Matt Dodge Deserves Some Blame for Punting to DeSean Jackson, But Giants’ Overall Effort Cost Them Win

If you haven't seen it yet, you'll surely see it hundreds of times in the next 24 hours. And if you haven't seen it by then, you'll see it in about a week when every sports outlet in the country does their annual year in review.

The play in question, of course, is DeSean Jackson's "walk-off" punt return touchdown to beat the Giants on Sunday at New Meadowlands. The 65-yard return capped an incredible 7:28 stretch in the fourth quarter in which the Eagles scored 28 unanswered points for an improbable 38-31 win over the Giants.

Those watching the game live, along with the subsequent replays surely saw Giants head coach Tom Coughlin giving rookie punter Matt Dodge an earful, practically before Jackson even crossed the goal line.

First things first about this. Dodge deserved that earful, and he deserves criticism. However, if this loss costs the Giants a playoff spot — something that very well could happen now — the 2010 season will not be lost because of Dodge's gaffe.

First of all, why would the Giants even give Jackson a chance? Someone on the New York sideline probably should have had that conversation with Dodge before the punter took the field with 12 seconds remaining in regulation. If that conversation was had, so be it. Then, it's on Dodge, but it's tough to imagine that an NFL punter trying to kick the ball out of bounds would end up splitting the hashmarks with a line-drive punt.

Should Dodge have done more to kick it away from one of the best punt returners in the game today? Of course. There's no doubt. Be that as it may, though, the Giants' second-half performance on Sunday was simply inexcusable. Fighting for their playoff lives and making Michael Vick's life miserable, the vaunted New York defense simply disappeared.

In the process, the Giants let the Eagles back into the game, while simultaneously bolstering Vick's MVP campaign.

Consider these second-half stats before lamenting Dodge and placing the blame solely on him.

• The Eagles outscored the Giants 35-7 (28-7 in the fourth) in the second half.
• Vick was 15-for-25 for 209 yards and three touchdowns through the air in the second half. That, and he also rushed five times for 107 yards and another touchdown.
• The Eagles gained 74 yards of total offense in the first half. In the second, they picked up 343 yards.
• Philadelphia also converted on three of their six third-down conversions after going only 1-for-5 in the first half.
• New York, on the other hand, gained only 142 yards of total offense in the second half (they had 222 in the first), and converted on just two third downs.

Now, by my calculations, really none of that has anything to do with Matt Dodge's punt to DeSean Jackson.

Coughlin's dressing down of Dodge of midfield following the game was likely embarrassing enough for Dodge. However, as embarrassing as it was, it still wasn't as embarrassing as the Giants' performance in the second half on Sunday.

Who deserves the blame for the Giants' meltdown Sunday? Are Michael Vick and the Eagles just that good? Share your thoughts below.