SEATTLE – The Giants traveled cross country to beat the team with the best record in the NFC and they returned home knowing they should have left Qwest Field with a statement victory instead of one of the most agonizingly galling losses in memory.
With kicker Jay Feely missing not once, or twice but three times on what would have been game-winning field goals, the Giants finally ran out of chances and watched in horror as their gallant defense finally broke down and Josh Brown’s 36-yard field goal with 2:45 left in overtime gave the Seahawks a 24-21 victory and officially made it a crushing weekend for the Giants.
“That’s a gut-wrenching way to lose a game,” coach Tom Coughlin said afterward. “Just an empty feeling when you lose like that.”
The turn of emotions was striking as the Giants (7-4) dropped back into a first-place tie with the Cowboys in the NFC East and allowed the Seahawks (9-2) to continue to own the best record in the NFC. All Feely had to do was drill a 40-yard field goal with four seconds left in regulation to lift the Giants out of a 21-21 tie and no doubt get himself lifted on the shoulders of his teammates. But Feely couldn’t do it. The usually dependable kicker (he was 16 of 17 this season from inside 40 yards) sent the potential game-winning field goal wide left as time expired.
After two more missed field goals by Feely (from 54 and 45 yards) in overtime, the Giants blew a game that was theirs, blew a game that will surely haunt them. D.J. Hackett blew by rookie cornerback Corey Webster for a 38-yard catch, Shaun Alexander got the Seahawks closer and Brown finally ended the marathon.
Feely apologized to the rest of the team immediately after the game in the locker room. “I said I’m sorry I let you guys down,” Feely said.
There was plenty of blame to go around with a team that despite itself was able to hang in with the rugged Seahawks. The Giants committed 16 penalties for 114 yards, including a ghastly 11 false starts (five by left tackle Luke Petitgout) while unsuccessfully combating the crowd noise.
“That’s ridiculous, to be honest with you,” Coughlin said.
The Giants trailed 21-13 when they took over on their 39-yard line with 4:26 to go in regulation. Jeremy Shockey in a huge effort (10 catches, 127 yards, 1 TD) caught two passes for 30 yards and with 1:59 left Manning lofted a ball that Amani Toomer somehow came down with, leaping over safety Marquand Manuel at the back of the end zone. The most striking part of the 18-yard TD grab was that Toomer was able to drag his feet just inside the end zone as his momentum was carrying him out of bounds.
Down 21-19, the Giants cashed in on the two-point conversion when Manning found a wide-open Shockey, completing an exquisite eight-play, 61-yard drive.
The Seahawks used only 21 seconds on a three-and-out and Chad Morton’s 11-yard punt return gave the Giants the ball at midfield with 1:23 left. Manning (career-high 344 passing yards) did it again, hitting Shockey for eight and Plaxico Burress for 11. Two runs by Tiki Barber (26-151) put Feely in position for his first big miss.
There were more to come. After his 54-yard attempt fell far short and right the Giants gave him another shot after Barber burst 49 yards from his 20 to the Seattle 31. Feely was set up for a third potential game-winner, this one from 45 yards, but with 6:05 to go in OT Feely’s kick was not close again, sailing short and wide right.
The Giants did the job against Shaun Alexander (31-110) but had no answer for Joe Jurevicius. The former Giants receiver caught two touchdown passes, as young cornerbacks Corey Webster (making his first NFL start) and Curtis Deloatch struggled.
“We have five huge games to go, starting with next week,” Coughlin said, alluding to Sunday’s game against the Cowboys. “I think we’ll come back. We have to come back.”
paul.schwartz@nypost.com
NFC EAST STANDINGS
TEAM REC
Giants 7-4
Cowboys 7-4
Redskins 5-6
Eagles 5-6