Posted at 10:33 a.m., Sunday, October 7, 2007
NFL: Rookie Ross' 2 INT's helps Giants rally past Jets
Associated Press
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Last week, it was a sack extravaganza. This time, the New York Giants' defense did it with interceptions.
Rookie Aaron Ross returned the second of his first two NFL interceptions 43 yards with just over 3 minutes remaining to seal a 35-24 victory over the Jets today in the latest Battle of New York.
A week after getting 12 sacks against Philadelphia, the Giants only had one — by Osi Umenyiora with less than 3 minutes left — but intercepted Chad Pennington three times. The last was the most costly as the Jets were driving for a potential go-ahead score.
Pennington, who had good protection by the offensive line all game, threw a pass to Jerricho Cotchery but Ross stepped in front of it and took off down the left sideline and into the end zone with the partisan Giants fans on their feet screaming. After trailing by 10 at halftime, the Giants (3-2) took over in the second half and beat the Jets (1-4) for the seventh time in 11 all-time meetings.
Eli Manning recovered from a miserable opening half to finish 13-of-25 for 186 yards and touchdown passes to Plaxico Burress and Jeremy Shockey, and one interception. Brandon Jacobs had 100 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries in his first game since spraining a knee in the season opener.
