What We Saw
Each week, Daily News football writer Paul Domowitch tells you what he will be keeping an eye on during each Eagles game. Here is how things panned out yesterday:
Each week, Daily News football writer Paul Domowitch tells you what he will be keeping an eye on during each Eagles game. Here is how things panned out yesterday:
1. Season of giving:
Turnovers were the big story in the first Eagles-Giants game and nothing changed in the rematch. Yesterday, the Eagles scored 10 points from turnovers - a David Akers field goal after a Quintin Mikell interception, and a touchdown pass from Michael Vick to Jeremy Maclin after a fumble recovery by Mike Patterson. Conversely, the Giants managed 14 points from turnovers as Eli Manning threw a pair of 8-yard touchdown passes after New York recovered fumbles by the Eagles' Maclin and DeSean Jackson.
2. Chaney's big challenge:
Rookie middle linebacker Jamar Chaney did superbly in his first NFL start. Chaney, filling in for the injured Stewart Bradley (dislocated elbow), had 16 tackles, including 12 solos.
3. The Jack & Mac Show:
Coming into yesterday's game, the Giants hadn't had much luck neutralizing the Eagles' two dangerous wideouts, DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. In three previous games against the Giants, they had combined for 27 receptions for 473 yards (17.5 yards per catch) and three touchdowns. Yesterday, Jackson had three catches for 52 yards to go along with his game-winning, 65-yard punt return, and Maclin had seven receptions for 59 yards and two touchdowns.
4. The heat on Mike:
The Giants' pass rush gave the Eagles' problems in Week 11, sacking Michael Vick three times, forcing two fumbles by Vick and taking away his ability to roll to the left. Yesterday, the Giants sacked Vick three times, but were not able to contain him. Vick ran 10 times for 130 yards and one touchdown to twice rally the Eagles from 21-point deficits.
5. First and 10:
The Giants came into the game ranked first in the league in first-down production, averaging 6.62 yards per first-down play. Yesterday, they only averaged 4.9. Coming into the game, the Eagles' run defense had been outstanding on first down, holding opponents to 3.5 yards per carry. Yesterday, the Eagles held the Giants to 3.3 yards rushing on first down. But passing was another story as Eli Manning finished 7-for-10 for 102 yards on first downs, including two touchdown passes.