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By Ellis Williams
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The Philadelphia Eagles lost 19-11 to the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, an afternoon when special teams repeatedly changed the field position in a tightly contested NFC East game.
Eagles punter Braden Mann supplied one of the day’s biggest highlights just before halftime. With Philadelphia facing fourth-and-4 at its own 8-yard line, Mann kicked from inside his end zone and sent the ball over Giants returner Charlie Jones. It rolled out of bounds at New York’s 6 for an 86-yard punt.
It was the NFL’s longest punt since former Giants punter Rodney Williams hit a 90-yarder on Sept. 10, 2001. Philadelphia took an 8-6 lead into halftime after Mann’s kick flipped the field.
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His fourth-quarter punt produced a very different outcome. After Giants rookie linebacker Arvell Reese recorded his third sack of Eagles quarterback Joe Milton, Mann mishandled the ball, moved left and kicked late. The play was recorded as a minus-2-yard punt.
An illegal-shift penalty on Eagles wide receiver Darius Cooper compounded the mistake. New York received a short field while leading 16-8.
The Eagles’ defense prevented a touchdown, but Giants kicker Dominic Zvada converted a 49-yard field goal with 4:28 remaining. That made it 19-8 and forced Philadelphia to chase a two-score deficit.
Mann had already been involved in two other unusual special-teams plays. Early in the second quarter, Jones muffed a punt and Eagles rookie long snapper Rocco Underwood recovered. Later in the quarter, another Mann punt was deflected and traveled 17 yards.
Philadelphia could not turn those swings into a victory. Eagles kicker Jake Elliott cut the deficit to eight points with a 45-yard field goal, but Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers recovered the ensuing onside kick.
The Eagles got the ball back once more before Giants defensive tackle Darius Alexander sacked Milton on the final play. New York improved to 5-2-1, while Philadelphia fell to 2-7 heading into its bye week.
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