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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 11:40 a.m., Sunday, December 23, 2007

NFL: Giants beat Bills, 38-31, clinch playoff berth

By JOHN WAWROW
AP Sports Writer

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The New York Giants clinched a playoff berth today, overcoming a Bills team inspired by Kevin Everett's return to the field where he was injured.

Brandon Jacobs scored twice as the usually pass-happy Giants leaned heavily on their running attack in a 38-21 win. Kawika Mitchell's 20-yard interception return produced the go-ahead points and sparked a three-touchdown fourth-quarter rally.

The Giants (10-5), who reached the playoffs for a third straight season, fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter, as the Bills came out fired up after Everett addressed the team before the game. It was the tight end's first appearance in Buffalo since he sustained a serious spinal cord injury in the Bills' season opener Sept. 9.

Everett, who is now walking on his own, watched the ugly and sloppy game from a suite near midfield.

The Giants also withstood their own sloppiness. Eli Manning fumbled five times, losing two of them, and threw two interceptions, in a game played under harsh conditions. Winds gusted over 30 miles an hour, and the players were pelted by a persistent rain that turned into snow in the fourth quarter.

The Bills (7-8), eliminated from playoff contention following an 8-0 loss at Cleveland, mustered little response after the strong first quarter. They committed four turnovers, including three Trent Edwards interceptions.

New York won its seventh straight road game, a franchise single-season record, and avoided a potential must-win finale against the New England Patriots next weekend.