Domowitch: Eagles-Giants scouting report

Recent history: The Giants defeated the Eagles on Nov. 6 at the Meadowlands, 28-23. New York leads the series, which began in 1933, 85-80-2.

WHEN THE EAGLES RUN THE BALL

The Eagles are coming off their most impressive rushing performance of the season, rushing for 169 yards Sunday against the Ravens' No. 1-ranked run defense. Ryan Mathews had his third 100-yard game of the season, with 128 yards on 20 carries. But he is not the most durable player, and it will be interesting to see how he responds to a short recovery week. The Eagles will get right tackle Lane Johnson back, which is a big plus. He missed the last 10 games after getting suspended for PED use. The Giants are third in the league in opponent rush average (3.6). They held the Lions to 56 yards on 19 carries in Sunday's 17-6 victory, and did a good job of containing the Cowboys' Ezekiel Elliott the week before that (107 yards on 24 carries). The Giants have allowed just 29 runs of 10-plus yards, second fewest in the league.

EDGE: Giants

WHEN THE EAGLES PASS THE BALL

Carson Wentz has taken every snap this season. After a red-hot start, he has played like you'd expect a rookie to play the last 10 weeks. He has a 70.1 passer rating with just 6 TDs and 12 INTs in his last 10 starts. He's had to throw the ball way too much (44.4 attempts per game the last 8 games), and he has had to rely heavily on TEs Zach Ertz and Trey Burton and slot receiver Jordan Matthews because he doesn't have any legitimate outside threats. Against the Ravens, 61.5 percent of his passes traveled 5 yards or less. He was just 4-for-15 on throws of 6 yards or more. Just 3 of his 22 completions gained more than 11 yards. In the first Giants game, Wentz had two early INTs that set up touchdowns. The Giants own the league's second best opponent passer rating (76.0) and completion percentage (58.4). They've only given up 13 TD passes, including 7 in the last 9 games.

EDGE: Giants

WHEN THE GIANTS RUN THE BALL

The Giants have been a one-dimensional offense this season, relying heavily on Eli Manning and the passing game. They're 30th in the league in rushing (81.2 yards per game) and yards per carry (3.4). They have just 5 rushing TDs and have had more than 5 rushing first downs in a game once in their last 10 games. They have averaged just 23.8 rushing attempts per game, which is the ninth fewest in the league. They've been a little more balanced lately, running the ball 33 times last week vs. Detroit and 32 times the week before vs. Dallas. Rashad Jennings (3.2 per carry) has been their primary ballcarrier, but rookie Paul Perkins has been getting more opportunities lately. He had 15 carries against the Cowboys and gained 56 yards on 11 carries last week vs. Lions. The Eagles' run defense has been erratic, prone to giving up big runs.

EDGE: Eagles

WHEN THE GIANTS PASS THE BALL

For the quarterback of a 10-4 team with pretty much no running game, Eli Manning's passing numbers are remarkable in their unremarkableness. He's 19th in passing (89.3), 18th in completion percentage (63.4), 25th in third-down passing (79.6) and 24th in interception percentage. But he's seventh in touchdown passes (25) behind the usual suspects - Rodgers, Brees, Rivers, et al. In Odell Beckham Jr., he has one of the league's elite pass-catchers. Beckham has 85 receptions and 10 touchdowns, including two in the first game against the Eagles. Victor Cruz isn't what he once was, but rookie third-rounder Sterling Shepard has picked up the slack and been invaluable in the slot. The Eagles must find a way to keep Beckham and the rest of the Giants receivers in front of them. They have given up an NFL-high 24 pass plays of 30 yards or more.

EDGE: Giants

SPECIAL TEAMS

Since missing a 46-yard attempt in Week 1, Caleb Sturgis has converted 32 of 36 FG attempts. One of those misses was blocked. Another was a 55-yarder. Sturgis and the Eagles' kickoff-coverage unit are ranked third in the league and first in opponent drive start after kickoffs (22.4). The Eagles haven't allowed an opponent to advance a kickoff beyond the 35-yard line all season, with the exception of an onside kick and an end-of-the-half squib kick. Darren Sproles, who missed the Baltimore game with a concussion, has the league's second best punt return average (13.2). P Donnie Jones has punted just 4 times in the last 2 games. Just 19 of his 54 attempts have been returned, only two of them for more than 12 yards. The Giants replaced PK Josh Brown with Robbie Gould in October. Gould has attempted just 4 FGs in 8 games, but has made all 4.

EDGE: Eagles

INTANGIBLES

The Giants have everything to play for, the Eagles nothing. The Giants can clinch their first playoff berth in 5 years with a victory. They have won 8 of their last 9 and are coming off impressive, back-to-back wins over the Cowboys and Lions. That homefield thing has worn off for the Eagles. They've lost their last two games at the Linc.

EDGE: Giants

Domo's prediction: Giants 24, Eagles 12

MATCHUPS TO WATCH

1. Eagles CBs Leodis McKelvin, Nolan Carroll and Jalen Mills vs. Giants WRs Odell Beckham Jr., Victor Cruz and Sterling Shepard: The Eagles have given up an NFL-high 24 pass plays of 30-plus yards. They must find a way to keep Beckham in front of them and limit the damage he does. ADVANTAGE: Giants

2. Eagles LT Jason Peters vs. Giants RDE Olivier Vernon: At 34, Peters is having a solid season. Vernon leads the Giants in sacks. Had 5 tackles and a sack in first battle with Peters earlier this season. ADVANTAGE: Even

3. Eagles DT Fletcher Cox vs. Giants LG Justin Pugh and C Weston Richberg: The Eagles need a big game from the disruptive Cox to rattle Eli Manning with up-the-middle pressure. He didn't have any sacks in the first game against the Giants. ADVANTAGE: Eagles

Hot and Not

HOT

Eagles: RB Ryan Mathews. His 128 rushing yards against the Ravens were the third most of his career.

Giants: DE Olivier Vernon. Leads team in sacks; 7.5 in last 7 games.

NOT

Eagles: S Rodney McLeod. For the second time in three games, his aggressiveness has been called into question.

Giants: WR Victor Cruz. Hasn't had more than one catch in the last 6 games.

@Pdomo Blog: philly.com/Eaglesblog