Giants discount Burress factor in loss to Philly

There are probably a dozen reasons the Eagles beat the New York Giants on Sunday, including the most basic in any athletic contest: Philadelphia played better.

The world at large probably will accept only one: Plaxico Burress.

Burress, of course, did not play Sunday and most likely will never play for the Giants again after accidentally shooting himself in the leg at a New York club on Nov. 29. He was suspended by the team and faces gun charges in a New York court.

Was that why the Giants lost after seven straight wins and 11 victories in their first 12 games?

“No!” screamed the Giants.

Yes, said a good portion of the media, most notably one who announced to coach Tom Coughlin that the Eagles had not once double-teamed one of New York’s receivers. In fact, many of the things that went wrong for the Giants played right into the Burress theory. For example, on the first play of the second quarter with the Eagles leading 3-0, Eli Manning dropped back and lofted a ball perfectly into the hands of Domenik Hixon, Burress’ replacement. Hixon was behind the Philadelphia secondary 50 yards downfield. He dropped it.

As it turns out, the loss did little damage. When Pittsburgh beat Dallas in a late game, the Giants clinched the NFC East, although they still have a first-round bye and home-field advantage for the playoffs in front of them.

Cheap shot ignites short tempers

Tempers flared after Detroit rookie offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus lunged from his knees to hit Minnesota defensive end Jared Allen on his left knee.

Allen slowly got off the turf and angrily limped toward Cherilus, pointing and screaming, before teammate Ray Edwards held him back.

“Obviously I was pretty upset,” Allen said Sunday after Minnesota beat Detroit 20-16. “Stuff happens. I take care of it on the field.”

Allen went to the sideline, where his left knee was examined.

“The knees are a sacred thing in this league,” Allen said. On the next play, Detroit fullback Moran Norris was ejected for swiping at linebacker Napoleon Harris after they tangled.

Marino’s father dies

The father of Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino has died at the age of 71. Linda Elachko of the John N. Elachko Funeral Home in Pittsburgh said Dan Marino Sr. died Sunday in Weston, Fla. She did not immediately know the cause of death.