The Giants' defense stopped Michael Vick and the Eagles for 51 minutes before collapsing last year at the Meadowlands.
By Ralph Vacchiano - NY Dailynews 9/24/11
Saturday, September 24, 2011
InReeseWeTrust: New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles Week 3 Preview
New York
Giants (1-1) at Philadelphia Eagles (1-1), 1 p.m. Sunday at Lincoln Financial
Field in Philadelphia
By Ben Kelly - InReeseWeTrust.com 9/24/11
What
happened last week?
The
Eagles and Giants both played primetime contests. Michael Vick made his first
start as a visitor in Atlanta on Sunday night, followed by the Giants spoiling
Steve Spagnuolo’s return to the Meadowlands as head of the Rams on Monday. In both
games, key defensive efforts spurred the home team to victory. The Falcons beat
the Eagles with fourteen unanswered fourth quarter points, while Vick sat helpless
in the locker room nursing a concussion. As of Friday, Vick is cleared to start
against the Giants.
The key
in the Eagles loss was turnovers. Vick coughed up three, leading to short
scoring drives and two touchdowns by Matt Ryan and company. At the Meadowlands,
Michael Boley’s 65-yard fumble return deflated another St. Louis drive. St.
Louis faced a 21-6 halftime deficit and didn’t score a touchdown until the end
of the third quarter. The New York defense made key stops throughout the night
in the red zone, limiting the Rams to three field goals on their first three
red zone attempts.
What
does it take to beat Philadelphia?
Containment,
containment, containment. The Eagles have playmakers across the board, and it
starts at quarterback. No player in the league is as dynamic as Michael Vick,
but Vick’s distracting concussion symptoms and treatment could play to the
Giants’ advantage. Containing Vick will be easier if Andy Reid takes concern in
limiting designed runs for his quarterback. Still, Vick is always a threat to
take off from the pocket.
Running
back LeSean McCoy is an NFL top-five rusher in yards and per carry average, exploding
for two 20+ yard bursts and a 49-yard touchdown in week one. On the outside,
the Giants depleted secondary will again have their hands full covering Jeremy
Maclin and DeSean Jackson. Maclin caught 13 passes for 171 yards and two scores
against Atlanta last week, but is known for following good games with bad games.
Giants’
management (looking at you, Jerry Reese) is keeping their fingers crossed in
anticipation of Steve Smith’s performance. Smith’s free agency debacle in
signing with Philadelphia has many Giants fans restless with Reese. He’ll have
to answer to agitated supporters if Smith finds his way to the end zone and
lends his hands to the Eagles’ seventh straight victory over the Giants.
Game Plan
Giants
The game
plan against the Eagles is going to resemble just what the Giants did on Monday
night: ball control through the run game and efficiency from Eli Manning. This
time around, instead of Hakeem Nicks being the lone questionable receiver (listed
as questionable last week, he caught four passes for 38 yards and a score), New
York has two on the injury report. Domenik Hixon will be a weekly fixture injury
report this season, tearing his ACL against the Rams. Hixon is lost for the
second consecutive year with an ACL. Mario Manningham is doubtful due to a
concussion. If he can’t go, it’ll be up to rookie Jerrel Jernigan, perennial
preseason star Victor Cruz and veteran signee Brandon Stokley to break out
against Philadelphia’s loaded secondary.
What is
more likely is the Giants pounding the rock through Philadelphia’s vulnerable
defensive line. The Eagles are 30th against the run through two
weeks, giving away 146 rushing yards against per game. The Eagles also got burned
early by Steven Jackson with a 47-yard touchdown run in week one, and late by
Michael Turner last week with a 61-yard run. Fatigue is not the only factor in
letting running backs gash their defense.
Prediction:
the streak will end
It’s
been six straight for Philadelphia, the last Giants win coming on November 9,
2008, in Philadelphia. That day the Giants rolled up 219 yards on the ground, coming
on 45 rushes compared with 31 passing attempts in the 36-31 victory. The Giants
offense also ran nineteen more plays than the Eagles did, 76 to 57. This is the
kind of formula the 2011 Giants need against Philadelphia, to keep the Eagles’
speed demons out of rhythm and Michael Vick on the bench. More than ever, the
Giants need to get the ground game hustling on all cylinders behind Brandon
Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw. Expect the Giants backfield tandem to expose the Dream
Team deficiency in run defense. Giants win, slashing through the fourth quarter
behind Jacobs and Bradshaw. 34-25.
Eagles QB Vick says he'll play against Giants
UNDER PRESSURE: Michael Vick, recovering from a concussion, said he expects to play against the Giants tomorrow in Philadelphia, meaning Justin Tuck (91) and the Big Blue pass rush will be charged with harrying the dynamic Eagles QB.
By Bart Hubbuch - NY Post 9/24/11
Big Blue can prey on Eagles on ground
SMASH JOB: Brandon Jacobs was part of a 109-yard rushing effort against the Rams on Monday night, but the Giants need a more punishing ground presence if they are to control the clock against the Eagles tomorrow.
By Steve Serby - NY Post 9/24/11
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