaten the Giants while leading San Francisco and Philadelphia in past years, threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Alex Smith with 3:25 to play to produce the final margin.

New York's R.W. McQuarters intercepted Garcia with 1:53 remaining and the Giants ran all but the last seven seconds off the clock after that to seal the victory.

The Giants will face NFC East divisional rivals Dallas next Sunday for a berth in the NFC finals on January 20. The Cowboys would host that game if they beat the Giants, who cannot host a playoff game.

"We're going to be ready. We're fired up to be going to Dallas," Manning said.

Seattle will visit Green Bay next Saturday in the other NFC second-round matchup.

Manning connected with Brandon Jacobs on touchdown passes of six and eight yards in the second quarter to give New York a 14-7 lead after Tampa Bay began the scoring on Earnest Graham's 1-yard touchdown run 13:11 into the game.

Lawrence Tynes kicked a 25-yard field goal 5:04 into the third quarter to give the Giants a 17-7 lead.

Rivers, who completed 19-of-30 passes, threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Vincent Jackson to give the Chargers their first lead of the game at 10-6 with 2:35 to play in the third quarter.

"We were able to make some big plays down the field," Rivers said. "We have that type of big-play ability, and we're probably going to need it the rest of the way."

Tennessee's Rob Bironas missed a 38-yard field-goal attempt early in the fourth quarter, the Titans coming away empty on a key drive.

San Diego took over and marched within inches of the Titans' goal line, setting up a critical fourth-down play with 8:49 remaining.

A diving LaDainian Tomlinson was stopped on his first surge into the line, but stretched his arms forward and reached the ball across the goal line for the pivotal touchdown that put the Chargers ahead 17-6 with 8:45 remaining.

"(Tennessee) did a really good job of preparing for what we do best," Tomlinson said.

"We didn't get frustrated at all. On this level, when you get into the playoffs, you can't just expect to run the ball up and down the field on people. These guys are in the playoffs for a reason, and they're going to take away what you do well."

An interception ended Tennessee's final possession as the Chargers took over and ran out the clock.

AFP

(China Daily 01/08/2008 page24)