The Giants on the sideline raced onto the field to celebrate with the kickoff team, drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, but the emotional lift seemed worth it. It had been so long since the Giants had anything meaningful to celebrate.
"It was a real momentum builder, and I think it set the tone for today's game," Ponder said. "I just wish we could have been victorious. We haven't been having a good year, but guys wanted to fight and they wanted to win."
Redskins 26, 49ers 16
In San Francisco, Patrick Ramsey passed for 214 yards and a touchdown and linebacker Antonio Pierce returned one of Washington's four interceptions 78 yards for a score.
Clinton Portis rushed for 110 yards, Rod Gardner caught six passes for 111 yards and newcomer Jeff Chandler kicked four field goals -- and still, the Redskins (5-9) made many of the same mistakes that have plagued them in the first season of coach Joe Gibbs' comeback.
The offense scored its only touchdown on its opening drive, and Washington committed 11 penalties for 93 yards to stay on pace to break the franchise record.
Ken Dorsey, making his fifth start for San Francisco in place of injured Tim Rattay, doubled his interception total for the season, including three in the first half. He finished 20-of-38 for 206 yards, but the 49ers (2-12) remained on track for the top pick in the NFL draft of college players.
Falcons 34, Panthers 31, OT
In Atlanta, Michael Vick scored the tying touchdown on a 12-yard run with less than two minutes to go in regulation, then Jay Feely kicked a 38-yard field goal in overtime, helping Atlanta snap Carolina's five-game winning streak.
The Panthers (6-8) were as resilient as ever, recovering from a pair of double-digit deficits.
Carolina went ahead for the first time with a 21-point fourth quarter, only to have the Falcons (11-3) show they know a thing or two about bouncing back.
Dez White got the Falcons in position for the tying score with a dazzling 54-yard reception. The Falcons got down to their final play -- fourth-and-goal from the Carolina 12.
Vick spotted an opening up the middle and took off for the end zone, diving across with 1:37 remaining. The officials reviewed the play to see if Vick went down before he crossed the goal line, but replays showed that he somehow kept his left knee suspended about an inch above the turf as he stretched out for the end zone.
Carolina won the coin toss in overtime, only to have Jake Delhomme overthrow Ricky Proehl down the middle. Aaron Beasley made the interception and returned it 30 yards to the Carolina 23.
A couple of safe runs into the middle of the line set up Feely, who connected on third down to put the Falcons on the brink of clinching the No. 2 seed in the NFC.
Vick completing just 11-of-28 for 154 yards with two interceptions. He threw a pair of TD passes and ran eight times for 68 yards.
Delhomme was 24-of-35 for 340 yards, but he had two big fumbles and the game-deciding interception. Muhsin Muhammad had 10 receptions for 135 yards.
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