“I don’t think anybody wants to think about next week yet. We’re going to have to force this pill down our throat and it will be tough to swallow.” – Giants center Shaun O’Hara after his team blew a 21-point fourth quarter lead against the Eagles.

EAST RUTHERFORD: The Eagles reputation as Giants tormentors was already stuff of legend going into Sunday’s crucial Meadowlands match-up with the NFC East title possibly on the line.

Herm Edward (78), Clyde Simmons (88), Randall Cunningham (91) and Brian Westbrook (03) all put their signatures on unlikely come-from-behind wins against Big Blue at Giants Stadium.

Add DeSean Jackson and Michael Vick to the list.

After falling behind 31-10 with just over eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, Vick and his teammates literally stormed back for a miraculous 38-31 win over the Giants (9-5) and put themselves in a position to wrap up the division with a victory over the Vikings next Sunday night against the Minnesota Vikings.

The 28 fourth-quarter points was a franchise record.

It may have been the New Meadowlands Stadium, but the sting hurt every bit as much as it did in 1978 when the Giants led 17-12 and offensive coordinator Bob Gibson inexplicably called for a run play — with 31 seconds left and 30 ticks on the play clock — instead of a kneel-down.

Quarterback Joe Pisarcik tried to hand off to Larry Csonka but fumbled the exchange. The ball bounced to defensive back Edwards, who ran into the end zone for the game-winning score.

This time it was Jackson who dealt the lethal blow.

With 14 seconds left in the fourth quarter and the score tied 31-31, the Giants, facing fourth and 17 from their own 29-yard line were forced to punt.

Giants punter Matt Dodge was told by head coach Tom Coughlin to kick the ball out bounds and take their chances in overtime.

Instead Dodge took a slightly high snap and spun it, line drive style, directly into Jackson’s arms. The third-year speedster muffed the catch but had enough time to pick the ball up, gather himself, and rocket 65 yards for which the NFL said was the first walk-off punt return in league history.

Coughlin took responsibility for the final play.

“I’ve never been around anything like this in my life,” Coughlin said a few minutes after the game. “It’s about as empty as you get to feel in this business, right there.”

Giants center Shaun O’Hara summed up the feelings of his team who – because the Eagles (10-4) swept the season series and are ahead in the No. 1 tiebreaker – dropped the equivalent of two games out of first place in the NFC East with two games to play.

“I don’t think there are enough words in the dictionary right now to describe how bad we all feel right now,” O’Hara said. “We really have no one else to blame but ourselves. We played an outstanding first half and gave it away in the second half.”

Jackson said he never had heard of Edwards, Simmons, Cunningham or Westbrook’s heroics. “I never heard of that,” Jackson said during his journey to stop by every locker in the Eagles joyous dressing room. In such a state of euphoria, Jackson also didn’t seem to care about history, “I’m not taking this shirt off! Tell everybody I’m not taking this shirt off…I’m wearing it home!”

With 8:09 left in the fourth quarter and trailing 31-10, the Birds went on the tear of tears.

With the Eagles starting from their own 25-yard line, Vick hit Jeremy Maclin for a 10-yard gain.

Vick then hit tight end Brent Celek for a 65-yard catch-and-run touchdown that made the score 31-17.

On the ensuring kickoff, a surprise play was called at the last second. Reid ordered an onside kick but in a traditional lineup. The Giants fell for it hook, line, and sinker.

David Akers finessed the ball in a way Cristiano Ronaldo would have been impressed with going 13 yards in the air and right to Riley Cooper.

Vick worked his magic again going 57 yards on five plays, scoring himself on a four-yard run that made the score 31-24 with 5:28 left on the clock.

That drive was highlighted by a 35-yard scramble by Vick.

The Giants got the ball at their own 35 and drove to the Eagles 40 before the drive stalled.

Dodge punted 28 yards to the Philadelphia 12 where it was fair caught by Maclin.

What did Vick do?

After two incomplete passes, Vick darted 33 yards to the 45. He then hit Jason Avant for 13 yards and a first down at the Giants 42.

Vick then scrambles 22 yards, rolling to the Giants 20-yard line.

The crowd of 81,223 at New Meadowlands Stadium is now going into shock.

A seven-yard completion to Celek put the ball at the Giants 13.

Vick then hit Maclin with a short pass to his left. Maclin then spun past a Giants defender and ran untouched into the end zone to tie the game.

The rest, as they say, is history.

“Biggest game in Eagles history that I’ve been part of, by far,” said Akers. “Just the way everything went together the last eight minutes…I’m kind of speechless.”

Someone asked Akers if this was the most remarkable win he’s ever been part of again. “It’s the most remarkable eight minutes I’ve been part of.”

Eagles center Mike McGlynn, like Jackson, was asked if he knew about the history of miracles at the Meadowlands.

“Not at all,” McGlynn said. “But I know about this one today. It’s got to be the best comeback in NFL history. When you think about it, we’re going against the No. 1 defense in the NFL and to come back from 21 down in the fourth quarter, 31-10…it’s the comeback in Eagles history, I know that.”

Vick, after registering a 26.2 quarterback rating at halftime including just 33 yards passing and 23 yards rushing, finished with 242 yards passing completing 21 passes on 35 attempts, 3 touchdown passes and interception. He was sacked three times for 21 yards. Vick also rushed for 130 yards on 10 attempts and score one TD.

LeSean McCoy finished with 64 yards rushing on 10 attempts. Celek had 72 yards on two catches and the TD.

The Giants were led by Brendon Jacobs and Ahmad Rashard, who combined for 100 yards on 31 carries for a 3.2 yards per carry average and no touchdowns.

Eli Manning was 23 for 39 for 289 yards, four touchdown passes, an interception and two sacks.

O’Hara said when you keep giving an opponent break after break eventually it will cost you.

“This game is all about momentum,” O’Hara said. “We had it in the first half and it just seemed like we just kept giving them opportunities and steal the momentum from us in the second half. I think you can give them credit, but we usually handle situations like that better.”

Most teams talk about forgetting about a loss and moving on to the next game. After this loss and the way in which they lost, O’Hara said his team will not lose its belief in itself but said it is impossible to just walk away from this kind of defeat.

“I think everyone in this locker room has confidence in this team and our abilities and obviously we showed that in the first half,” O’Hara said. “I don’t think anybody wants to think about next week yet. We’re going to have to force this pill down our throat and it will be tough to swallow.”