Atlanta Falcons vs New York Giants Box Score on Jan 08, 2012

Eli Manning threw three touchdown passes, including a pair to Hakeem Nicks, and his defense did the rest as the New York Giants churned out a workmanlike 24-2 victory over the visiting Atlanta Falcons in an NFC wild card game Sunday.

Manning threw for 277 yards and connected on second-half scoring passes of 72 yards to Nicks and 27 to Mario Manningham as the Giants (10-7) secured a rematch at top-seeded Green Bay next weekend.

New York's defense twice stopped the Falcons on fourth-and-short and got 173 yards rushing from its league-worst running game to notch its third straight victory and first home playoff win since 2000.

The Giants, who needed to win their last two games to clinch the NFC East and get into the postseason, will look to avenge a 38-35 loss to the Packers on Dec. 4.

Atlanta (10-7) went one-and-out of the playoffs for the second straight season, and came unraveled after the Giants stuffed a second fourth-and-inches attempt by quarterback Matt Ryan at their 21-yard line late in the third quarter.

Three plays later, Manning tossed a short pass to Nicks, who cut back, split two defenders and raced to the end zone to cap the longest TD pass of his career for a 17-2 lead with 2:44 left in the quarter.

That sequence sapped the life out of Atlanta, which also failed to convert on fourth down in the first quarter while the game was still scoreless.

Following Nicks' second TD, New York forced a three-and-out before putting the game out of reach with a 10-play, 85-yard drive capped by Manning's scoring pass to Manningham.

The Giants entered the game averaging 89.2 yards rushing, but got 90 yards from Brandon Jacobs and 63 from Ahmad Bradshaw to wear down Atlanta.

Meanwhile, New York's defense limited Falcons running back Michael Turner to only 41 yards on 15 carries.

Ryan was sacked twice and could not generate any sustained offense against New York's defense, finishing with 199 yards on 24-of-41 passing.

Defenses dominated an uneventful first half, with each team managing to put together just one long drive and the Giants holding a 7-2 lead.

Atlanta failed to convert a fourth-and-1 from New York's 24-yard line, but came away with points on the Giants' next possession when Manning was whistled for intentional grounding in the end zone, giving the Falcons a safety.

New York went ahead when Manning capped a 13-play, 85-yard drive with a 4-yard slant pass to Nicks. The TD toss came one play after the Giants converted a fourth-and-inches.