Last Updated on September 24, 2017 7:45 pm by admin
PHILADELPHIA (AP) Philadelphia kicker Jake Elliott ran over to coaches and begged for a chance to try the longest field goal in team history.
They said yes – and he nailed it.
Elliott kicked a 61-yarder as the clock expired to lift the Eagles to a 27-24 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday.
Carson Wentz tossed a 19-yard pass to Alshon Jeffery to set up Elliott’s kick, the longest game-winner in NFL history for a rookie and a franchise record. Elliott was a fifth-round pick by the Bengals and joined the Eagles after Caleb Sturgis was injured in Week 1. He was carried off the field by two teammates.
”I’m thankful I had the opportunity to try it,” Elliott said. ”I wanted it.”
Elliott missed from 52 yards earlier in the game and last week missed from 30 yards and shanked an extra point.
”It’s surreal, but it’s the life of a kicker,” Elliott said. ”You have ups and downs and you move onto next week.”
Eagles coach Doug Pederson conferred with special teams coach Dave Fipp before sending Elliott on the field.
”I had so much confidence in him,” Pederson said.
Giants quarterback Eli Manning threw three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, including a 77-yard score to Sterling Shepard, but Philadelphia (2-1) rallied twice.
”We have to play better football,” Manning said.
Elliott hit a 46-yard field goal to tie it with 51 seconds left after Aldrick Rosas kicked a 41-yarder to put the Giants ahead.
The Giants (0-3) hadn’t scored 20 points in eight straight games before Manning led them to 21 in a span of 5:21. He tossed TD passes of 10 yards and 4 yards to Odell Beckham Jr. to tie it at 14. Manning then connected over the middle to Shepard, who broke a couple tackles and sprinted all the way for a 21-14 lead.
But Philadelphia answered quickly.
A 36-yard penalty for pass interference on Eli Apple put the ball at the 15 and rookie Corey Clement ran in on the next play for his first career TD to make it 21-all.
Manning was 35 of 47 for 366 yards, three TDs and two interceptions.
Wentz was 21 of 31 for 176 yards, one TD and no picks.
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