Week 12 Preview: Philadelphia Eagles (5-6) at New York Giants (3-7)

In the wise words of Heath Ledger’s Joker, “And here…we…go.”

 

The Eagles improbable run to the postseason has begun. Every game from here on out is essentially a playoff game for the young Birds if they hope to get one of the seven postseason spots in the NFC. The stars seem to be aligning.

 

The offense and defense have found their stride. The schedule is Charmin Ultra Soft with the Eagles’ next 5 games being against the Giants, Jets, and Washington. The Birds even find themselves just two games back in the NFC East, as the Cowboys have lost three of their last four games, including a hilarious, penalty-riddled loss on Thanksgiving. Thanks D-Jax.

 

 

After getting their first home victory of 2021 against the Saints, the Eagles will travel north on I-95 for a battle with the division rival New York Giants. I’ll be honest, I’m nervous for this game.

 

“But Matt, the Birds are hot and the Giants suck eggs!” While that is definitely true, games within the division always give me the heebity geebities. What makes this feeling worse is the fact that any Philly team that has had any sort of expectations attached to them has inevitably let us down at some point. So, excuse me for keeping my guard up.

 

Also, this Giants team is definitely still pissed at the Eagles for essentially handing the NFC East division championship to Washington last year in week 17. While I think it was quite funny for a six win team to be mad at another team for not helping them make the playoffs, there are certainly still players on that team who hold a grudge.

 

With that being said, the Eagles not only need to win this game, they should win this game. For what it’s worth, the Eagles have won 15 of the last 21 games they’ve played against the Giants in East Rutherford dating back to 2001.

 

Eagles Offense vs. Giants Defense

 

Ahem…Jalen Hurts has the highest QBR in the NFL over the last 5 weeks. I’m no genius, but that seems to be good.

 

Hurts has seemingly done no wrong over the past couple weeks. While he barely completed over 50% of his passes last week, the second year quarterback made up for it by being an integral part of a fantastic Eagles rushing attack, as he rushed for three touchdowns and 69 yards. #96 is still looking for his ankles.

 

 

The rest of the rushing attack was just as good. Miles Sanders was magnificent in his return despite the fumble. For those of you still caught up on the fumble, I urge you to also acknowledge his 5.9 yards per carry. I’ll say it. Sanders will be the best running back from Penn State on the field at MetLife on Sunday.

 

Running back Jordan Howard will be forced to miss Sunday’s game with a knee injury. This could be a bit of a blow to the Birds run game, as Howard has been spectacular at churning out tough yards since his return to the active roster against Detroit.

 

It’s a good thing the Eagles still employ the majority owner of the New York Football Giants, Boston Scott. The little guy has had fantastic games in the past against the G-men, going back to 2019. In four games, Scott has 432 total yards and six touchdowns and has been an absolute nightmare for the Giants and their fans.

 

 

The Eagles should continue to see similar success with their second ranked running game, as the Giants have an extremely mediocre rush defense. New York is allowing about 4.5 yards per carry this season. Couple that with an Eagles rush attack that is averaging five yards a pop, and the Birds should be able to continue to do what they want on the ground.

 

In terms of the passing game, the Eagles should be able to move the ball through the air as well. The Giants rank in the middle of the pack in total pass yards allowed and pass yards per attempt allowed. While the Eagles have one of the worst passing attacks in the league in terms of yardage, they do have a Devonta Smith.

 

While James Bradberry and Adoree Jackson are fine corners, neither one of them should be able to guard Smith one on one. Tight end Dallas Goedert should also be able to find his fair share of targets again this week, as the Giants don’t have the skill at linebacker to match up with him. Expect either safety, Logan Ryan or Xavier McKinney, to match up with Goedert more often than not.

 

The Eagles game plan should be simple against a mediocre Giants defense. They need to continue to do the same things that have been successful for them over the past month until a team proves they can stop them. I don’t expect the Giants defense to be able to do that.

 

Eagles Defense vs. Giants Offense

 

Jonathan Gannon’s defense played an absolutely suffocating first half last week against the Saints. Aside from the flukey touchdown on a 3rd and goal from the 18 (set up by the Sanders fumble), the Birds defense dominated. Cornerback Darius Slay even contributed a touchdown of his own, adding to his potential all-pro resume.

 

 

Then in the second half, the defense really took their foot off the gas. They allowed the Saints to make the game close enough for Eagles fans buttholes to pucker just a tad. In fact, they allowed Trevor Siemian to get in such a groove that the Saints would score on their final four possessions of the game.

 

Now, does this mean there’s cause for concern? Not necessarily. The game was essentially over and out of reach, so I wouldn’t put too much stock into the defense’s performance in the fourth quarter.

 

This Sunday, the Eagles defense should face similar success according to the book of Gannon. “If thou is an unworthy quarterback, he shall be tortured and deemed inadequate to beat thy Birds of Philadelphia…if thou is a quarterback with any semblance of competence…we uhh…we haven’t thought that far ahead.”

 

Luckily for Gannon and Eagles fans everywhere, Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is a bad quarterback with little to no help around him. Even better for the Eagles defense is the fact that the Giants just fired offensive coordinator Jason Garrett (how was he even hired to begin with) on Tuesday and have replaced him with…Freddie KItchens. It doesn’t get any better for Jones either, take a gander at this injury report.

 

 

Great googly moogly.

 

If you’re keeping track at home, that’s three of the Giants key receivers most likely out, coupled with a questionable injury designation for their best offensive player. Saquon Barkley, who was famously brought up in every broadcast from Miles Sanders’ rookie year, has had an injury riddled past two seasons.

 

While some are starting to consider Barkley a bust, especially in fantasy football terms, I’d consider a lot of that criticism to be unfair. The dude oozes talent and is a threat in open space, as the Eagles have seen first hand multiple times. If he’s able to play on Sunday, which I expect, he will have an impact on the game in some way, shape, or form, even though the Giants rank 25th in rushing offense.

 

In terms of the Giants passing game, the stats would suggest Jones and company are extremely average in terms of passing yardage. However, New York ranks 24th in yards per completion and completion percentage, suggesting that they’re worse than average. If you’ve had the displeasure of watching this Giants offense at all this season, you know they are certainly below average.

 

The fact that the Giants left tackle, Andrew Thomas, has more touchdown receptions (1) than their first round wide receiver, Kadarius Toney, as well as their prized free agent receiver, Kenny Golladay, is downright pathetic. I understand that both Toney and Golladay have missed time, but c’mon.

 

With the Eagles defense starting to turn a corner, and given the fact that they play much better against unproven quarterbacks, Gannon and the lads should see similar success this week. So don’t be surprised if the Giants put up 40.

 

My Prediction

 

This game is a tale of two teams going in opposite directions. The Eagles have to have to have to win this game to even be considered as a team legitimate enough to make a run to the postseason. The Giants are one of the laughing stocks of the league and have lost the most games in the NFL since 2017.

 

At the beginning of the season I said there was no way I would let the 2021 Eagles have any influence on my emotions and mental health this season.

 

 

As you can see, that plan is out the window. Call me Michael Scott from The Office, because I am ready to be hurt again. My brain tells me I have no reason to not feel abundantly confident heading into this game, as the Eagles have an advantage over the Giants in just about every facet of the game.

 

My heart won’t let me believe it. I’ve been hurt too many times by the crushing burden of expectation and hope. It’s even worse because the Eagles have been playing so well that they’ve caught attention of the national media, which sucks. I want the underdog mentality. I want this team to be the league’s best kept secret. I take it most Eagles fans feel the same way.

 

With all of that being said, I will go against my heart. Eagles win, 30-22. I still think this game will be closer than it should be, but that’s division games for ya. The Birds offense and the dynamics of Jalen Hurts will just be too much for the Giants defense to handle. We’re going streaking.

 

If I Were A Betting Man

Miles Sanders over 66.5 rushing yards, Devonta Smith over 55.5 receiving yards, Matt Szczypiorski over 4.5 F bombs.

 

 

Broadcast Information

Time: 1:00 P.M. EDT

TV: FOX (Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth and Shannon Spake)

Radio: 94.1 WIP

Stream: NFL Game Pass

 

 

By Matt Szczypiorski | November 28, 2021
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