PHILADELPHIA — If there was any doubt the New York Giants rule the NFC East, the Super Bowl champions erased it last night.

Eli Manning threw two touchdown passes, Brandon Jacobs had two TD runs and the Giants held on to beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 36-31, and further distance themselves from the pack in the NFL's toughest division.

The Eagles had the ball at their own 45 with 1:55 left, but Brian Westbrook was stopped by Chase Blackburn on fourth-and-1.

"It was exhilarating," Blackburn said of the clinching tackle.

The Giants (8-1) are two games ahead of the Washington Redskins and three in front of the Eagles (5-4) and the Dallas Cowboys. New York is 3-0 against its division rivals, but has only one other win against an opponent with a winning record.

"It's great to win here," coach Tom Coughlin said. "It reinforces everything we believe about team, supporting each other and finding a way to win the game."

Perhaps the Giants' easy first-half schedule — their first eight opponents are a combined 27-44 — was a reason oddsmakers made the Eagles a three-point favorite.

Miffed by the prognosticators' pick, the Giants proved them all wrong.

They did get help from the referees on two close calls in the second half.

Jacobs lost the ball at the goal line on his 2-yard TD run that made it 36-24. The Eagles challenged, but officials upheld the play.

The Giants went ahead 27-24 two plays after a reversed call gave them a first down at the Eagles 3.

Manning's 17-yard pass to Kevin Boss on third-and-10 was initially ruled illegal because he appeared to release the ball from beyond the line of scrimmage. Replays showed Manning's back foot was behind the line, and Jacobs ran in from the 3 for the go-ahead score.

"I think the way the rule is written, it was worth taking a shot at it," said Manning, who urged Coughlin to challenge the call. "If you have one toe on the line of scrimmage, then it's a legal pass. I thought it was worth the risk."

The Eagles were surprised the play was overturned.

"I don't know what they were looking at," defensive tackle Mike Patterson said.

Donovan McNabb had three TD passes for the Eagles. McNabb's 2-yard TD toss to Kevin Curtis on fourth down cut it to 36-31 with 5:30 left.

The defense stopped the Giants on the ensuing possession and the Eagles took over at their 14 with 3:14 to play and one timeout remaining. But they couldn't put together a winning drive.

VIKINGS 28, PACKERS 27

MINNEAPOLIS — Adrian Peterson rushed for 192 yards and reached across the end zone with 2:22 left for the go-ahead touchdown as Minnesota (5-4) ended a five-game losing streak to Green Bay (4-5). Mason Crosby's 52-yard field-goal attempt in the closing seconds was just wide, helping the Vikings pull into a first-place tie with the Chicago Bears. Green Bay is one game back in the NFC North.

Peterson did his damage on 30 carries, including a 29-yard scamper to give Minnesota the lead and help the Vikings overcome three interceptions by Gus Frerotte that the Packers turned into 17 points.

FALCONS 34, SAINTS 20

ATLANTA — Drew Brees threw a season-high three interceptions, the last returned 95 yards for a touchdown by Chevis Jackson, as Atlanta (6-3) beat New Orleans (4-5). Matt Ryan threw two TD passes for the Falcons. Ryan connected with Roddy White for a 16-yard touchdown on the Falcons' second possession, then broke it open with a short pass to Jerious Norwood, who took it for a 67-yard TD and a 27-6 lead.

Brees, leading the league in passes, completions and yards, was 31 of 58 for 422 yards.