The Eagles are heading to Giants Stadium for the NFC Divisional Playoffs this Sunday. This is Round 3 of the NFC East’s heavyweight match between the Eagles and Giants, with the teams splitting the first two games. New York is the defending Super Bowl champions and the NFC’s No. 1 seed in the playoffs. The 12-4 Giants enjoyed a bye week and enter this game rested and healthy after struggling to a 1-3 record in the month of December. There are few surprises here. The Giants rely on an offense that operates behind a bruising line, running first to set up the passing game later. All three Giants running backs – Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw – are capable and each gives a different tempo to the ground attack. Quarterback Eli Manning is a smart, accurate thrower who has supreme confidence after winning the Super Bowl last year. Defensively, New York runs a similar scheme to what the Eagles employ. The Giants generate a lot of pressure from the front seven and the secondary takes advantage. It will be the third time that these bitter NFC East rivals have faced off against one another this season. The Giants won the first matchup at Lincoln Financial Field in early November. The Eagles won the rematch at Giants Stadium back on Dec. 7. Both games were decided by fewer than seven points. Who will win the rubber match? Andy Reid has guided the Eagles to seven Divisional Round appearances since 1999, which is the most in the NFL during that span. The Eagles are 1-2 all time against the Giants in the playoffs, including a 23-20 win in the 2006 wild card round. The Eagles won four of their final five regular season games to make the playoffs as the No. 6 seed with a 9-6-1 record. As for the Giants, they are the NFC's No. 1 seed with a 12-4 record just one year after a remarkable run to win Super Bowl XLII, which was deemed one of the greatest upsets of all-time as the Giants stunned the previously unbeaten Patriots. After starting off the season winning 11 of 12 games, the loss to the Eagles in Week 14 started a string of three losses in the final four games. That one win, however, was a come-from-behind 34-28 overtime win over Carolina to seal home-field advantage for the playoffs.
After completing 23 of 34 passes for 300 yards with one touchdown and one interception, McNabb has another huge test against the pressure-oriented Giants. McNabb needs to be at his best once again to defeat New York and that means making sure the ball gets out quickly and accurately. The Eagles ran the ball very well in the most recent meeting against the Giants on a cold, windy day. Still, McNabb threw 30 passes as the Eagles controlled the clock and dominated the second half of that game. A similar strategy would be helpful as the Eagles look to get the offense on the right track immediately. Playing with a lead is very important in the hostile Giants Stadium. The Eagles must give McNabb time to set up and throw, and it is likely he will see constant blitzing as he did last Sunday in Minnesota. McNabb has been outstanding since the benching in Baltimore, tossing 10 touchdown passes and only two interceptions, while completing 64.9 percent of his passes. The Eagles need more of the same on Sunday to beat the defending champions.
After completing 23 of 34 passes for 300 yards with one touchdown and one interception, McNabb has another huge test against the pressure-oriented Giants. McNabb needs to be at his best once again to defeat New York and that means making sure the ball gets out quickly and accurately. The Eagles ran the ball very well in the most recent meeting against the Giants on a cold, windy day. Still, McNabb threw 30 passes as the Eagles controlled the clock and dominated the second half of that game. A similar strategy would be helpful as the Eagles look to get the offense on the right track immediately. Playing with a lead is very important in the hostile Giants Stadium. The Eagles must give McNabb time to set up and throw, and it is likely he will see constant blitzing as he did last Sunday in Minnesota. McNabb has been outstanding since the benching in Baltimore, tossing 10 touchdown passes and only two interceptions, while completing 64.9 percent of his passes. The Eagles need more of the same on Sunday to beat the defending champions.
Basically there is nothing new to say here. The Eagles need to control the line of scrimmage, stay balanced on offence, and win the turnover battle. I've said it all twice before this year, and everything in those earlier articles still apply. This is a team that we all know well and one that this team can beat. They need to get out there and do it on Sunday and if they do I think they should go all the way. This is the toughest challenge left for the Eagles and if they can get past it the rest should just fall into place. I will go so far as to say that whoever wins this game will be the next Superbowl Champion. So lets go Eagles Win.
Who to Watch:
- Eagles RB Brian Westbrook vs. Giants LB Antonio Pierce
- Eagles LB Stewart Bradley vs. Giants RB Brandon Jacobs
- Eagles RT Jon Runyan vs. Giants DE Justin Tuck
- Eagles CB Sheldon Brown vs. Giants WR Domenik Hixon
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