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Giants (2-1) vs Eagles (2-1)
It's been a struggle for the Eagles in their first
three games. The two wins were by just 1 point and last week they lost big to
a team led by a former quarterback, Kevin Kolb. A sack on Michael Vick and subsequent
93-yard fumble recovery return for a touchdown at the end of the first half had
the Cardinals up 24-0. They lost to the Cardinals 27-6.
The Giants coasted
to an easy 36-7 win over the Carolina Panthers. They were on a very short week
and had to travel after their comeback victory against the Buccaneers. Both Ramses
Barden and Andre Brown made their first career starts and showed the kind of depth
the Giants have on this team. Philadelphia
Eagles.
They were able to shake
any 'dream team' thoughts very early last season by starting off with a 1-4 record.
That became 4-8 before they got things together to finish at 8-8. That last 4
game win streak, combined with the fact that they went 5-1 against their three
division opponents, gave some hope to the team and their loyal fans. They started
off this season by extending the win streak. There were two slim victories over
Cleveland 17-16 and Baltimore 24-23 before last week's 'Disaster in the Desert',
a 27-6 loss to the Cardinals. Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie has said that another
8-8 season would not be good enough for Andy Reid to return and right now the
Michael Vick project is wearing thin.
Michael Vick got off to a great start
in 2010. He got hurt and missed some games, but overall put up good numbers running
and throwing the ball. In 2011 he didn't run the ball as much and was more effective
when he did, but it was the same story as he was once again injured and missed
games. Vick's passing numbers reflected the beating he was taking on the field.
He was poor in third and fourth down situations and against the blitz and threw
almost one interception per touchdown (18TDs - 14INTs). It was the highest number
of interceptions in any one of his seasons with either Atlanta or Philadelphia
and Vick is already on a path to supersede that this year. Eagles
offense.
Michael Vick plays worse
as he wears down and he's already sustained 9 sacks and 28 total hits in his first
three games. That has led to his 9 turnovers (6 interceptions, 3 fumbles). On
the plus side there are his four touchdowns (3 throwing, 1 rushing). The Eagles
would like Vick to stay in the pocket more and release the ball quicker but that's
not his nature, and not totally his fault that he can't manage it. The offensive
line is struggling, missing their all-Pro and great run-blocking tackle Jason
Peters (achilles tendon), and starting center Jason Kelce (knee - torn ligaments),
who has been replaced by Dallas Reynolds (three seasons practice squad).
Running back LeSean McCoy can take pressure off Michael Vick and he has been very
effective against the Giants in the past. Last week Andy Reid seemed more hesitant
than usual to run the ball even though Vick was struggling. McCoy has lost two
fumbles already and that's already more than he ever has in any one season. Last
week he seemed to be an afterthought with only four carries in the first half
of the game and he finished up with 13 for 70 yards in their two field goal, zero
touchdown loss. Eagles
defense.
They have been playing well and
were able to overcome the nine turnovers in games one and two, but they were hit
with three more last week. Against the Cardinals they had no takeaways to balance
things as in the previous two games where they had six. They had their hands full
trying to cover Larry Fitzgerald who blazed them for nine catches for 114 yards
and one touchdown. Overall they have 7 sacks and rank 3d in the NFL against the
pass, but are 16th against the run and have allowed some big yardage on more than
a few of them. They'll have to respect the Giants running game the way things
are shaping up this year compared to last. Giants
offense.
Imagine if the Giants had a running
game to back up the incredible things Eli Manning can do with his receivers. Well,
maybe you don't have to click your heels and imagine any more. This Sunday it
looks like you'll see 'do or die' Ahmad Bradshaw coupled up with Andre Brown.
Brown is averaging 5.6 yards per carry and Bradshaw 4.3. Fans can pick their favorite,
but the Eagle defense will have to deal with both.
Victor Cruz, despite drawing
big defensive attention, still has 23 catches for 279 yards and a touchdown. Hakeem
Nicks was sidelined against the Panthers and will also miss this game. Manning
will rely on Ramses Barden, who came up big last week. Tight end Martellus Bennett
has been great blocking and as a pass-catcher he has 15 catches for 185 yards
and 3 touchdowns. Giants
defense.
The pass rush, with Osi Umenyiora,
Justin Tuck and Jason Pierre-Paul going after Michael Vick behind a suspect front
line, is the good news. The bad news is the banged up secondary the Giants will
field trying to cover . In Carolina, safety Antrel Rolle and cornerbacks Corey
Webster and Jayron Hosley each sustained injuries. Webster will play with a cast
on his broken right hand as will Rolle with a bruised knee. Prince Amukamara,
the Giants' first-round draft pick in 2011, looks to get his first career start.
Jeremy Maclin, DeSean Jackson, Jason Avant and tight end Brent Celek probably
can't wait to get on the field. Up front the Giants will have to generate pressure
on Michael Vick to make mistakes, while still respecting what LeSean McCoy can
do whenever he gets the ball instead with his breakaway speed.
Overall
The Giants are well rested for this game and they could be catching the Eagles
at just the right time struggling with turnovers. The same could be said for the
Eagles catching the Giants with a banged up secondary. The Eagles loss was to
a team that's undefeated and expected to win their next,
while the Giants victory was against a team that is now 1-2 and likely headed
to another loss.
Michael Vick would like nothing better than to athletically
evade the Giants pass rush and make big plays with his feet, or with his arm on
their secondary. That would belie the thought that possibly he is just a banged
up 32 year old quarterback, lacking the skills and vision to read defenses behind
the line like many others can. His athleticism or loss of it at this point will
either be his saving grace or expose him for the second game in a row. The Giants
have been chasing quarterbacks for three games now and should know what they have
to do. NFC East
On Sunday the Redskins travel to Tampa Bay for a 4:25pm game against the Buccaneers.
The Giants play later that night in Philadelphia. On Monday Night at 8:30pm, the
Cowboys host the Bears. The Eagles and Cowboys are favored to win their games
while the Giants and Redskins are not. From
thirty two to sixteen to six to three.
There
are only three teams that remain undefeated after only three weeks. The AFC has
Houston and in the NFC there is Atlanta and Arizona. All three teams are playing
at home this week and all are favored to beat their opponents. Atlanta will play
at Arizona on Nov 18. 
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Notes.
Giants Lawrence Tynes was 5-for-5 last week
and was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
Along with three extra
points, Tynes racked up 18 of the Giants' 36 points in their 36-7 blowout.
Giants Eli Manning has made 122 consecutive starts. Giants
Eli Manning leads the league in passing yards going into the week 4 games. Giants
Antrel Rolle has the second-longest active starting streak on the team with 35
games. Giants are the only team in their
division to have scored more points than they have given up. Giants
and Eagles play again in the final regular-season game of the year at MetLife
Stadium. Eagles Michael Vick has 36 turnovers,
27 interceptions and 9 lost fumbles, in his last 25 starts. Eagles
LeSean McCoy in 2011 rushed for 1,309 yards, had 315 through the air and 20 touchdowns. Eagles
became the first NFL team to open a season with two one-point wins. Eagles
lost last year to the Giants in Philadelphia 29-16, their only division loss.
Eagles have won seven of their last eight games against the Giants going back
to 2008. Eagles will honor Brian Dawkins
when they retire his number on Sunday night.
Eagles Dawkins played the final 3
seasons of his 16-year career with the Denver Broncos.
Next Games
Oct 7 - Cleveland at Giants.
Giants Tickets - Buy
or Sell
Oct 14 - Giants at 49ers.
Giants Tickets - Buy
or Sell
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