[NC_Skins]

Breaking Down the Biggest Plays of NFL Week 7 | Bleacher Report

A good break down on our busted play. (scroll down to Eli's game winning TD pass)

...for a few seconds, anyway. Eli Manning's been playing a long time, and he's led more than his fair share of fourth-quarter comebacks. The Giants faced 2nd-and-10 from their own 22-yard line with 1:23 still left on the clock, and Manning decided he didn't need that long.

They lined up in a shotgun, with trips to the right, a split end out left and a tailback in to block. The Redskins are in an interesting 2-4-5 nickel, with two defensive tackles up front, four linebackers and five defensive backs:




The two outside linebackers blitz, leaving the two inside 'backers in zone coverage. Tight end Martellus Bennett is the inside slot receiver in the trips group, and he (sort of) chips the blitzer before running a five-yard out. The other two receivers in the trips are the ones who matter:


Victor Cruz is running a fly route, and the other receiver runs a deep curl. This puts pressure on safety Madieu Williams, who's got the deep zone coverage.

The protection sets up nicely for Manning—the blitzers are picked up. Cruz beats his man Dijon Gomes cleanly, and Williams sees it. He sees it...and...does...nothing:


Williams takes forever to flip his hips and go. Cruz flies past him at full throttle before he can even turn. Manning makes the read and delivers the ball, with Cruz two steps clear of both Williams and Gomes:



The rest is salsa. Cruz scores the game-winning touchdown, and Manning—after a rough game—puts another notch in his belt.

Cliffnotes: Williams is garbage.