Vince Young came off the bench to lead the Eagles to a 17-10 win over the Giants.

EAST RUTHERFORD: The Eagles had but one choice against the Giants Sunday night at the MetLife Stadium – win or the season is over.

After the Eagles 17-10 win over the Giants, a heartbeat left in the life of the Birds season was detected…barely audible…but a heartbeat nonetheless. 

For the last few weeks, all the comments from fans and observers aimed at players were that this Eagles team is “soft,” especially on defense.

Apparently at least some of the players took that evaluation to heart…and started to play with some.

The Birds came out of the tunnel swinging and did not let up until the clock showed all zeros.

The Eagles are 4-6, two games behind the Giants and Dallas Cowboys, who are tied for the NFC East with 6-4 records.

“We needed this win for a number of reasons, a million reasons to win this game, especially with our record, plus they beat us at our house,” said running back LeSean McCoy, who continues his rise to stardom rushing 23 times for 113 yards including a 60-yarder to ice the game with 1:11 left in the fourth quarter. “This is a rivalry, a bitter rivalry. Each week is different. Same mindset, but we just have to prepare and execute right.”

McCoy’s big run was set up by a great defensive play by defensive linemen Jason Babin and Derek Landri.

With just 2:39 left in the fourth, the Giants – trailing 17-10 – drove from their own nine-yard line to the Eagles 21.

Another last-minute win by Eli Manning and Big Blue?

Not this day.

When Manning dropped back to pass, he was hit by Babin from behind, jarring the ball loose. Landri scooped up the rock and trucked five yards before being tackled by offensive lineman Will Beatty.

Landri was signed as a free agent this year after spending last season with the Carolina Panthers. The former fifth-round draft pick (Jacksonville 07) out of Notre Dame was cut at the end of training camp despite a solid performance. Landri was re-signed on October 4, 2011 after defensive tackle Antonio Dixon was placed on injured reserve.

“They let me go, I was disappointed,” Landri said in the Eagles upbeat locker room after the game. “Then Howie (GM Roseman) called me up in the fourth week and told me I was one of his guys. He wanted to bring me back…He said I was his guy and don’t disappoint him. He said to just play the way you played in preseason. I hope not to let him down.”

Landri was asked when a 290-pound lineman sees the ball bouncing around the ground after a fumble, does the thought of whether to just fall on ball or try and pick it and make an even bigger play enter his mind in that split second he has to decide.

“There are two sets (of thought),” Landri said. “We work drills that are called ‘scoop and score.’ I want to make sure I take my time, press it down, pick it up and run as far as I can for as fast as I can.”

The first quarter was scoreless. The Eagles, with Vince Young under center for the injured Mike Vick, and the Giants traded interceptions and punches as well. There were at least six skirmishes in the first quarter as the Eagles attempted to establish a physical tone for the game.

Neither offense could get anything going. Big Blue went three-and-out on its three of its first four possessions. It seemed like every play the Giants ran ended in a fight.

“They were holding the crap out of us all day,” Landri said. “We were pissed. All you can do is make a play.”

The second quarter was more of the same, but the Eagles did manage to score first on a 33-yard field goal by Alex Henery. The highlight of the drive was a terrific catch by DeSean Jackson, who unfortunately for the Eagles, injured his knee on the play. Jackson was checked out in the locker room and did come back to have an impact on the game – both good and bad.

Jackson was called for taunting when after he caught a 50–yard pass from Young. Unfortunately for his team, the disgruntled receiver tossed the ball into the chest of Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell after the play. Since the Giants were called for illegal hands to the face on the same play, Jackson’s antics voided the entire play.

The Eagles did move the ball out to the 36-yard line but were forced to punt.

The Eagles made it 10-0 on a one-play 14-yard touchdown pass from Young to former Giants receiver Steve Smith. The play was set up by a 51-yard punt return by Jackson. It looked at first that Jackson had scored but the officials ruled he stepped out of bounds at the Giants 14-yard line.

A 48-yard field goal by Lawrence Tynes made the score 10-3 at the half.

The Giants started the second half the same way most of the first half – questionable play calling that led to a punt. After their first punt of the third quarter, the Giants had gone three-and-out on six of their 12 possessions.

The home crowd booed their team every time a running play was called – odd because a running play would be warmly welcomed in Philadelphia.

The Eagles first possession of the second half started off well enough, getting down to the Giants 16-yard line, but Young tried to hit Cooper with a lob pass in the corner of the end zone but was picked off easily by Aaron Ross.
Cooper would get another chance in the fourth quarter.

After the Giants rallied to tie the score on a 24-yard pass from Manning to Victor Cruz, the Eagles embarked on a stunning 80-yard, 18-play scoring drive that took 8:51 off the clock.

The drive – that featured six third down conversions – ended when Young hit Copper with a with an eight-yard strike in the back of the end zone.

Young finished with 258 yards on 23 of 36 passing and two TD passes. He was sacked just once but threw three interceptions.

“Vince, stepping in for the great Michael Vick, that’s a tough thing to do and he did it and the guys rallied around him,” Eagles coach Andy Reid said. “The offensive line and defensive line played well, the offensive line had a huge challenge when it counted and they were able to put some things together.”

The Giants could only manage 29 yards rushing on 17 attempts.

Manning was 18 of 35 for 264 yards, one TD and one interception. He was sacked three times.

“This is as big a disappointment as we have had around here in a long time,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said.

Cooper said he was happy with his game but still has a way to go if he wants more plaing time.

“I think they know I belong,” said Cooper, who finished with five catches for 75 yards and the touchdown. “I think they know I am a good player. With that being said, I’ve got to get better. I have to get better as a player. We have so many weapons on our team, as [everyone] knows, on the receiver position. I know they have confidence in me. They came to me in a tight squeeze in the game, I got the winning touchdown…I know they have confidence in me and you’ve just got to keep getting better.”

It was the second consecutive loss for the Giants. Big Blue dropped a seven point loss to the San Francisco 49ers last week. A late rally by the Giants also fell short.

“We can’t always afford to be in those positions,” Manning said of the recent late rallies. “I think we still feel confident when we get in there that we’re going to move the ball and we’re going to give ourselves a chance to win. It is just a matter of you don’t always want to be in that position.”