National Football League

Hall not giving Manning credit for late TD throw

Published Oct. 24, 2012 10:29 p.m. ET

foxsports

It seems every time the New York Giants post a big win, there is always someone ready to shoot it down.

Packers linebacker Clay Matthews said Green Bay handed the Giants a win in the NFC semifinal last season, and 49ers safety Donte Whitner bemoaned similar feelings after New York won in overtime in the NFC title game.

Add Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall to the Giants' deserve-no-credit list.

Hall on Wednesday said Washington made a horrible play in handing Eli Manning a game-winning 77-yard touchdown pass to Victor Cruz with 1:13 to play Sunday in a 27-23 victory.

Hall insisted Manning just threw the ball and downplayed his comments that he had learned something about the Redskins' defense earlier in the game. There was no rocket science involved. Hall sarcastically said if Manning picked up on what the Redskins were doing in the first half, it was surprising he waited so long to exploit it.

''I don't know how well he picked up on it, but he ultimately did because he made the play to beat us,'' Hall said. ''But I don't feel like he made that play. I feel like we gave him that play. That wasn't nothing he did, like: `Aw man, he saw this and saw the that.' We just had one guy set his feet, one guy not do this, and I could have thrown that ball and he could've scored.

''It wasn't something he was just a rocket science and he figured something out. We just played that as bad as possible.''

Washington safety Madieu Williams seemingly made the big mistake by coming in too much, allowing Cruz to run past him.

Through it all, Manning was amused by Hall's comment.

''I appreciate him giving it to me. Thank you,'' Manning said. ''I didn't think it took a rocket scientist to figure it out, either. We had a guy running open, and you hit him.''

Manning also wasn't bothered that the Giants were not credited with making the big play.

''If that's the way they want to put it in their heads, then that's fine,'' Manning said after his eighth fourth-quarter win in the past two seasons. ''The fact is, that was the coverage. If they messed up, that's what you've got to do as an offense. You've got to take advantage of it. If a team wants to give up some plays, or they don't want to play well on a certain day, it's our job to play better, make the plays, and take advantage of that opportunity.''

Cruz is used to opposing players taking shots at the defending Super Bowl champions.

''We just make plays to win the football game,'' he said. ''Whatever they say after they take the loss ... We have to go out there and run and catch the football and throw it.''

Cruz doesn't know why the Giants seemingly don't get respect.

''I don't know why it comes off that way, but it's definitely a little disrespectful. But you can't dwell on it,'' he said. ''They've got to come up with something. It can't be just out of the blue. So it is what it is. I just want to go out there and play football. That's what I love to do. Whoever doubts that, I could care less.''

Giants defensive end and captain Justin Tuck wondered aloud about why the Redskins would give New York a game-winning touchdown, noting that maybe Hall was trying to say the Washington defenders had some miscommunication.

Whatever, Tuck said. Either way, he hopes opposing teams continue their giving of gifts.

''I hope we have nine more giveaways this year and then three to four more giveaways, I will be a happy man with that,'' Tuck said. ''So for all you guys out there listening, if you play us, if you feel like you want to give us something, I will take some sacks, I am sure Eli will take more 70-yard touchdown passes, (and) Coach Coughlin will take a couple more wins.''

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AP Sports Writer Joseph White in Auburn, Va. contributed to this report.

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