Skip to content
Link copied to clipboard
Link copied to clipboard

Eagles-Giants scouting report

Recent history: Eagles eked out a 19-17 victory over the Giants on Sept. 30; the teams split last season's series, but the Eagles swept the 2009 and 2008 series against the G-Men.

Eli Manning (left) and Michael Vick have combined for 24 interceptions this season. (AP photos)
Eli Manning (left) and Michael Vick have combined for 24 interceptions this season. (AP photos)Read more

Recent history: Eagles eked out a 19-17 victory over the Giants on Sept. 30; the teams split last season's series, but the Eagles swept the 2009 and 2008 series against the G-Men.

OFFENSE

Eagles: 356.5 yards per game (12th)

Giants: 352.7 yards per game (14th)

Quarterback

Eagles: Michael Vick hasn't played in almost 7 weeks and almost certainly is rusty, both physically and mentally. He had 14 turnovers in nine starts before being sidelined with a concussion, and faces a defense that is 2nd in the league in takeaways.

Giants: All of Eli Manning's passing numbers are down from last year. He's 17th in the league in passing (83.6), 21st in completion percent (59.8), 23rd in interception percentage (15 in 515 attempts) and 22nd in third-down passing (74.1).

Pick: Giants

Running back

Eagles: After missing 4 games with a concussion, LeSean McCoy returned Sunday and had 22 touches vs. Redskins, his most since Week 4. Caught 9 passes for 77 yards. Since rushing for 347 yards in Weeks 12 and 13, rookie Bryce Brown has averaged only 1.8 yard per carry.

Giants: Ahmad Bradshaw has rushed for 908 yards and is averaging 4.4 yards per carry, but is nursing a knee sprain that kept him out of Atlanta game 2 weeks ago and limited him to 9 carries Sunday vs. Ravens. Rookie David Wilson is averaging 6.1 yards per carry the last 3 games.

Pick: Eagles

Receiver

Eagles: Jeremy Maclin has been targeted 36 times in the last three games and has 21 receptions for 293 yards and 2 touchdowns. With No. 2 TE Clay Harbor on IR, the Eagles have operated primarily out of three- and four-wide receiver sets.

Giants: WR Hakeem Nick is averaging only 13.1 yards per catch and has only 3 TD receptions. His struggles have allowed opposing defenses to focus on Giants' other starting wideout, Victor Cruz, who is averaging nearly 7 yards less per catch than last year.

Pick: Even

Offensive line

Eagles: The Eagles are 25th in the league in sacks allowed per pass play and have given up five or more in two of the last three games. Addition of RG Jake Scott helped solidify interior of the line, but tackles King Dunlap and Dennis Kelly have struggled on the outside.

Giants: Led by C David Baas and RG Chris Snee, they have a fairly reliable veteran unit that is ranked first in the league in sacks allowed per pass play and ninth in yards per carry (4.5). RT David Diehl is starting to slip a bit.

Pick: Giants

DEFENSE

Eagles: 339.6 yards per game (14th)

Giants: 387.8 yards per game (30th)

Defensive line

Eagles: LE Brandon Graham has played as well as any 4-3 end in the league the last 2 months. In the last 8 games, he's rushed the passer 133 times and has 5 sacks, 2 knockdowns and 20 hurries. Absence of DT Fletcher Cox (concussion) will impact ability to stop the run.

Giants: The fearsomeness of the front four is more myth than reality these days. Their pass rush is a shell of what it's been. Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora no longer require constant double teams. Giants have only two sacks in the last four games.

Pick: Eagles

Linebacker

Eagles: With WLB Mychal Kendricks not expected to play because of a concussion, they could have problems covering TE Martellus Bennett. Akeem Jordan, who was benched 3 weeks ago when Kendricks moved from SAM to WILL, will start at WILL.

Giants: Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell has played musical chairs with LBs in attempt to improve a run defense ranked 28th in yards allowed per carry and has given up 702 rushing yards in the last four games. MLB Chase Blackburn has not had a good year.

Pick: Even

Secondary

Eagles: They benched struggling safety Nate Allen Sunday and replaced him with overachieving Colt Anderson. Anderson is much more aggressive, but lacks adequate size and speed. CBs Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Nnamdi Asomugha have improved.

Giants: They have 20 interceptions, but only 3 in last 6 games. With the emergence of safety Stevie Brown, who has seven of those 20 picks, they have used a lot of three-safety packages, with Antrel Rolle usually covering the slot receiver.

Pick: Giants

Special teams

Eagles: With the lone exception of Damaris Johnson's 98-yard punt return for a touchdown vs. Dallas 4 weeks ago, the return game has been anemic. Only 2 punt returns have gone 20 yards or more, with one kickoff return of 35-plus yards. P Mat McBriar is 31st in the league in net average (36.6).

Giants: Rookie KR David Wilson is averaging 26.9 yards per return. Domenik Hixon has replaced rookie Rueben Randle as the primary PR. P Steve Weatherford has a 47.0 net average in the last two games. PK Lawrence Tynes has converted 33 of 39 FG attempts.

Pick: Giants

--

DOMO'S PREDICTION: EAGLES 27, GIANTS 24

--

KEY MATCHUPS

Eagles LDE Brandon Graham vs. Giants RT David Diehl. Graham is playing as well as any d-end in the league at the moment. Diehl has struggled. Advantage: Eagles

Eagles: LT King Dunlap vs. Giants REs Jason Pierre-Paul. Pierre-Paul has only 6.5 sacks, but still is a nightmare at RE. Dunlap can't handle Pierre-Paul alone. Advantage: Giants

Eagles WR Jeremy Maclin vs. Giants CB Corey Webster. Maclin has been targeted 36 times and has 21 receptions in the last 3 games. Webster has given up 8 TD passes. Advantage: Eagles

--

HOT AND NOT

HOT

Eagles: WR Jeremy Maclin. Has 21 catches for 293 yards and 2 TDs in the last 3 games.

Giants: RB/KR David Wilson. Is averaging 5.1 yards per carry and is second in the NFC in KR average (26.9).

NOT

Eagles: RB Bryce Brown. Since rushing for 347 yards in back-to-back games vs. Panthers and Cowboys, he's averaging 1.8 yards per carry.

Giants: WR Hakeem Nicks. Had zero receptions against the Ravens Sunday and only 3 TD catches all season.

--

WEATHER FORECAST

Partly cloudy

34 degrees