The Eagles face a huge test this week against the defending Super Bowl champion Giants as they look to keep their playoff hopes alive. With their playoff hopes still alive, the Eagles look for their first NFC East win of the season against the 11-1 Giants. Philadelphia will have to get a much more consistent performance from its defense to reverse the 36-31 loss it suffered to the Giants a month ago at Lincoln Financial Field. In that game, New York ran for 219 yards and controlled the time of possession to take the big win. The Eagles (6-5-1) are trying to get on a roll. They are coming off a most-impressive 48-20 win over Arizona, a game in which the offense rang up nearly 450 yards and quarterback Donovan McNabb threw four touchdown passes. Running back Brian Westbrook accounted for 130 yards from the line of scrimmage and scored four touchdowns and the Eagles had their most productive game of the season at the line of scrimmage. Defensively, the Eagles know they must limit a Giants running game that is averaging 4.9 yards per carry. They also know they have to get to quarterback Eli Manning and pressure him into making mistakes. The Eagles are expected to be aggressive and attack the line of scrimmage on Sunday. The reality, as we all understand, is that the Eagles have to play as perfect a game as possible to defeat the 11-1 Giants on Sunday. Every player, every coach, every situation, has to be right. The 48-20 pasting of the Cardinals was a glimpse into how good this team can be, but the mark of a truly outstanding team is the ability to play at that level on a week-in, week-out basis.
This is a big game for Tra Thomas and the edges of the line. The Eagles face the prospect of some nasty weather in Giants Stadium and they may have to shorten up their game plan. Thomas is going to see some pressure on blitzes and from the Giants' defensive scheme. He needs to give Donovan McNabb time to throw. The last time the Eagles were in Giants Stadium was not a pretty sight for the offense. The Eagles have to win the line of scrimmage. McNabb and the offense cobbled together 300 total net yards against the Giants in the 36-31 loss on November 9, striking for some big plays, taking advantage of turnovers and putting the ball in the end zone via the passing game. If the offensive line can play as well now as it did then and give McNabb time to set up and throw, the Eagles will try to gash the New York secondary with their receiver pieces. McNabb is the driver of the offensive engine. He has to show the same poise, pace and confidence he did against Arizona. That was McNabb in one of his best games of the season. In the earlier game against the Giants, McNabb was 17 of 37, but he also threw 3 touchdown passes and ran for 35 yards. Mixed in was a costly interception. He knows the deal. The Giants have a pressure-oriented defense. McNabb has to be quick with his reads, accurate and very decisive. This game, then, is a superb test for the receivers, for the passing game, for the philosophy of the offense. It is one thing to do it with such an authoritative and confident approach against Arizona. Hey, the Eagles deserved a good pat on the back for a job well done on Thursday night.
The tight end position is another concern. L.J. Smith has 22 catches and 3 touchdowns, not exactly the kind of production the Eagles need from the tight end position. In this game, Smith has to be a weapon. The short- and intermediate-range passing game has to be there for McNabb to offset the New York pressure defense and, potentially, the weather conditions. Smith had 32 yards worth of receptions against Arizona, his third-highest yardage total of the season. He had 3 catches and 32 yards in the previous game against the Giants after missing a game with a concussion. Without production from the tight ends, the Eagles will have a hard time getting the ball outside to the receivers. Smith must force the Giants to respect the area between the hash marks.
It remains to be seen if the Eagles have enough at wide receiver to win big. There have been multiple problems at many times with this offense, and not one area is to blame. The receivers, as a group, have had too many drops and not enough touchdowns. Still, the Eagles believe they can be successful with this wide receiver corps, but they also recognize the need to be more consistent. The Eagles need to make some big plays to turn back the Giants, and rookie wide receiver DeSean Jackson is a logical candidate to do so. He leads the team with 53 receptions for 775 yards, with two scores. Jackson has also been a home-run threat in the return game. New York's secondary has played better than many expected it would this year, due in part to a great front seven that applies pressure to the quarterback. The Eagles must unlock Jackson down the field and stretch the Giants defense. Otherwise, the Eagles will have very little room at the line of scrimmage. Jackson has been sensational this season. He has made plays in traffic and he has used his exceptional speed to get beyond defensive backs. Even though he weighs around 175 pounds, Jackson has been tough and durable. The Eagles look to him in critical situations and he has delivered. They need Jackson to punch some openings in the New York secondary as a receiver, a running back and the X factor in their "Wildcat" formation that they use from time to time. It is an interesting watch at a position that fascinates everyone, and that continues to be a daily debate among fans. Do the Eagles have enough at wide receiver to win a Super Bowl? By trimming the rotation from six players to four, Reid and the coaching staff are saying that, for now, less is more. In the game against Arizona, when the Eagles torched the Cardinals for 437 total net yards, the foursome of Curtis, DeSean Jackson, Jason Avant and Hank Baskett fit the pieces together perfectly. Jackson was an intermediate-area receiver who caught and ran his way to 76 yards and a touchdown on 6 receptions. Jackson found space and used his speed and quickness to tear up the Cardinals' hash-to-hash defense. Curtis was the water bug, finding creases in coverage as Donovan McNabb spread the ball around. McNabb tried to stretch the field with a long pass down the field to both Jackson and Curtis, just to keep the Cardinals from squatting on short routes. Baskett was the go-to receiver to keep the chains moving. Four of his 5 receptions gained first downs, and Baskett did a little bit of everything -- catching and running for 20 yards, laying out and making a spectacular diving grab, running a quick slant for a catch in coverage and catching a dump in the flat for 2 yards and a first down. Avant, usually the staple on third downs, did his damage in traffic with 4 catches for 25 yards and a touchdown. Together, the group of four receivers combined for 20 catches, 2 touchdowns and 202 yards. The two other receivers, Brown and Greg Lewis, played sparingly but did not catch a pass. The assumption, then, is that the Eagles will continue with the four-man rotation at wide receiver and that, while Brown and Lewis will dress and may see a few snaps here or there, they will not be much more involved in the picture. The challenge on Sunday against an excellent Giants defense is to, as Reid likes to say, put his receivers in position to make plays in the passing game. This is another Sunday and another 60 minutes of questions for the wide receivers. Are they good enough? Is this team good enough? The challenge waits in the form of the defending Super Bowl champions, a Giants team that is 11-1 and the best team in the league.
The Eagles will try to run the ball, yes, but they are looking at matchups here and, frankly, the Giants just don't give up much on the ground. You don't open gaping holes against New York's front seven. You don't deal aces from the first snap through the 60th minute when you are playing against players and a scheme who are this good. What you do is remain patient, stick to your approach, change on the go when the opportunities present themselves and play with a high level of efficiency and precision. The Eagles will need running back Brian Westbrook to be at peak form if they are to pull off the win they desperately need against the Giants on Sunday, and it appears that's what they're going to get. Bothered much of the season by a sprained ankle, later by fractured ribs, and frequently by a chronic knee problem that often prevents him from practicing, Westbrook said yesterday he feels like he did at the start of the season, largely because the Eagles had three days off following their Thanksgiving night win over Arizona. For the first time in weeks, Westbrook showed the speed and agility that's made him one of the game's most complete backs when he ran for 110 yards and scored four touchdowns, two running and two on catches, against the Cardinals. He was named the NFC offensive player of the week. In the Giants' 36-31 win over the Eagles on Nov. 9, Westbrook was held to 26 yards on 13 carries. Following that game, the Giants said defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo told them to keep 22 eyes on Westbrook at all times. New York defensive end Justin Tuck reiterated yesterday that stopping Westbrook is the key to stopping the Eagles' offense.
Defensively, the Eagles know they must limit a Giants running game that is averaging 4.9 yards per carry. They also know they have to get to quarterback Eli Manning and pressure him into making mistakes. The Eagles are expected to be aggressive and attack the line of scrimmage on Sunday. Trent Cole doesn't have the sack numbers of one season ago -- he has seven -- but Cole has played very well in every phase of the game. He'll need to get after Eli Manning and make Manning move off his spot. The first priority of the defense is to stop the run, but the Giants are just as capable at beating teams with their passing game. Manning is still prone to turning the ball over and losing ball security in the pocket when he is pressured. Cole is going to see double teams, chipping, and a lot of nasty stuff thrown his way. Doesn't matter. A premier end, which Cole is, makes a difference in games like this. In his second season as a starter, Bunkley seems to be ready to take that next step in his development. He is a good player on the way to becoming a very, very good player. This is the kind of game that can help Bunkley move forward. The Giants are excellent inside with their blocking scheme, they are very physical and they have a devastating blend at running back. Bunkley has to be big. He made 11 tackles in the first meeting against the Giants, despite an overall defensive performance that struggled. New York's rushing success from one month ago doesn't fall directly on Bradley's shoulders, but he is the middle linebacker and Bradley takes great pride in having success against the run. Bradley recorded 16 total tackles in that game, but the Giants still controlled the line of scrimmage and the second level of the defense on the way to 219 yards on the ground. Bradley must be around the ball all game. He has to get off blocks and get to Brandon Jacobs and Co. before they have a chance to run downhill. It is a tall task, and it is going to be a telling one for Bradley. Is he ready to be a top-flight middle linebacker? He is making strides. This is a big game for Bradley and the defense. Also the safeties have to do it all. They have to support against the run and help in coverage, particularly against tight end Kevin Boss. Mikell also has to be over-the-top help against the Giants down the field. Now, New York doesn't have Plaxico Burress. That is a headache the Eagles don't need to worry about in this game. But the Giants are still threats with Domenick Hixon, the ageless Amani Toomer, Steve Smith and Sinorice Moss. It is a good group. The Eagles can't get lulled into a false sense of security here. Mikell leads the Eagles with 133 total tackles, has 3 interceptions and 2 quarterback sacks. He has had a fine season. Dawkins will be himself and play up to the level we expect as well. We can expect ot hear both of their names called many times in this game.Which team will we see on Sunday, the team that tied Cincinnati and lost to Baltimore or the team that annihilated the Cardinals on Thanksgiving? Lets hope that they play like they did on Thanksgiving. This game is a test that will show if the Eagles have what it takes to advance to the playoffs in January. They can win this game but they have to play the best football this team has played all season, and they can't make mistakes or slow down if they get into the lead. In conclusion (off topic) I would like to say congratulations to Donovan McNabb and his wife on the birth of their twins. I hope that the team can help Donovan celebrate by bringing home the win on Sunday.
This is a big game for Tra Thomas and the edges of the line. The Eagles face the prospect of some nasty weather in Giants Stadium and they may have to shorten up their game plan. Thomas is going to see some pressure on blitzes and from the Giants' defensive scheme. He needs to give Donovan McNabb time to throw. The last time the Eagles were in Giants Stadium was not a pretty sight for the offense. The Eagles have to win the line of scrimmage. McNabb and the offense cobbled together 300 total net yards against the Giants in the 36-31 loss on November 9, striking for some big plays, taking advantage of turnovers and putting the ball in the end zone via the passing game. If the offensive line can play as well now as it did then and give McNabb time to set up and throw, the Eagles will try to gash the New York secondary with their receiver pieces. McNabb is the driver of the offensive engine. He has to show the same poise, pace and confidence he did against Arizona. That was McNabb in one of his best games of the season. In the earlier game against the Giants, McNabb was 17 of 37, but he also threw 3 touchdown passes and ran for 35 yards. Mixed in was a costly interception. He knows the deal. The Giants have a pressure-oriented defense. McNabb has to be quick with his reads, accurate and very decisive. This game, then, is a superb test for the receivers, for the passing game, for the philosophy of the offense. It is one thing to do it with such an authoritative and confident approach against Arizona. Hey, the Eagles deserved a good pat on the back for a job well done on Thursday night.
The tight end position is another concern. L.J. Smith has 22 catches and 3 touchdowns, not exactly the kind of production the Eagles need from the tight end position. In this game, Smith has to be a weapon. The short- and intermediate-range passing game has to be there for McNabb to offset the New York pressure defense and, potentially, the weather conditions. Smith had 32 yards worth of receptions against Arizona, his third-highest yardage total of the season. He had 3 catches and 32 yards in the previous game against the Giants after missing a game with a concussion. Without production from the tight ends, the Eagles will have a hard time getting the ball outside to the receivers. Smith must force the Giants to respect the area between the hash marks.
It remains to be seen if the Eagles have enough at wide receiver to win big. There have been multiple problems at many times with this offense, and not one area is to blame. The receivers, as a group, have had too many drops and not enough touchdowns. Still, the Eagles believe they can be successful with this wide receiver corps, but they also recognize the need to be more consistent. The Eagles need to make some big plays to turn back the Giants, and rookie wide receiver DeSean Jackson is a logical candidate to do so. He leads the team with 53 receptions for 775 yards, with two scores. Jackson has also been a home-run threat in the return game. New York's secondary has played better than many expected it would this year, due in part to a great front seven that applies pressure to the quarterback. The Eagles must unlock Jackson down the field and stretch the Giants defense. Otherwise, the Eagles will have very little room at the line of scrimmage. Jackson has been sensational this season. He has made plays in traffic and he has used his exceptional speed to get beyond defensive backs. Even though he weighs around 175 pounds, Jackson has been tough and durable. The Eagles look to him in critical situations and he has delivered. They need Jackson to punch some openings in the New York secondary as a receiver, a running back and the X factor in their "Wildcat" formation that they use from time to time. It is an interesting watch at a position that fascinates everyone, and that continues to be a daily debate among fans. Do the Eagles have enough at wide receiver to win a Super Bowl? By trimming the rotation from six players to four, Reid and the coaching staff are saying that, for now, less is more. In the game against Arizona, when the Eagles torched the Cardinals for 437 total net yards, the foursome of Curtis, DeSean Jackson, Jason Avant and Hank Baskett fit the pieces together perfectly. Jackson was an intermediate-area receiver who caught and ran his way to 76 yards and a touchdown on 6 receptions. Jackson found space and used his speed and quickness to tear up the Cardinals' hash-to-hash defense. Curtis was the water bug, finding creases in coverage as Donovan McNabb spread the ball around. McNabb tried to stretch the field with a long pass down the field to both Jackson and Curtis, just to keep the Cardinals from squatting on short routes. Baskett was the go-to receiver to keep the chains moving. Four of his 5 receptions gained first downs, and Baskett did a little bit of everything -- catching and running for 20 yards, laying out and making a spectacular diving grab, running a quick slant for a catch in coverage and catching a dump in the flat for 2 yards and a first down. Avant, usually the staple on third downs, did his damage in traffic with 4 catches for 25 yards and a touchdown. Together, the group of four receivers combined for 20 catches, 2 touchdowns and 202 yards. The two other receivers, Brown and Greg Lewis, played sparingly but did not catch a pass. The assumption, then, is that the Eagles will continue with the four-man rotation at wide receiver and that, while Brown and Lewis will dress and may see a few snaps here or there, they will not be much more involved in the picture. The challenge on Sunday against an excellent Giants defense is to, as Reid likes to say, put his receivers in position to make plays in the passing game. This is another Sunday and another 60 minutes of questions for the wide receivers. Are they good enough? Is this team good enough? The challenge waits in the form of the defending Super Bowl champions, a Giants team that is 11-1 and the best team in the league.
The Eagles will try to run the ball, yes, but they are looking at matchups here and, frankly, the Giants just don't give up much on the ground. You don't open gaping holes against New York's front seven. You don't deal aces from the first snap through the 60th minute when you are playing against players and a scheme who are this good. What you do is remain patient, stick to your approach, change on the go when the opportunities present themselves and play with a high level of efficiency and precision. The Eagles will need running back Brian Westbrook to be at peak form if they are to pull off the win they desperately need against the Giants on Sunday, and it appears that's what they're going to get. Bothered much of the season by a sprained ankle, later by fractured ribs, and frequently by a chronic knee problem that often prevents him from practicing, Westbrook said yesterday he feels like he did at the start of the season, largely because the Eagles had three days off following their Thanksgiving night win over Arizona. For the first time in weeks, Westbrook showed the speed and agility that's made him one of the game's most complete backs when he ran for 110 yards and scored four touchdowns, two running and two on catches, against the Cardinals. He was named the NFC offensive player of the week. In the Giants' 36-31 win over the Eagles on Nov. 9, Westbrook was held to 26 yards on 13 carries. Following that game, the Giants said defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo told them to keep 22 eyes on Westbrook at all times. New York defensive end Justin Tuck reiterated yesterday that stopping Westbrook is the key to stopping the Eagles' offense.
Defensively, the Eagles know they must limit a Giants running game that is averaging 4.9 yards per carry. They also know they have to get to quarterback Eli Manning and pressure him into making mistakes. The Eagles are expected to be aggressive and attack the line of scrimmage on Sunday. Trent Cole doesn't have the sack numbers of one season ago -- he has seven -- but Cole has played very well in every phase of the game. He'll need to get after Eli Manning and make Manning move off his spot. The first priority of the defense is to stop the run, but the Giants are just as capable at beating teams with their passing game. Manning is still prone to turning the ball over and losing ball security in the pocket when he is pressured. Cole is going to see double teams, chipping, and a lot of nasty stuff thrown his way. Doesn't matter. A premier end, which Cole is, makes a difference in games like this. In his second season as a starter, Bunkley seems to be ready to take that next step in his development. He is a good player on the way to becoming a very, very good player. This is the kind of game that can help Bunkley move forward. The Giants are excellent inside with their blocking scheme, they are very physical and they have a devastating blend at running back. Bunkley has to be big. He made 11 tackles in the first meeting against the Giants, despite an overall defensive performance that struggled. New York's rushing success from one month ago doesn't fall directly on Bradley's shoulders, but he is the middle linebacker and Bradley takes great pride in having success against the run. Bradley recorded 16 total tackles in that game, but the Giants still controlled the line of scrimmage and the second level of the defense on the way to 219 yards on the ground. Bradley must be around the ball all game. He has to get off blocks and get to Brandon Jacobs and Co. before they have a chance to run downhill. It is a tall task, and it is going to be a telling one for Bradley. Is he ready to be a top-flight middle linebacker? He is making strides. This is a big game for Bradley and the defense. Also the safeties have to do it all. They have to support against the run and help in coverage, particularly against tight end Kevin Boss. Mikell also has to be over-the-top help against the Giants down the field. Now, New York doesn't have Plaxico Burress. That is a headache the Eagles don't need to worry about in this game. But the Giants are still threats with Domenick Hixon, the ageless Amani Toomer, Steve Smith and Sinorice Moss. It is a good group. The Eagles can't get lulled into a false sense of security here. Mikell leads the Eagles with 133 total tackles, has 3 interceptions and 2 quarterback sacks. He has had a fine season. Dawkins will be himself and play up to the level we expect as well. We can expect ot hear both of their names called many times in this game.Which team will we see on Sunday, the team that tied Cincinnati and lost to Baltimore or the team that annihilated the Cardinals on Thanksgiving? Lets hope that they play like they did on Thanksgiving. This game is a test that will show if the Eagles have what it takes to advance to the playoffs in January. They can win this game but they have to play the best football this team has played all season, and they can't make mistakes or slow down if they get into the lead. In conclusion (off topic) I would like to say congratulations to Donovan McNabb and his wife on the birth of their twins. I hope that the team can help Donovan celebrate by bringing home the win on Sunday.
Who to watch in this game:
- Eagles LB Stewart Bradley vs. Giants RB Brandon Jacobs
- Eagles CB Sheldon Brown vs. Giants WR Amani Toomer
- Eagles RB Brian Westbrook vs. Giants LB Antonio Pierce
- Eagles RG Nick Cole v. Giants LDE Justin Tuck
- Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson vs. Giants QB Eli Manning
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment