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Giants Lead Falcons 21-10 in 2nd Quarter

Posted on: Monday, 15 October 2007, 21:00 CDT

By CHARLES ODUM

ATLANTA - Eli Manning took advantage of an early Atlanta penalty to complete a 5-yard touchdown pass to Amani Toomer and added a 43-yard scoring pass to Plaxico Burress to give the New York Giants a 21-10 lead over the Falcons in the second quarter on Monday night.

Reuben Droughns also scored on a 1-yard run for the Giants.

The drive capped by Toomer's touchdown catch was kept alive when Falcons linebacker Demorrio Williams plowed into Giants punter Jeff Feagles for a roughing penalty.

That gave the Giants a first down at the Atlanta 48, and Manning completed passes of 15 yards to Plaxico Burress, 10 yards to Toomer and 10 yards to Jeremy Shockey before completing the 5-yard scoring pass to Toomer.

With New York leading 7-3, Jerious Norwood beat Giants rookie cornerback Aaron Ross with a cut near the Falcons' sideline. Norwood then outran the New York defense as he crossed the field with the help of a block by rookie receiver Laurent Robinson.

The 67-yard TD run gave Norwood more yards rushing than any Falcons back managed in any of the team's first five games. Norwood, who plays behind Warrick Dunn, did not rush for more than 33 yards in the first five games.

New York answered quickly with an 82-yard touchdown drive as Manning completed passes of 21 yards to Shockey and 17 yards to Toomer, who beat Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall at the 1. Droughns scored on the following play.

Amid much speculation about the ability of the Falcons' patchwork offensive line to combat the Giants' pass rush, Atlanta quarterback Joey Harrington opened with quick, short passes on the opening drive.

Harrington completed three straight passes, two to Roddy White and a 15-yarder to Joe Horn before the drive stalled at the New York 29. Morten Andersen's 42-yard field goal barely cleared the cross bar.

The kick was the 47-year-old Andersen's longest since 2004, when he was good from 48 yards for Minnesota.

Andersen signed with Atlanta on Sept. 17, one day after Matt Prater missed two field goals in a loss to Jacksonville.

The Falcons stopped the Giants on three plays on New York's first possession, but Williams

Source: Associated Press/AP Online

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