EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Few people expected the Giants to open their season with six successive losses. Once they had, even fewer expected them to suddenly launch an impressive winning streak.
But the improbable run to respectability continued Sunday for the Giants as they won their fourth consecutive game and moved within sight of first place in the N.F.C. East with a 27-13 victory over the Green Bay Packers.
The victory over the Packers also accomplished something else that seemed unlikely four weeks ago: the Giants are no longer in last place.
The Giants (4-6) are one and one-half games behind the first-place Philadelphia Eagles, who are idle next week. Next up for the Giants will be a showcase matchup at home against the Dallas Cowboys (5-5).
'We've got more to do obviously, but anytime you win four in a row there are good things happening,' Coach Tom Coughlin said. 'It's exciting to have a little momentum. It's good to have an opportunity now. It's something we've been pointing to.'
The turnaround has transformed a moribund team into a feisty unit led by a dominating defense. To be sure, the Giants' last four opponents have not represented the elite of the N.F.L. - Green Bay was starting its third-string quarterback - but the Giants have been conspicuously led by the very stars who were struggling during the team's winless start.
Eli Manning played another steady game and seemed to revive the Giants' touted downfield passing game as he found Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks for passes of more than 30 yards. Defensively, Jason Pierre-Paul, hampered for most of the year after off-season back surgery, had the pivotal play of the game, leaping to intercept a fourth-quarter pass and then sprinting 24 yards into the end zone.
Pierre-Paul's touchdown gave the Giants a 14-point cushion they easily protected in the game's final minutes.
'He literally called it,' Justin Tuck said, referring to Pierre-Paul's prediction in the huddle that he would intercept a pass on the next play. 'I don't know if it's voodoo or he's psychic. That's something I've never seen before.'
Safety Antrel Rolle agreed: 'That's one of the best plays I've ever seen. He's freakish. That's a game-winning play.'
From the game's beginning, Manning looked as comfortable throwing in the pocket as he has this season, completing each of the four passes he attempted in the Giants opening possession. The drive stalled, largely because of a face-mask penalty on Giants right tackle Justin Pugh, which nullified a 17-yard scramble for a first down by Manning.
On the Giants second possession, a penalty on left guard Kevin Boothe wiped out another Manning scramble, but the Giants quarterback came back with a 15-yard pass to Brandon Myers, who has not been thrown to very often in the last month.
Andre Brown ran for 10 yards on the next play, setting up the play-action pass, which Manning used to get wide receiver Rueben Randle open over the middle.
Manning did a nice job stepping up in the pocket and Randle made a sure catch of a low throw, corralling the ball inside the 10-yard line and eluding two Green Bay defenders to bull into the end zone for a 7-0 Giants lead.
After a brief Packers possession, the Giants were driving again. A 5-yard run on a fourth-and-1 by Brandon Jacobs allowed the Giants to move deep into Green Bay territory and while the possession was halted at the Packers 22-yard line, it set up a 40-yard field goal by Josh Brown.
Defensively, the Giants were dominating the Packers, forcing their offense off the field after three- or four-play drives. Green Bay had possession in the first quarter for 3 minutes, 26 seconds.
But early in the second quarter, the Packers showed some life. Scott Tolzien, playing because of injuries to starter Aaron Rodgers and his backup Seneca Wallace, connected with James Jones for 45 yards over the middle and while the Giants defense stiffened, it led to a 24-yard field goal by Mason Crosby.
The Giants then mounted an impressive drive, using 11 plays to advance to the Green Bay 15. But the 12th play was a Manning pass to the left that became yet another miscommunication between quarterback and wide receiver. Manning threw toward the sideline but Louis Murphy broke toward the middle. The wayward toss ended up in the arms of Packers cornerback Tramon Williams. While Green Bay did not score, it prevented the Giants from adding to their lead.
The teams traded ineffective possessions until Crosby kicked a 57-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter. It was the second longest field goal in Packers history and it was the longest field goal kicked by a Giants opponent. The previous record by an opponent was 55 yards.
The Giants extended their lead early in the third quarter with a 28-yard field goal by Brown, a score set up by a 35-yard reception by Hakeem Nicks.
Consecutive passes to Cruz had the Giants back in scoring position on their next series. On a third-and-3 at the Packers 9-yard line, a pass over the middle to Myers picked up the first down and moved the ball to the 4. Brown ran for 3 yards on first down and Jacobs charged into the end zone to give the Giants a 20-6 lead with 25 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter, Giants safety Will Hill came up early to play what he expected to be a run, it was instead a play-action pass to Jarrett Boykin that gained 52 yards down the right sideline. Three plays later, Eddie Lacy scored on a 4-yard run cutting the Giants lead in half with 12:43 left in the fourth quarter.
There was some tension in MetLife Stadium as the Giants offense failed to get the additional score that would help put away the Packers, but then Pierre-Paul intercepted Tolzien's pass as he came off the right end and rumbled unimpeded into the end zone.
The once winless Giants have not lost since Oct. 10.
EXTRA POINTS
Running back Peyton Hillis was inactive Sunday. With Brandon Jacobs recovered from various leg injuries and with Giants Coach Tom Coughlin apparently wanting to replace Jerrel Jernigan on kickoffs with the rookie Michael Cox, Hillis was the odd man out.
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