Giants
- Eagles
1999 Game 7 - 1PM
ET
Eagles
can Fly
A
long winding road
Last month, much like Dorothy following the yellow brick road,
the Eagles took the turnpike into Giants Stadium, coming in
with no wins and 3 losses.
They played with their hearts and minds and yes, with courage
that day causing 5 Giants turnovers, but it wasn't enough
and they lost the game 16-15. However, the Giants played sort
of a Dorothy role in this semi-analogy, and the Eagles left
the Meadowlands with so much confidence, they went on to beat
both Dallas and Chicago.
After those 2 wins, the Eagles lost a close one to the Dolphins
when a Norm Johnson 42 yard field goal attempt went wide right
with 52 seconds left. So here they are again, and one thing
is for sure, win or lose against the Giants this week, the
Eagles will end up with an extra dose of confidence by games
end.
The
Eagles and Kent Graham
The Eagles lead the NFL in takeaways with 19, and they're
2nd in interceptions with 14. Three of those interception
came against Kent Graham, and it's a matter of fact that the
slant play with which the Eagles picked off 2 passes against
the Giants is still in the playbook.
Kent Graham talked about it, saying that it would be used,
but only under the right circumstances, and that he would
be extra cautious before throwing it.
"We called the same play against Dallas and they played it
the same way the Eagles did," Graham said. "So, I pulled it
down and ran the ball and everybody booed. They were yelling,
'Throw the ball!' No thanks. Been there, done that.".
The Eagles intercepted him three times in that game, nearly
cost him his starting job and left him with a concussion.
Graham is fully recovered from the concussion, mostly recovered
from the quarterback controversy, and is ready to face the
Eagles again.
"I feel comfortable," said Graham. "I feel I'm starting to
get into my mode where I was last year. This is why this week
is so important to me personally, I want to keep that going,
especially going into the bye week. I've just gotta be smart
with the ball ... and not get a concussion; that'll help too."
Then Kent turned serious again, "I feel more confident
going into this Eagles game, but when you take a beating like
we did last time against them, and how I played, obviously
you have that in the back of your mind, and you want to overcome
that.".
Graham went on to say that he has a healthy respect for the
Eagles defense, but feels he and his offense are playing at
a higher level than a month ago, thanks to a last-minute drive
for a win against the Cowboys and then a 31-point explosion
against the Saints.
Eagles
are no Saints
Don't look for the Giants to score 31 points against
the Eagles this week. In their worst beating of this year,
the Eagles gave up 26 points.
Their last 4 games have been decided by 4 points or less,
and they've lost three of their games this season by a grand
total of five points.
In fact, they almost continued their win streak against the
Dolphins last week. Miami controlled the ball for 36 minutes
in that game, and still you couldn't count the Eagles out.
On the final drive QB Doug Pederson overthrew a pass to a
wide open Charles Johnson for what could have been the game
winning touchdown. After that, there was a missed 42 yard
field goal in their attempt to tie it up for overtime.
Like
the Giants, the Eagles have had trouble getting points on
the board. The Eagles offense went 18 straight quarters without
a touchdown earlier this season, and now has a 6 quarters
no TD streak going. Last week's Eagles TD was scored by the
defense, when Brian Dawkins returned an interception 67 yards.
Eagles Head Coach Andy Reid said that Doug Pederson will start
Sunday against the Giants. Many Eagles fans would like to
see rookie QB Donovan McNabb get a shot, especially after
that overthrown pass by Pederson last week. He was 13 completions
on 25 passes for just 108 yards with one interception.
Andy Reid wants to bring McNabb along slowly, and says, "I've
got to go on what my expertise is. I can't let outside influences
be an influence on this decision. I'm going to do this when
I think it's right. I want to make sure Donovan McNabb grows,
as hard as that is. I'm looking at the big picture."
That may make sense, but Andy will be under a lot of pressure
to make some changes.
The
Giants running game - who's up this week?
This week it's LeShon Johnson. For the
Cardinals in 1996, Leshon rushed for 634 yards on 141 carries.
This guy has raw talent that can't be tamed. It seems he can't
wait to run, he breaks some and then gets stopped for no gains.
The problem is he tries to power his way through, but picks
the wrong spots. Last week against the Saints LeShon ran for
only 36 yards on 18 carries. Fassel says, "He missed some
reads.".
Leshon says, "I have to know when to use my speed and when
not to use it. I feel like I've gotten a lot better, but once
I get it down, I'll be the back I want to be."
Johnson and Bennett weren't able to make the running game
work very well before Gary Brown returned to action in Week
4. So we might expect to see Tiki Barber in there to get things
going if the running game stalls this Sunday.
The
Defense
The Giants really need their defense on the field, and they
were pretty banged up after last week's game. LB Jessie Armstead,
who had said he might not practice this week, was back on
the field with his bruised ribs. You just can't stop that
guy, and he will be starting this Sunday. Luke Petitgout will
also play. The Giants will be starting Sanders, 5-8 and 185
pounds, who has never started an NFL game.
Watch out for
Brian Dawkins, who had a 67-yard INT return for a TD
in Miami last week.
Bobby Taylor, who returned one 18 yards for a score in the
first Giants game. Dawkins said the Eagles felt they should
have won that first game.
He also says, "We feel we have a great chance of winning this
game."
Also watch to see what Jason Sehorn does with the ball if
he gets his hands on one this game. In the first game, he
lateraled and the ball ended up in the end zone, recovered
by Phillippi Sparks who was tackled by Charles Johnson for
a safety.
NOTES
Eagles
Rank 30th in total offense, averaging only 209.7 yards
per game.
RB Duce Staley ranks sixth in the NFL, and has 505 yards.
Duce Staley and Emmitt Smith are the only 1,000-yard rushers
from last season who are on pace to reach that mark this season.
Tight ends Luther Broughton and Jed Weaver have 21 receptions.
- Last year the Eagles tight ends caught just 23 passes all
season.
Defense is now being run by new coordinator Jim Johnson.
Have forced 19 turnovers. Last year, total was an NFL-low
17.
Have totaled 14 interceptions. - Last year, total was 9.
Giants
Lifetime
are 70-58-2 against the Eagles, but in Philadelphia, Eagles
are 33-30-1 Have forced 12 turnovers, with 10 interceptions.
Have 17 sacks, with 9 1/2 split between linebacker Jesse Armstead
and defensive end Michael Strahan.
Rank 27th in the NFL in total offense, but are only one-half
game behind Washington and Dallas in the NFC East.
Have allowed just 11.8 points per game in 6 games, excluding
the Redskins blowout.
Amani Toomer has 37 receptions for 470 yards, which puts him
on pace for an 80-catch, 1,000-yard season.
Jim Fassel is 5-0 vs. Eagles.
Streaks
Longest Giants Winning Streak 9 games - 1938-42.
Longest Eagles Winning Streak 11 games -1975-81.
Giants
- Eagles first game - Recap
Next
week
The Giants have a bye week.
The Eagles are at Carolina on Sunday, Nov 7 at 1 PM.
Click
on the Team Giants logo to be informed of all Giants game
previews and reviews. |
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Previous
Stories
1999
NFC EAST - Week 7
|
Team |
W |
L |
T |
PCT |
PF |
PA |
Home |
Away |
AFC |
NFC |
DIV |
Streak |
Dallas |
4 |
2 |
0 |
.667 |
158 |
95 |
3-0 |
1-2 |
0-0 |
4-2 |
3-2 |
W1 |
Washington |
4 |
2 |
0 |
.667 |
194 |
166 |
1-1 |
3-1 |
1-0 |
3-2 |
2-2 |
L1 |
NY Giants |
4 |
3 |
0 |
.571 |
115 |
121 |
3-1 |
1-2 |
0-1 |
4-2 |
2-2 |
W2 |
Arizona |
2 |
4 |
0 |
.333 |
82 |
129 |
1-2 |
1-2 |
0-1 |
2-3 |
2-2 |
L1 |
Philadelphia |
2 |
5 |
0 |
.286 |
90 |
128 |
1-2 |
1-3 |
0-2 |
2-3 |
1-2 |
L1 |
|