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Revisiting the Miracle at the Meadowlands When DeSean Jackson and the Eagles Shocked the Giants

By Scott Rogust

Looking back at the Miracle at the Meadowlands, Part II.
Looking back at the Miracle at the Meadowlands, Part II. / Drew Hallowell/Getty Images

New York Giants fans spent their Easter Sunday tuned into FOX to rewatch Super Bowl XLII, a game where their team pulled off their miraculous upset over the 18-0 New England Patriots. It was a truly great moment to relive, that's enough joy for the NYG. It's time to drop members of Big Blue down more than a few pegs to painfully reminisce about a terrible nightmare.

We're talking about the Miracle at the Meadowlands Part II (aka Miracle at the New Meadowlands).

On Dec. 19, 2010, the Giants hosted the Philadelphia Eagles inside their new stadium, with both teams angling for the top spot in the NFC East. Both 9-4 entering the game, the Giants dominated the Eagles for the majority of the game, at one point leading 31-10 in the fourth quarter. But then, the unthinkable happened.

Eagles quarterback Michael Vick put the team on his back, leading them to three scoring drives in the fourth quarter to tie things up at 31-31.

With the 12 seconds remaining in the game, all Giants rookie punter Matt Dodge had to do was kick the ball out of bounds and away from receiver/return specialist DeSean Jackson. Instead, Dodge punted the ball right to Jackson, who made him pay immediately with a 65-yard touchdown. To make matters worse, Jackson cockily backpedaled into the end zone to further add salt to the wound of the Giants and their heartbroken fan base.

The win was pivotal for the Eagles, as even though both teams finished 10-6 on the season, Philadelphia was granted the playoff spot via tiebreaker. As for Dodge, he immediately felt the wrath of head coach Tom Coughlin on the field and at the press conference podium. He was released after one season with the team, and was never seen in the NFL again.

Of course, the Philadelphia faithful look back at this moment with great fondness. Meanwhile, a generation of Giants fans curse the name of Matt "Bleeping" Dodge with tears in their eyes like their fathers did with Joe Pisarcik back in 1978.