The NFL couldnt have scripted a better ending to their first nationally televised Monday Night Football contest of the year. New York Giants rookie Tommie Hill returned a fumble 18 yards for a touchdown with 0:00 on the clock to break open a tie game and give his team a 24-17 victory over the Carolina Panthers in NFL preseason action .
Carolinas fourth string QB Hunter Cantwell was in a position where he just had to take a knee and run out the clock on first and 10 from his eighteen yardline. Instead, he tried to throw a pass only to have his arm hit forcing a fumble. Hill grabbed the loose ball and headed to the endzone for the shockingly bizarre finish and a Giants victory.
Tommie Hill was in shock as he spoke about his game winning touchdown return:
"I've never seen a game end like that, not that way. I'm just a rookie trying to make the team. Anything like that that helps the team win in turn helps me. It was just a fortunate situation and I made the most of it."
Hill, an undrafted rookie out of Colorado State had already become a favorite of Giants fans due to his tenacious, high impact playmaking. His touchdown"the first hes scored since high school"will only help his efforts to make the NFL roster.
Carolina coach John Fox sounded more bemused than dejected at his teams unusual loss:
"Kind of an interesting ending. Both sides have a lot of work, but we have time. We have three weeks to do it
Giants QB Eli Manning played only two series before the backups took over. Still, he put a positive spin on his short night of work:
"We ran the ball really well, hit a couple passes and we got a touchdown. That is always the goal. We did a nice job with it, so I thought we were effective as the first group."
Carolina will travel to Miami for a game next Saturday against the Dolphins. The Giants will head to Chicago to face Jay Cutler and the Bears.
Carolinas fourth string QB Hunter Cantwell was in a position where he just had to take a knee and run out the clock on first and 10 from his eighteen yardline. Instead, he tried to throw a pass only to have his arm hit forcing a fumble. Hill grabbed the loose ball and headed to the endzone for the shockingly bizarre finish and a Giants victory.
Tommie Hill was in shock as he spoke about his game winning touchdown return:
"I've never seen a game end like that, not that way. I'm just a rookie trying to make the team. Anything like that that helps the team win in turn helps me. It was just a fortunate situation and I made the most of it."
Hill, an undrafted rookie out of Colorado State had already become a favorite of Giants fans due to his tenacious, high impact playmaking. His touchdown"the first hes scored since high school"will only help his efforts to make the NFL roster.
Carolina coach John Fox sounded more bemused than dejected at his teams unusual loss:
"Kind of an interesting ending. Both sides have a lot of work, but we have time. We have three weeks to do it
Giants QB Eli Manning played only two series before the backups took over. Still, he put a positive spin on his short night of work:
"We ran the ball really well, hit a couple passes and we got a touchdown. That is always the goal. We did a nice job with it, so I thought we were effective as the first group."
Carolina will travel to Miami for a game next Saturday against the Dolphins. The Giants will head to Chicago to face Jay Cutler and the Bears.
About the Author:
Ross Everett is a consulting handicapper for Sports-1 and an authority on thoroughbred horse racing and NFL football betting. He's a published expert on sports handicapping theory, as well as financial investment strategy. He contributes to a number of websites providing insight on how to bet on NFL football, hockey and mixed martial arts.
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