Sun Dec 11, 4:05 pm (FOX) - Giants at Eagles
The Giants.
The Giants are 8-4, and two more wins just about guarantees them a playoff spot. Check your pocketbook, because three wins could bring a postseason game to you at Giants Stadium.
The defense is peaking at the right time for this.
The offense, accounting for only 10 of the team's 17 points last week against Dallas, has to get it's act together. Eli Manning hit on only 12 of his 31 passes for 152 yards, and he had 2 interceptions.
Tiki Barber ground the clock with his 30 carries and 115 yards rushing, a much needed effort with Manning struggling, but below his normal average.
Special teams play has been fine all year, even better since David Tyree returned a few weeks ago. Jeff Feagles was just named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week, after dropping two punts
inside the Dallas 4-yard-line. It would be really nice if Jay Feely made us feel comfortable again with his kicking game. There are four more regular season games to go, and it all starts with
the Eagles on Sunday.
The Eagles - Offense.
The Giants beat the Eagles just a few weeks ago and you got to see them play again on Monday night football. You may not have stayed up for the whole game, a 42-0 win by Seattle over the Eagles
who lost yet another offensive weapon, running back Brian Westbrook. They were already without Donovan McNabb, Terrell Owens, Tra Thomas, Hank Fraley, and Todd Pinkston. The Eagles are down
to just three starters on offense, who played in the Super Bowl in February - right tackle Jon Runyan, fullback Josh Parry, tight end L.J. Smith.
Last week, quarterback Mike McMahon was benched after throwing two interceptions that were returned for scores, and his replacement, Koy Detmer, also threw two interceptions and he lost a
fumble.
The Eagles - Defense.
Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said he is still taking the approach that the 5-7 Eagles will finish 9-7, and on Monday night, his defense held Seattle to just 194 yards overall. If Johnson
wants anything like a 9-7 finish, it will all be on him and his guys, and they were pretty tough on Eli Manning last time out. Jevon Kearse and Trent Cole combined for 5 sacks, and Including
those, Manning has been sacked only 22 times overall. It has to have come to their notice, that Eli Manning has been knocked down on passing plays 129 times this season, for the third-highest
total in the league. It represents 29.4% of the Giants 438 passing plays. If the Giants get ahead early and start dreaming about a playoff berth, the NFC East title and a shot at a first-round
bye, the Eagles with nothing to lose, could catch them by surprise.
Giants - Eli Manning.
Eli Manning has been off, missing his receivers, throwing interceptions, and the best play of the game last week was a play that didn't happen. Manning hit Tim Carter for what should have
been a 52 yard catch. Though not the easiest play to make, the ball was right there, and Carter couldn't hang on. It would have been great for Tim Carter's career and done wonders for Eli
Manning's confidence at that point in the game. Manning has said, "As a quarterback, you try to manage the game. It's not just throwing the ball. You have to manage the running game and getting
out of bad situations and there are a lot of things to it. That's what I'm trying to do."
Eli Manning's biggest strength has been his game management. His throwing is a mixed bag. Manning leads the NFC with 20 touchdown passes, but his completion percentage is only 51.4%. Manning
can also make some big mistakes - 6 of his 12 interceptions have come either in the end zone or inside his opponents 10-yard line, and eight of them were in the last four games. Last outing
against the Eagles, he was 17-for-26 for 218 yards with 3 touchdowns and no interceptions.
Giants - Defense.
Last week they put points on the board to help win the game when they scored their first defensive touchdown of the season. For the eighth time this year, they held an opponent under 100 yards
rushing (81). The Cowboys had just 206 total yards and they held Bledsoe to a 36.9 passing rating. Eli Manning needed all the help he could get with his passing rating at 27.9, and he got
it with interceptions by Brent Alexander and rookie free agent James Butler. Michael Strahan had seven tackles and two sacks, and Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck each had one sack. With the
Eagles offense impaired by injuries, it's a tough time to come up against this bunch.
Former Giants.
Eagles strongside linebacker Dhani Jones was with the Giants from 2000-2003. He was a starter in the last two years.
Safety and special teams player Jack Brewer, played in 13 games with the Giants last season.
Punter Sean Landeta, at 43, is the oldest player in the league.
Don't think about it.
But if you do the math, the Giants are 8-4 and could possibly end the season at 8-8. The Eagles are 5-7 and could end up at 9-7. However, there is no catching up for the Eagles if the Giants
win on Sunday.
Notes.
Eli Manning leads the NFC with 20 TD passes.
Tiki Barber is 2nd in the NFL with 1,554 yards combined rushing and receiving this season, 35 yards behind Edgerrin James.
Tiki Barber against Seattle and Dallas the last two weeks had 26 and 30 carries, respectively, his highest totals of the season.
Eagles Sean Landeta is second to Giants Jeff Feagles in most career punts.
Eagles or Giants have swept the season series in 18 of the last 20 years.
They split in 1990 and 2002.
If the Giants win, the Eagles four-year reign as NFC East champs is over.
They can't take the division tittle.
Giants finish with three road games in their final four, and with a 1-3 record playing away from Giants Stadium.
Giants last three season games are played on Saturday.
Giants last season home game is next week against Kansas City.
Next Game.
Dec 17, Chiefs at Giants 5:00 PM - CBS.
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