2009 New York Giants season The 2009 New York Giants season was the 85th season for the team in the National Football League . It was the team ' s final season in Giants Stadium ; In 2010 , the Giants will move into Meadowlands Stadium . The Giants hoped to improve upon their 12 – 4 record , avenge their divisional round loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and make the playoffs for the fifth straight year . Despite starting 5 – 0 to begin the season , they went 3 – 8 in their next 11 games and finished 3rd in the NFC East . They were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 16 . They played teams from the NFC South and AFC West as per the schedule rotation , as well as their regular games with their NFC East rivals . For head coach Tom Coughlin , this was his 6th season as the coach of the Giants . Players . Movement . The Giants signed free - agent defensive end Chris Canty , formerly of the Dallas Cowboys , on March 1 , 2009 . Canty moved to defensive tackle in the Giants ' 4 - 3 scheme . On April 3 , 2009 , the Giants released WR Plaxico Burress . 2009 NFL Draft . After finishing the 2008 season with a 12 – 4 record , the Giants held the 29th selection in the 2009 NFL Draft . With the pick they closed the gap left by Plaxico Burress in the roster , selecting wide receiver Hakeem Nicks of North Carolina . Then in the second round , they selected linebacker Clint Sintim of Virginia with the 45th pick and offensive tackle William Beatty of Connecticut with the 60th pick . Early in the second day of the draft , the Giants traded picks 91 of Round 3 and 164 of Round 5 to Philadelphia Eagles for their pick 85 of Round 3 . With this pick the Giants selected another wide receiver , Ramses Barden of Cal Poly . In the same round they selected tight end Travis Beckum of Wisconsin with the 100th pick of the draft . In the following rounds they selected running back Andre Brown of North Carolina State with the 129th pick in fourth round , quarterback Rhett Bomar of Sam Houston State with the 151st pick in the fifth round , defensive back DeAndre Wright of New Mexico with the 200th pick in the sixth round and with their final pick in the seventh round they selected another defensive back , Stoney Woodson of South Carolina with pick 238 . Undrafted free agents . Following the 2009 NFL Draft , the Giants signed 9 undrafted free agent s . They were : Regular season results . Week 1 : vs . Washington Redskins . The Giants ' season began on a down note , as punt returner / running back DJ Ware dislocated his elbow returning the opening kickoff . The injury bug would later notably strike first - round draft pick Hakeem Nicks , who suffered a sprained foot in the fourth quarter and was carted off the field . Wide receiver Mario Manningham caught the game ' s first touchdown in the second quarter ; the 30 - yard strike was worth more yardage than Manningham had totalled in the entire 2008 season . Later in the quarter , Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora returned a Jason Campbell fumble 37 yards for a touchdown , his first major play since returning from the knee injury that benched him for all of 2008 . Just before halftime , Redskins punter Hunter Smith ran a fake field goal into the end zone to bring the halftime score to 17 – 7 . The Giants did not score a touchdown in the second half , but two Lawrence Tynes field goals ensured that Campbell ' s late touchdown pass to Chris Cooley would not spoil the Giants ' final home opener at Giants Stadium . The victory served as a sort of going - away party for the Giants , who now faced a rare three - game roadtrip for the first time since 1994 . Week 2 : at Dallas Cowboys . In contrast to the teams ' previous meeting , the grand opening of Cowboys Stadium ( in front of the largest regular - season crowd in NFL history ) was a fast - paced shootout . The first points in the Cowboys ' new home were scored by Tynes , whose 30 - yard field goal in the first quarter was his first of four on the night . The Cowboys responded by scoring their first points on the ensuing drive — a 2 - yard run by running back Marion Barber . Giants rookie cornerback Bruce Johnson scored his first career points returning a Tony Romo interception 34 yards . Cowboys tight end Jason Witten responded with a 1 - yard touchdown pass in the second quarter . Later , Giants safety Kenny Phillips caught an odd interception off Witten ' s foot , setting up quarterback Eli Manning ' s 100th career touchdown pass — a 22 - yard strike to Manningham . Romo ran a quarterback sneak to open the scoring in the second half , but the Giants sent wide receiver Steve Smith into the end zone in the fourth quarter . The Cowboys punched in one more touchdown on a 7 - yard Felix Jones run , but Tynes ' 37 - yard field goal as time expired was enough to postpone the Cowboys ' first home win in Arlington and boost the Giants to 2 – 0 . The Giants lost two more notable players to injuries ; defensive end Justin Tuck suffered a sprained shoulder and wide receiver Domenik Hixon sprained a knee . During the week , Phillips ' season was brought to an end , as he was placed on injured reserve with patellofemoral arthritis . Week 3 : at Tampa Bay Buccaneers . Playing in hot , humid Florida weather , the Giants scored on their first possession for the third week in a row . Jacobs ' 6 - yard run was also the Giants ' first red zone touchdown in eight trips this year . After that , the Giants never looked back . They held the Buccaneers to 18 total yards of offense and 0 first downs in the first half . Smith contributed with a 4 - yard touchdown catch on the first play of the second quarter . In the fourth quarter , Sinorice Moss ' first reception of the year was good for an 18 - yard touchdown . The game ended with David Carr at quarterback for the Giants and Josh Johnson relieving Tampa Bay quarterback Byron Leftwich , whom the Giants ' defense held to just 22 passing yards on the day . The Giants had pitched their first shutout on the road since 1983 . Week 4 : at Kansas City Chiefs . The Giants were in control of the winless Chiefs from the opening kickoff , which Bryan Kehl recovered after a Jamaal Charles fumble . The Giants proceeded to score on their first possession for the fourth straight week , this time on a short pass to Smith . Smith himself went on to have a busy day , with 11 catches for 134 yards and a 25 - yard touchdown in the second quarter as well . Nicks returned from his Week 1 injury and scored his first career touchdown , a 54 - yard pass from Manning , in the fourth quarter . Late in the game , the Chiefs put up a brief flurry of offense ; quarterback Matt Cassel threw touchdowns to tight end Sean Ryan and wide receiver Bobby Wade within a span of about five minutes . But the comeback fell short , and the Giants improved to 4 – 0 . Manning suffered a heel injury in the fourth quarter , and was forced to leave the game early . Initially concerned about a possible Achilles tendon injury , he was later diagnosed with plantar fasciitis ; his start against the Raiders was to be a game - time decision . Week 5 : vs . Oakland Raiders . Manning ended up playing until late in the second quarter before handing over the reins — and another Giants blowout lead — to Carr . The Giants extended their first - possession scoring streak to five games , sending Ahmad Bradshaw into the end zone for his first touchdown of the year . The Giants proceeded to score touchdowns on each of their next three drives as well : Bradshaw scored again on a 19 - yard rush ; Manningham caught a 30 - yard touchdown pass to open the second quarter ; and , following a red zone fumble by Oakland quarterback JaMarcus Russell , Nicks added a 9 - yard touchdown reception . In the third quarter , Carr himself ran 12 yards for his first rushing touchdown since leaving the Houston Texans . The Raiders were held to just 7 first downs on the day , their only touchdown coming on the heels of a muffed punt by Moss . The win handed the Giants their first 5 – 0 start since their Super Bowl - winning year of 1990 . Week 6 : at New Orleans Saints . The Giants ' first loss of the year came in this much - anticipated " clash of unbeatens " against a 4 – 0 New Orleans team . Manning ' s first NFL game in his hometown of New Orleans was also Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey ' s first game against his former team . The Giants ' defense , which entered the game as the best in the NFL , gave up 493 total yards and 7 touchdowns to seven different Saints , including Shockey . Scoring touchdowns for the Giants were : Bradshaw , on a 10 - yard run in the second quarter ; Manningham , who caught a 15 - yard pass later in the quarter ; and Nicks , whose 37 - yard reception from Carr earned him his first career 100 - yard receiving game . But the Giants were unable to overcome their highest - scoring opponent since 1999 . Week 7 : vs . Arizona Cardinals . Led by former Giant Kurt Warner , the defending NFC champions took the field at Giants Stadium against a Giants team still reeling from their bad loss in New Orleans . The Giants scored first , sending Jacobs in for a 4 - yard touchdown run following a Terrell Thomas interception . Later , Arizona running back Beanie Wells scored his first career touchdown on a 13 - yard rush . Manning responded by throwing a 62 - yard touchdown to Nicks for his longest reception of the year . In the second half , the Cardinals ' Tim Hightower and Jason Wright scored touchdowns . But it was turnovers that decided this game ; Manning ' s 3 interceptions were as many as he had thrown all season . The Giants scored only 3 points in the second half , ending the game on an interception to Antrel Rolle . The Giants notable streak of 38 consecutive starts by the same offensive line unit was ended here , as offensive tackle Kareem McKenzie missed the game with a groin injury . McKenzie returned the following week . Week 8 : at Philadelphia Eagles . Trying to end a two - game losing streak , the Giants went in to Lincoln Financial Field for a crucial Week 8 game with the Philadelphia Eagles , as the divisional lead was up for grabs . New York trailed greatly in the first quarter as Eagles fullback Leonard Weaver got a 41 - yard touchdown run , followed by quarterback Donovan McNabb ' s 17 - yard touchdown pass to tight end Brent Celek ( with a blocked PAT ) . Philadelphia would add onto their lead in the second quarter with a 30 - yard field goal from kicker David Akers . The Giants would get on the board as quarterback Eli Manning found tight end Kevin Boss on an 18 - yard touchdown pass , but the Eagles continued their scoring as McNabb completed a 54 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver DeSean Jackson and a 23 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jeremy Maclin . Philadelphia would begin the third quarter with an increase to their lead as Akers nailed a 35 - yard field goal . New York tried to rally as kicker Lawrence Tynes booted a 35 - yard field goal , followed by running back Ahmad Bradshaw . However , the Eagles would seal the win in the fourth quarter as running back LeSean McCoy got a 66 - yard touchdown run . With their third - straight loss , the Giants fell to 5 – 3 . Week 9 : vs . San Diego Chargers . This game was the much - hyped first - ever meeting between Manning and Philip Rivers , the two quarterbacks drafted , then traded , during the 2004 NFL Draft . The Chargers struck first , as Rivers connected with Vincent Jackson in the end zone to open the second quarter . Manning responded with a 6 - yard touchdown pass to Smith that capped off a 16 - play , 10 : 35 drive . In the third quarter , Rivers found tight end Kris Wilson in the end zone for Wilson ' s first touchdown since 2007 . The Giants responded with a Tynes field goal and then an 8 - yard touchdown to Boss . After a defensive stop by the Chargers that held the Giants to a field goal from the 4 yard line , Rivers led his team 80 yards in the final two minutes and threw Jackson the winning score with twenty - one seconds remaining on the clock . The Giants had lost despite controlling the ball for 37 : 47 and holding the Chargers to 34 rushing yards . The 5 – 4 Giants had dropped four straight for the first time since 2006 , and headed into their bye week . Week 11 : vs . Atlanta Falcons . The Giants had not beaten the Falcons at home in five tries since 1979 , but it was a must - win game this time . The Giants were missing veteran linebacker Antonio Pierce , who was nursing a bulging disc in his neck , and the Falcons ' star running back Michael Turner was also out with a high ankle sprain . The Giants took an early lead on Tynes ' first - quarter field goal , but the Falcons responded with third - string running back Jason Snelling ' s 7 - yard touchdown run . Boss caught two touchdown passes in the second quarter , one of them from 28 yards out . In the third quarter , Snelling and Jacobs traded short touchdown runs . Giants fullback Madison Hedgecock opened the scoring in the fourth quarter by catching his first touchdown of the season , but Falcons receiver Eric Weems caught his second of the year on the ensuing drive . In a sort of déjà vu moment for the Giants , another opponent ' s comeback took them right up until the final minute ; tight end Tony Gonzalez caught the tying touchdown with 35 seconds left in regulation . The Giants won the overtime coin toss , and then drove 45 yards to set up Tynes ' winning field goal , ending the Giants ' skid at 4 games . Week 12 : at Denver Broncos . Coming off their overtime win to the Falcons , the Giants flew for a Week 12 interconference game against the Denver Broncos , their first Thanksgiving game since 1992 . In the first quarter the Giants trailed early with kicker Matt Prater making a 26 - yard field goal and then a 32 - yard field goal in the second quarter . The Broncos kept on top with RB Knowshon Moreno making a 1 - yard touchdown run . After that Matt Prater made a 47 - yard field goal to end the half . In the third quarter the Giants replied with kicker Lawrence Tynes nailing a 39 then a 52 - yard field goal . In the fourth quarter New York fell further behind with QB Kyle Orton making a 17 - yard touchdown pass to WR Brandon Stokley , and Prater making a 24 - yard field goal . With the loss , the Giants fell to 6 – 5 . Week 13 : vs . Dallas Cowboys . The rematch of these division rivals was a must - win game for the Giants in a season where every game was quickly becoming a must - win game for the Giants . A win would keep alive the Giants ' hopes of winning the NFC East . Dallas receiver Roy Williams scored the game ' s first touchdown in the second quarter , on a 4 - yard pass from Romo . Manning responded with a 21 - yard shot to Nicks on the ensuing drive . On the Cowboys ' next possession , Umenyiora picked up a Marion Barber fumble , which Jacobs later turned into a 1 - yard touchdown run . In the third quarter , Romo found Williams in the end zone again , this time for 5 yards . But on the next play from scrimmage , Jacobs caught a 74 - yard touchdown for the longest reception of his career . Another Giant set a personal record in the fourth quarter ; Hixon ' s 79 - yard punt return was the longest of his career , and it resulted in his second career return touchdown . In a late rally by the Cowboys , Miles Austin caught a 22 - yard touchdown pass from Romo , but the ensuing onside kick resulted in a penalty on Sam Hurd for illegal touching and the Giants ran out the clock . The Giants had swept the Cowboys for the first time since 2004 , and were now only one game behind in the division standings . Week 14 : vs . Philadelphia Eagles . The winner of this Sunday Night showdown would assume first place in the NFC East ( the Eagles outright , the Giants on tiebreakers ) . With two games against opponents with losing records approaching , it was crucial for the Giants to escape this one with a win . The Eagles started things off right away , putting 14 points on the board before the Giants had run their fifth play from scrimmage . McNabb connected with Celek for a touchdown , and Sheldon Brown returned a Brandon Jacobs fumble for six points on the ensuing drive . In the second quarter , Nicks caught the longest reception of his short career for a 68 - yard touchdown . After DeSean Jackson responded by returning a Jeff Feagles punt 72 yards for a touchdown , the Giants were able to send Bradshaw into the end zone from the 3 . Eagles backup quarterback Michael Vick was able to sneak in one more rushing touchdown before halftime . Jacobs opened the scoring in the second half with a 1 - yard rush . After the teams traded turnovers , Manning got the ball into Hixon ' s hands for a 61 - yard touchdown . But the Eagles responded on the very next play with a 60 - yard touchdown to Jackson . Jackson ' s 176 receiving yards amounted to the best individual receiving performance against the Giants since 2002 . The Eagles struck again in the fourth quarter , this time on a run by fullback Leonard Weaver and a two - point conversion pass to Jason Avant . The Giants put another touchdown on the board ( courtesy of Boss ) in the last two minutes of the game , and got the ball back with 28 seconds left . But defensive end Darren Howard sacked Manning and forced a fumble , sealing the Eagles ' first sweep of the Giants since 2004 . The Giants had given up 85 points to the Eagles this year , the most they had ever given up to the Eagles in a single season in franchise history , including four playoff years where they met the Eagles a third time . The Giants ' 38 points were also the most scored by a losing team since Week 2 of 2008 . Week 15 : at Washington Redskins . The Giants needed wins to keep their playoff hopes alive , and this Monday night matchup against the underachieving Redskins seemed a prime opportunity . The Giants ' first two possessions ended in touchdown runs by Bradshaw of 3 and 4 yards . Later in the second quarter , Manning found Smith in the end zone for a 6 - yard score . The normally - lackluster Giants defense succeeded in holding the Redskins to 2 first downs and no points in the first half . The Redskins opened the scoring in the second half with an 11 - yard touchdown strike from Campbell to tight end Fred Davis , but Graham Gano ' s extra point was blocked by Fred Robbins . Manning responded by throwing receiver Derek Hagan his first touchdown as a Giant , a 23 - yard pass . On the next play from scrimmage , Thomas intercepted a Campbell pass and returned it 14 yards for a touchdown . Quinton Ganther , starting at running back in place of the injured Clinton Portis , gave the Redskins another touchdown late in the third quarter , but could not get into the end zone on the two - point conversion attempt . Manning threw one more touchdown pass to Manningham in the fourth quarter , which boosted the Giants to their highest point total on the road since 1954 . The Giants were still very much in the playoff picture , and hoping for losses by the Cowboys and Packers . Week 16 : vs . Carolina Panthers . This was the last game the Giants would ever play at the moribund Giants Stadium , but they had no time to be nostalgic — defeating the same Week 16 opponent they faced last year would make their path to the postseason slightly easier . The Panthers , starting Matt Moore at quarterback in place of the injured Jake Delhomme , quickly took control of the game , scoring on their first four possessions ( a 38 - yard John Kasay field goal ; a 29 - yard Jonathan Stewart touchdown run ; a 22 - yard Muhsin Muhammad touchdown catch ; and a 2 - yard catch for tight end Jeff King ) . Meanwhile , the Giants turned the ball over 3 times in the first half , and were shut out at halftime for the second time this season . In the third quarter , Carolina picked up where they left off , as Moore connected with Carolina ' s Steve Smith for a 27 - yard score . The Giants finally got on the board on the ensuing drive , courtesy of a 40 - yard Tynes field goal . In the fourth quarter , the Giants ' Smith caught a 2 - yard touchdown pass from Manning , but a subsequent 2 - point try failed . Carolina fullback Brad Hoover ' s 1 - yard scoring run later in the fourth sealed the game for the Panthers . The Giants left Giants Stadium the same way they had opened it 33 years earlier ; with a demoralizing loss . The loss , along with wins by the Cowboys and Packers this week , mathematically eliminated the Giants from the postseason , breaking their streak of 4 consecutive playoff appearances . Curiously , the last NFL game at Giants Stadium would not be a Giants game , but a Jets game ; the Jets would play the Cincinnati Bengals at home on Sunday night in Week 17 . Week 17 : at Minnesota Vikings . The Giants wrapped up their 2009 campaign against Brett Favre , a quarterback they last saw on their way to Super Bowl XLII . This time , however , Favre led a convincing rout of the Giants , as they allowed 40 points to an opponent for the fifth time this season . Scoring touchdowns for Minnesota were former Giant Visanthe Shiancoe , Pro Bowlers Adrian Peterson and Sidney Rice ( twice ) , and fullback Naufahu Tahi . A 1 - yard touchdown run by Ware in the fourth quarter prevented the Giants from being shut out . Center Shaun O ' Hara was named to the Pro Bowl in the week leading up to the game . The 2009 Giants became the eighth team since the 1970 AFL - NFL merger to miss the playoffs after starting the season 5 – 0 , and the first NFC team since the Vikings in 2003 .