Manning and Giants Slip Past Buccaneers With Frantic Fourth Quarter Victor Cruz totaled 179 yards receiving, which included an 80-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Tom Coughlin's sideline histrionics have long been legendary pieces of football cinema. The death stares, the icy glares and the occasional (but impressive) hurling of perfectly-creased play charts all dovetail nicely with Coughlin's perpetually ruddy complexion, making for an entertaining spectacle as the Giants coach examines his charges. In the first three quarters of Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the entire repertory was on display. Coughlin even threw in a two-handed, stiff-armed wave of disbelief after quarterback Eli Manning threw his third interception that led to a Buccaneers touchdown just before halftime. By the end of the afternoon, though, as Manning rallied, nearly setting a franchise passing record, and the Giants completed a dramatic 41-34 comeback victory, even Coughlin had to smile. Manning, despite an awful opening half in which he seemed to connect more with the Tampa Bay defensive backs than his own receivers, shined when it mattered most, passing for 510 yards - three fewer than Phil Simms's record - and 3 touchdowns, including two in a frantic fourth quarter where the Giants scored 25 points in a little more than 12 minutes. In the end, it was just enough to allow the Giants to escape an afternoon where it seemed they were destined to come away with a crushing defeat. Coughlin's early displays of disgust were not just limited to the Giants" inconsistent play. There were also a slew of injuries, including the loss of running back Ahmad Bradshaw, who was examined for an apparent neck injury, as well as the departure of offensive lineman David Diehl, who injured his knee. Neither player returned. With those developments and an erratic performance from the offense (the Giants had 133 more total yards at halftime but trailed by two touchdowns), Coughlin's emotions were understandable. But after a mostly dreary first three quarters, the game exploded in a yo-yo finish. The Giants edged closer with two field goals from Lawrence Tynes, then completed their comeback on a pretty pass from Manning to Victor Cruz down the sideline, with Cruz sprinting 80 yards for a touchdown that set up Andre Brown's 2-point conversion rush. Cruz finished with 179 receiving yards. With the MetLife Stadium crowd of 76,964 revived, the Giants took the lead moments later when Manning found tight end Martellus Bennett for a 33-yard touchdown catch to make it 34-27. But Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman, who passed for 243 yards, came right back and threw his second touchdown pass of the day, connecting with Mike Williams for a 41-yard catch in the back of the end zone. At that point, overtime seemed likely but Manning and his receivers were not finished. Three plays after receiving the kickoff, Manning hit Hakeem Nicks, who totaled 199 receiving yards despite nursing an injured foot, streaking down the side for 50 yards to bring the Giants in range. The Buccaneers tried to let the Giants score - hearkening back to the end of the Giants" Super Bowl victory over New England - but unlike Bradshaw, who tried to stop at the goal line but toppled into the end zone, Brown slid at the 1-yard line, allowing time to run off the clock before jogging in a play later to put the Giants in front for good. Even with that smart play, Freeman still had just enough time to try for one more improbable score but he was picked off by Michael Boley with five seconds remaining, finally allowing Coughlin to smile. Or at least exhale.