New York Giants (6-3) at Philadelphia Eagles (6-3), Sunday 8:20 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
By Ben Kelly - InReeseWeTrust.com 11/20/10
What happened last week?
In Donovan McNabb’s second start against his former team, he witnessed the new heir apparent to Andy Reid’s West Coast offense torch the Redskins for 6 touchdowns and 59 total points, the most ever in a Monday night game. Vick passed for 333 yards and 4 scores and added 2 more touchdowns and 80 yards on the ground in one of the best quarterback performances of all time. Vick’s teammates contributed 180 yards on 30 carries for 592 net yards of offense. Philadelphia never trailed, scoring on an 88-yard touchdown on the first offensive play of the game. Defensively, Philadelphia allowed 375 yards to Washington’s 20th ranked offense, but the game was never in doubt with the Eagles leading 28-0 after the first quarter. This is the first matchup between the Giants and Eagles this season.
What to expect from Eagles:
Vick, Vick, and more Vick. Michael Vick is in contention for Comeback Player of the Year and MVP awards for leading the Eagles to the NFL’s third best offense (the Giants are second) and a career and league high 115.1 passer rating. Vick and the Philadelphia skill position players have the potential to score from anywhere on the field. Vick, who hasn’t thrown an interception this season, is second on the team in rushing to second-year running back LeSean McCoy. Young receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin are averaging 21.5 and 15.4 yards per reception, respectively. These Eagles also lead the league in takeaway differential at +1.2 per contest.
What to expect from the Giants:
Last week brought a humiliating home defeat to New York in the form of 1-7 Dallas and its interim head coach and backup quarterback. The loss ended the Giants’ five-game win streak, and Giants players must look to move on from the setback. It is possible New York was looking ahead to Philadelphia. The winner of this game will claim first place in the East and an early tiebreaker in what is becoming a two horse race for the division crown. New York progressed steadily from a 1-2 start to the most balanced offensive and defensive attack in the NFC. What doomed Washington last week was their inability to contain Michael Vick using defensive linemen, often having to send a 5th or 6th rusher, which opened the field for Eagles’ receivers. This won’t be the case against the Giants, who can pressure the pocket with a deep rotation at defensive line that will free up the line backing corps and secondary to spy against Vick’s mobility and clog throwing lanes. As Justin Tuck acknowledged this week, a good way to motivate a defense is to applaud the opposing offense in excess, and think about it: where haven’t you heard how dominant Vick and the Eagles offense was last week? And how they are a Super Bowl contender after this recent performance? And how they’re offense in unstoppable? Kind of reminds one of the 2007 New England Patriots…
Prediction:
In last season’s final matchup between the Eagles and Giants, the Eagles won a 45-38 shootout that featured multiple lead changes. The quarterback in Philadelphia then was Donovan McNabb, but I expect a similar game to play out. In today’s NFL, when two of the league’s top offenses and defenses face each other, the trend has been towards the offense. New York is coming off an embarrassing home defeat; Philadelphia returns home after an invigorating beat down of the rival Redskins. Each team in this game has their own motivations; New York needs to prove last week was a fluke while the Eagles are out to duplicate their destruction. In shootouts, the game often comes down to which defense can make the final push or key turnover. The Giants’ defense is more experienced than Philadelphia’s and determined to shut down, or at least defeat the Wonderful Mr. Vick. New York wins, 46-37.
Last week’s prediction: Giants 35, Dallas 20 (20-33 actual)
Season prediction record: 7-2
What’s YOUR score?
