Giants (0-2) vs Eagles (1-1) Last
week the Eagles faced their old head coach Andy Reid when they traveled to Kansas
City. They put up a good fight, but in the end lost to the Chiefs 27-20. The
Giants lost their Monday night home opener to the Detroit Lions 24-10. For the
second week in a row, their offense has struggled to put points up on the board.
Giants
- Lions Wrap-Up Philadelphia
Eagles Last year the Eagles suddenly traded
Sam Bradford away to the Minnesota Vikings just eight days before the season started.
Carson Wentz didn't get much notice, but he went straight from rookie backup to
starting quarterback for the full season. Wentz got off to a great start and in
the first five games threw 7 touchdown passes and had just one interception. By
the end of the season he had thrown 16 touchdowns, had 14 interceptions and 9
fumbles. Wentz also ran the ball 46 times for 15 first downs and 2 touchdowns,
though he fumbled the ball 4 times on his running plays. Former Eagles quarterback
Nick Foles was signed to be the backup for Wentz. Philadelphia
Eagles Offense They
put a lot of pressure on Carson Wentz last year and still continue to do so. Over
three quarters of the offensive plays called so far have been for passes, and
Wentz has scrambled on eight and been sacked eight times. They had brought in
former Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount to strengthen the running game
and he had 14 carries for 46 yards in the first game, but strangely just one carry
negated by a penalty in the last one. Meanwhile Darren Sproles carried the ball
10 times and Wendell Smallwood had 3 carries. There were 4 by Wentz for a total
of 17 runs compared to the 46 passes Wentz threw. Head coach Doug Pederson
had recognized an imbalance, though he called fewer runs in this game then he
had in the opener, and didn't use Blount, who had 18 touchdowns with the Patriots
last season, as the workhorse. Wentz's favorite target last season was tight end
Zach Ertz. The Eagles traded away his second leading receiver Jordan Matthews
to the Buffalo Bills. They're looking for 2015 first round pick Nelson Agholor
to step up, and they signed on Alshon Jeffrey, a former Chicago Bear. Philadelphia
Eagles Defense They
can bring pressure. Defensive end Brandon Graham, defensive tackles Fletcher Cox
and Tim Jernigan are responsible for six of the teams eight sacks so far in two
games. Their gameplay, along with the rest of their up front unit, have helped
keep some pressure off the secondary. Opposing quarterbacks need a little time
to look downfield and it's not so easy going up against these guys. This week
their secondary could really use that help. Cornerbacks Ronald Darby and Jaylen
Watkins are out, as well as safety Corey Graham. Safely Rodney McLeod is questionable
and he would be missed defending against the run. Safety Malcom Jenkins will be
playing and he is dangerous. Last game against the Giants, Jenkins picked off
Eli Manning twice and returned one for a touchdown. Giants
Offense Opposing teams know they can get
to Eli Manning with their pass rush and Manning is playing like he doesn't trust
his protection. His instincts are correct. He's been sacked a total of eight times
so far and to put that in perspective, Manning was sacked only 21 times in all
16 games last season. The Lions sacked Manning five times last week and Ereck
Flowers, who is in charge of Manning's blindside, gave up three of them. Right
tackle Bobby Hart has been battling an ankle injury and will be out for this game.
The only good news is that Odell Beckham Jr. played in his first game last week
and he will be closer to his healthier self in this game. If the offensive
line can somehow manage to give Manning the little bit of extra time he needs
to connect with promising rookie tight end Evan Engram and his other wide receivers,
he should be able to exploit the Eagles secondary. The first step would be establishing
some sort of running game that will have to be respected. A running back like
Orleans Darkwa could get that respect with repeated opportunities, possibly more
so than Paul Perkins. Giants
Defense They
have been mostly solid, allowing just three touchdowns in two games. Up front,
Jason Pierre-Paul, Olivier Vernon and Damon Harrison will be anxious to pressure
Carson Wentz. Last season, the Giants intercepted Wentz three times in their two
games. It looks like opposing teams have been able to run on the Giants - Dallas
picked up 129 in the opener, and Detroit 138 last week, but that's thanks in part
to early leads and the Giants offense. Unfortunately, middle linebacker B.J. Goodson
has been ruled out for the second week in a row and will be missed. Calvin Munson
filled in last week and should make his second straight start in Goodson's place.
Linebacker Keenan Robinson was cleared from the concussion protocol during the
week and that will help. Cornerback Janoris Jenkins is questionable for this game.
The Giants have not done their best in third down defense, but the Eagles last
week found themselves in many third-and-long situations. That said, safety Landon
Collins will have to be very aware of tight end Zach Ertz and running back Darren
Sproles. Overall This
game will complete the 'trifecta' from near the end of the last season where the
Giants faced these same three teams in a row, Cowboys, Lions and Eagles. Those
results were W-W-L. It's not going at all well this time around. This game will
come down to a Giants offensive line that's been playing poorly holding up against
the Eagles defensive front which has been playing well. That doesn't sound good,
and the Giants will need a lot of things to break their way to win this one. NFC
East Games Sunday at 1:00pm Giants (0-2)
at Eagles (1-1) Sunday at 8:30pm Raiders (2-0) at Redskins (1-1) Monday
at 8:30pm Cowboys (1-1) at Cardinals (1-1) The Eagles and Cowboys are the
NFC East teams favored to win in these games.
Notes. Giants
have not won at Lincoln Financial Field since 2013. Giants
are the only team in the NFL that has yet to reach 100 yards rushing. Giants
head coach Ben McAdoo is the play caller for the team. Eagles
head coach Doug Pederson is the play caller
for the team. Eagles Carson Wentz started
all 16 games last season, becoming the first Eagles quarterback to do that since
Donovan McNabb in 2008.
Check out.
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