Giants expect a ‘different dynamic’ with Joe Milton at QB as they try to end a 13-year drought in Philly
The Giants haven’t won at the Linc since Chip Kelly’s first season as coach. They’ll look to snap that streak against their former star running back Saquon Barkley.
The Eagles’ third straight contest against a division rival is Sunday against the New York Giants (1 p.m., Fox29), who are currently lead the NFC East with a 4-2-1 record.
After six straight losses, the Birds desperately need a win, especially after double-digit losses to the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys.
The Giants, meanwhile, are coming off a bye, marking the second consecutive week the Eagles will face a team that was idle the week before. New York again will turn to quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who was acquired from the Minnesota Vikings at the end of September.
Here’s what the Giants have been saying about the Eagles ahead of their matchup:
Prepping for Joe Milton
The Eagles are turning to Joe Milton this week after back-to-back losses with Tanner McKee, and Giants’ coach John Harbaugh found out before their practice on Wednesday. “Word travels fast,” Harbaugh said jokingly.
“We’ve seen Joe in college,” he said. “We’ve seen him in the preseason. We’ve seen the little bits played in the regular season; we’ll be watching those clips of those guys the next couple days.
“We’ll try to anticipate, just like guys had to do with J.J. [McCarthy]. What exactly are they going to run with him? What would be the plays? But it’s still going to be their offense, still going to be their structure, still going to be the Eagles’ team. So, from that sense, we’re just preparing for the game.”
» READ MORE: Eagles QB Joe Milton says he’s ready for his first NFL start — and benched Tanner McKee is helping his transition
Giants defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson believes the Birds will call plays similar to what they called when Jalen Hurts was still behind center, as Milton has a comparable athletic profile.
“He’s a big man,” Wilson said. “He can run. He’s elusive in the pocket, and he can throw the ball 100 yards. So we have to be aware of that. He’s going to bring a different dynamic to the offense, and we’re really aware of it. It’s not going to change what we do. We’re going to play attack defense, and that’s what we pride ourselves on.”
Exorcising the Linc demons
It’s been 13 years since the Giants won at the Linc, and Harbaugh, in his first year at the helm at 18 in Baltimore, joked he feels as if he inherited a large debt from a dead relative.
“You got all the pictures and the record collection and you got the million dollar debt that your uncle incurred,” Harbaugh said jokingly. “I’d say, ‘I’m not up for that so I’m gonna say no thanks to that.’”
» READ MORE: Why did the Eagles make the quarterback change to Joe Milton? Nick Sirianni explains.
Harbaugh wasn’t aware of the losing streak before being asked about it, but said, “We don’t care about it.” Tight end Isaiah Likely took the same stance, as he and the coaching staff bring a short-term memory mindset into every game.
“Whether you haven’t won in Philly in 13 years, whether we beat the opponent earlier this year and you had to play them again, I mean every mindset every week should be trying to finish 1-0,” Likely said. “Whether whatever record was in the past. I mean, I wasn’t here 13 years ago, so my mentality is winning the game at hand.”
Saquon vs. his former team, again
Saquon Barkley has played the team that drafted him three times since joining the Eagles in 2024 — his 128 yards per game against the Giants are his highest against any single opponent — but he’s never faced New York with Harbaugh at the helm.
He’ll presumably do so for the first time on Sunday. Harbaugh said he doesn’t have much of a relationship with the former Giants running back, but shared plenty of praise for the 2024 Offensive Player of the Year.
“I’ve probably maybe bumped into him somewhere along the way at a Pro Bowl or something like that, and chatted with him,” Harbaugh said. “But nothing but respect, first class guy from everything I’ve been told or seen. Obviously, a great player. That’s what I know.”
With the Eagles’ season gradually going up in flames, there’s been plenty of external fingerpointing. The offense, specifically the line, has drawn considerable ire, especially in light of the Eagles parting ways with longtime, beloved assistant coach Jeff Stoutland. Stoutland’s track record on the offensive line is Hall of Fame-worthy. This year, with Chris Kuper as Stoutland’s replacement, the line has regressed.
Should Kuper shoulder most of the blame? What really happened between Stoutland and the Eagles that caused their relationship to fall apart? The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane dives deeper into one of the biggest “what ifs” from a frustrating season, framing Stoutland’s exit around four key questions. Listen here.
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