Two of the more intriguing additions to the Eagles -- to say the least -- have been Michael Vick and Jeremiah Trotter.

Here is what we know about each and their role, at this point:

MICHAEL VICK

Maybe we’ve been looking at the Michael Vick thing all wrong.

He got just one snap before kneel-down time Sunday, but it was a 4-yard run for a first down on third-and-1 from the Giants’ 15 near the end of the first quarter.

Regarding the continuing question, “Why have him around?’’ Well, you need three quarterbacks. Vick essentially is A.J. Feeley. If the Birds still had Feeley, would he have converted any third downs Sunday? No, he would have worn a baseball cap and congratulated guys as they jogged off the field. And now the Eagles have Jeremiah Trotter to do that, anyway. (We kid, Trot, we kid.)

JEREMIAH TROTTER

Speaking of Trot, though, it’s pretty clear his role now, as Will Witherspoon gets situated, is mostly ceremonial.

Trotter hinted at that late last week when he talked about how happy he is just to be in the locker room again, etc.

Maybe Trot can scrape off enough rust to provide a little more on-field help at some point, but in the meantime, as long as he does what he’s supposed to do on special teams and provides a voice of experience for younger teammates, where’s the harm? You’d rather have some guy from another team’s practice squad doing that?

Of course, if something happens to Witherspoon and Trot really has to play, this might look a little different.

IN BIG D

And if there is any doubt as to how the Cowboys figure to be looking at this game and what it means, read this column from the Dallas Morning News' Jean Jacques Taylor. Pretty interesting stat that the Eagles under Andy Reid have beaten the Cowboys eight times by at least 20 points. That includes the 44-6 drubbing in the regular season finale last year.

DONOVAN NOMINATED

Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb is a finalist for the FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week. McNabb threw three touchdowns in the win over the New York Giants. The other finalists are Brett Favre and Tony Romo.

Fans can vote at NFL.com/FedEx until noon Friday. The winners will be announced Friday evening on NFL.com.

Leonard Weaver races towards the end zone to score the Eagle's first touchdown. (Michael S. Wirtz / Staff Photographer)

Some day-after observations after reviewing the tape of Sunday’s 40-17 win over the Giants:

THE LEFT TACKLE
It wasn’t the best of games for left tackle Jason Peters. His fingerprints were on both of the Giants’ sacks of Donovan McNabb. He also was flagged for a holding penalty inside the Giants 10-yard line on the Eagles’ second possession.

Peters wasn’t totally to blame for either of the sacks. On the first one midway through the second quarter, Osi Umenyiora beat him around the corner. But he had forced Umenyiora wide enough that he probably wouldn’t have been able to get to McNabb if not for the fact that the quarterback had been flushed from the pocket by Mathias Kiwanuka, who beat center Jamaal Jackson up the middle. McNabb fumbled on the play. To his credit, Peters fell on the loose ball.

On the second one in the third quarter, which also resulted in a McNabb fumble that was recovered by the Giants, Peters was late sliding over to pick up blitzing cornerback Bruce Johnson.

The first-quarter holding penalty was the first holding call against Peters this season. His only other two penalties this season were a pair of false starts against Carolina in Week 1.

THE PENALTIES

* The Eagles were flagged just five times Sunday for 45 yards. The four flags ties their second fewest total of the season. They were penalized just three times in their Week 3 win over the Chiefs, and four times in their Week 6 loss to the Raiders.

* Even though he hasn’t played all that much yet, right guard Stacy Andrews leads the Eagles in false start penalties. Picked up his fourth Sunday against the Giants. Nick Cole is second with three.

* Peters’ holding penalty Sunday was only the third against the Eagles’ offensive line this season. The other two came a week earlier against the Redskins. Both were on left guard Todd Herremans. Actually, one of the holding calls on Herremans really was a trip.

THE SCORING DRIVES

The Eagles had five touchdown drives against the Giants. None were longer than four plays. Two were three plays. One lasted two plays. The fifth was one play. That was McNabb’s 54-yard touchdown pass to DeSean Jackson near the end of the first half.

The Eagles have had 20 touchdown drives this season. Just three have been longer than six plays. They had a 10-play TD drive in Week 1 against Carolina, an 8-play drive against the Saints and an 8-play drive against the Chiefs.

THE WILDCAT/SPREAD

The Eagles ran just one Wildcat play Sunday. That was a four-yard run late in the first quarter by Michael Vick on a third-and-one at the Giant 15-yard line.

For the season, the Eagles have rushed for 163 yards on 40 carries (4.07 yards per carry) out of the Wildcat/spread. They’ve rushed for 639 yards on 127 carries (5.03) out of their standard sets.

Vick has rushed for 26 yards on 10 carries out of the Wildcat/spread. He also had a -1-yard kneel-down on the Eagles’ final possession Sunday.

DID YOU NOTICE?

* The Eagles used screens and short, quick-developing pass plays to counter the Giants’ fierce pass rush Sunday. They did the same thing the week before against the Redskins. Against the Giants, just three of Donovan McNabb’s 15 first-half passes were thrown more than 10 yards downfield – an early incompletion to Jackson, his 17-yard touchdown pass to Celek and his 54-yard scoring throw to Jackson at the end of the first half. McNabb completed 11 of 15 passes for 201 yards and 3 touchdowns in the first half. Two of those incompletions were batted passes. A third came on a botched screen pass to Weaver.

* The terrific block by Eldra Buckley on the Giants’ Gerris Wilkinson on Ellis Hobbs’ game-opening 35-yard kickoff return.

* The Giants blitzed strong safety C.C. Brown off the right side on Leonard Weaver’s 41-yard touchdown run. Initially, that was the direction Weaver was supposed to run. But Donovan McNabb alertly changed the run to the other side at the line of scrimmage.

* The outstanding job Asante Samuel did of jumping the crossing route by Giants tight end Travis Beckum on his first-quarter interception. That play was the perfect example of the benefit of film study.

* Giants defensive tackle Fred Robbins, who blocked David Akers’ PAT after Celek’s first-quarter touchdown catch, crashed right through the middle of the line, muscling his way between snapper Jon Dorenbos and right guard Nick Cole.

* Jason Babin was credited with the Eagles’ first sack of Eli Manning. But Chris Clemons deserved at least half of it. He chased Manning out of the pocket, then caught him from behind just as Babin got him low.

* Mathias Kiwanuka and Justin Tuck ran a stunt that triggered McNabb’s 14-yard scramble for a first down on third-and-11 in the first quarter. Tuck, who had lined up at left tackle, cut behind Kiwanuka, who lined up at left end. Eagles right tackle Winston Justice wasn’t able to slide over in time to stop Tuck. The Giants were in man coverage, though, leaving a lot of running room up the middle for McNabb.

* Michael Vick was on the field for just one play before replacing McNabb late in the fourth quarter. Came in on a third-and-one late in the first quarter and picked up four yards on a run around right end. One of the reasons that play was successful was the perfectly-legal above-the-waist crack-back block by tight end Brent Celek, who had lined up wide to the right and came in motion, on the Giants’ Tuck.

* The nice job linebacker Akeem Jordan did of blowing up a wide-receiver screen to Domenik Hixon early in the second quarter on a second-and-13 play. Jordan, who had a team-high seven tackles, held Hixon to a three-yard gain.

* LeSean McCoy’s nice block on blitzing linebacker Antonio Pierce early in the second quarter afforded McNabb the time to complete an 11-yard pass to Celek.

* Linebacker Chris Gocong wasn’t on the field on Eli Manning’s 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kevin Boss late in the second quarter. He had gotten hurt earlier in the drive and was replaced by rookie Moise Fokou. There appeared to be a miscommunication between Fokou and strong safety Quintin Mikell on Boss’s TD catch.

* The excellent protection McNabb had on his 54-yard touchdown throw to DeSean Jackson late in the first half. The Giants blitzed strongside linebacker Danny Clark on the play, but the Eagles picked him up and gave McNabb the time to hit Jackson on a post-corner route.

* Trent Cole didn’t have any sacks Sunday, but gave Giants left tackle David Diehl fits the whole game. It was Cole’s most dominating performance against Diehl since he became the Giants starting left tackle three years ago.

* The effective way Jeremy Maclin was able to turn around Giants cornerback Corey Webster early in his route on his 18-yard touchdown catch, which allowed him to get inside position on Webster.

* For the second straight week, Maclin had a big block on a long touchdown run. He cut down Giants cornerback C.C. Brown on Leonard Weaver’s 41-yard scoring run on the third play of the game Sunday. The week before, his block on Redskins cornerback Carlos Rogers helped DeSean Jackson get into the end zone on his 67-yard scoring run.

* The blocks by center Jamaal Jackson and right guard Stacy Andrews that created the crease for Leonard Weaver’s 17-yard run in the third quarter. The Eagles were in a two-tight end formation on the play.

THE BEST OF McNABB

His right-where-it-needed-to-be 17-yard first-quarter touchdown pass to Celek. Celek got behind free safety Michael Johnson and McNabb put the ball over Johnson’s head where Celek could make the play.

THE WORST OF MANNING

His bad-awful overthrow of Sinorice Moss late in the first half was intercepted by Quintin Demps, which set up a 2-play, 43-yard scoring drive by the Eagles that gave them a 30-7 halftime lead.

THE RUN DEFENSE

The biggest reason for the defense’s success against the run this season has been the penetration they’ve been able to get from their front four, which has allowed their linebackers to play downhill. Right end Trent Cole, once considered an undersized liability against the run his first couple of years in the league, has developed into an excellent run-defender. You saw that on the Giants’ second possession when he sliced into the backfield and took Brandon Jacobs down for no gain.

JUST WONDERING

How much it might’ve altered the course of the game – maybe not at all -- if Tuck had intercepted the McNabb first-quarter pass he batted into the air and returned it for a touchdown. Instead, McNabb hauled in the ricochet and gained a yard on the play. The Eagles ended up putting together a 15-play, 72-yard drive that resulted in a David Akers field goal that gave them a 16-0 lead. 

*

To read our earlier report from Andy Reid's news conference, click here.

 

Eagles running back Brian Westbook will work out again today as he makes his way back from a concussion suffered against Washington last Monday night.

"We're going to make sure he's OK to perform," Eagles coach Andy Reid said at his weekly day-after news conference. "We'll see how it goes this week."

The implication Sunday, after the Birds balsted the Giants, was that Reid was being extra-cautious holding Westbrook out of that game, and that he probably would play against the Cowboys this coming Sunday night, but Reid clearly wasn't saying anything close to definitive today.

Westbrook "woke up with a slight headache" Saturday, Reid said. He worked out without complications Friday following a battery of tests through the week.

Other highlights:

*Reid noted that rookie wideout Jeremy Maclin threw crucial downfield blocks on long touchdown runs against the Redskins and the Giants.

*Nothing of note on the other injury updates. Reid will see how Chris Gocong does, battling quad and hamstring injuries. Rookie Moise Fokou subbed for Gocong Sunday.

*DE Chris Clemons is OK with the shoulder sprain he suffered against the Giants, Reid said.

*Fullback Leonard Weaver's running ability is "something we probably need to use and to allow him to show a little bit more," Reid said.

*Reid acknowledged that TE Brent Celek is "having an impressive year right now," and said Celek is similar to Jason Witten, the Cowboys Pro Bowler the Eagles face this week.

TALKING POINTS

What we're talking about on the morning after the Eagles' win over the Giants:

1.  The running fullback. With Brian Westbrook out with a concussion, Andy Reid decided to give some ball-carrying work to fullback Leonard Weaver. Weaver, who had just four carries in the first six games, had 8 Sunday for a career-high 75 yards, including a 41-yard touchdown run on the Eagles’ first possession.

2. Big-play Eagles. Who needs sustained drives. None of the Eagles’ five touchdown drives against the Giants were longer than 4 plays. They scored three of their TDs on 40-plus yard plays. Just 3 of their 20 TD drives this season have been longer than 6 plays.

3. The opportunistic defense. The defense had 3 more takeaways Sunday, which were converted into 17 of the Eagles’ 40 points. They have a league-high 21 takeaways and a plus-13 turnover differential in their first 7 games.

4. Return of the good Donnie. After two poor games, McNabb snapped out of his funk and turned in the best performance of his career against the Giants. He threw 3 TDs, averaged more than 10 yards per attempt and had a 146.7 passer rating.

5. Two down, one to go. Three division games in three weeks looked like a daunting challenge after last month’s ugly loss to the Raiders. But the Eagles beat the Redskins and took out the Giants and can go 3-0 in the division if they beat the Cowboys Sunday night at the Linc.

5 NUMBERS TO PONDER

1. Of the Eagles’ 20 touchdown drives this season, just 3 have been longer than 6 plays. They had 5 TD drives Sunday. The longest one was 4 plays. Two were 3 plays, one was 2 plays and another was one play.

2. Donovan McNabb has thrown just 2 interceptions in his last 10 regular-season games (304 attempts). He thrown just 1 pick in 133 attempts this season.

3. Since 2005, the Eagles are just 11-15 against NFC East teams.

4. In their last 5 games, the Eagles have run the ball 54 times and passed it 85 times in the first half, and run it 59 times and passed it 70 in the second half.

5. The Eagles, who had converted just 1 of 22 third-down opportunities of 10 yards or more in their first 6 games, converted 3 of 4 against the Giants. They were 2-for-2 on third downs of 2 yards or less. For the season, they are 12-for-15 on third downs or 2 yards or less.

UP NEXT

The Dallas Cowboys visit the Linc for a showdown on Sunday night football. The Cowboys are also enjoying a resurgence after some early season struggles. And last season's 44-6 loss to the Eagles in the regular-season finale is already being talked about in Texas. "Trust me, that 44-6 game is going to be in our heads," wide receiver Patrick Crayton said.

RUSHING OFFENSE
No Brian Westbrook? No problem. LeSean McCoy had a 66-yard touchdown run and Leonard Weaver had a 41-yard score as the Eagles recorded their highest rushing total (180) since Week 1. Grade: A

PASSING OFFENSE
Donovan McNabb came out of his two-game funk in a big way, throwing three touchdown passes, just six incompletions in 23 attempts and averaging 10.4 yards per attempt. DeSean Jackson notched his fourth 50-plus yard TD catch of the season. Grade: A-plus

RUN DEFENSE
The Eagles’ front seven did an excellent job of neutralizing the Giants’ ground game, holding Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw to 3.5 yards per carry through the first three quarters. Grade: A-minus

PASS DEFENSE
The Eagles’ opportunistic defense intercepted Eli Manning twice in the first half and the offense turned both into TDs. Manning completed just 20 of 39 passes and was held to 5.7 yards per attempt. Grade: A-minus

SPECIAL TEAMS
Eagles’ return game was very productive. KR Ellis Hobbs averaged 29.3 yards per return and PR DeSean Jackson had a 30-yard return. P Sav Rocca and the coverage units did an excellent job of shutting down Domenik Hixon.
Grade: A

OVERALL
The Eagles’ offensive line wasn’t perfect, but it outplayed the Giants’ vaunted front four, allowing just two sacks. For the sixth time in seven games, the defense held its opponent to 17 points or less and ran its season takeaway total to 21 with three more. Grade: A

To read our earlier posts from today's game, click here.

Well, who would have expected this?

Two weeks after losing to the lowly Oakland Raiders, the Eagles blew out the New York Giants, 40-17, at the Linc. This is the sixth time the Eagles have scored 40 or more against the Giants in 155 meetings and the first time snce a 47-34 win on Nov. 2, 1992. The 23-point margin of victory is the most lopsided Eagles win over New York since a 24-0 victory on Oct. 1, 1996 at the Vet.

“If I could explain it, I would be undefeated,” Reid said of the turnaround. “Sometimes it is just unexplainable.”

The Eagles won without Brian Westbrook in the lineup, but got a strong performance from LeSean McCoy and a long run from Leonard Weaver.

“We really weren’t sure about Brian as the week went on,” Reid said. “One day he was feeling pretty good, then he would wake up and not feel pretty good. We had Weaver there ready just in case. We thought we could mix it up there if Brian wasn’t able to go.”

Reid said Westbrook feels pretty good and did some cardio Friday to test himself following a concussion suffered Monday.

“I took the cautious route there,” Reid said. “I thought that was important too and that I didn’t force the issue.”

The Eagles improved to 5-2 and are tied with Dallas atop the NFC East. The Giants fell to 5-3 after a 5-0 start.

“When you play these NFC East teams, you are prepared for a heavyweight fight,” Reid said. “That’s the way our guys went about business.”

On the injury front, Chris Clemons has an AC sprain. “We’ll see how he does here,” Reid said. Chris Gocong suffered a quad contusion and hamstring strain on the same leg. Brodrick Bunkley missed some time with a strained knee but returned to the game.
 

Updating: Drive safely. It's 40-17 Eagles with about 5 minutes left in the Eagles' most significant victory of the season (unless the Giants just keep losing the rest of the season and turn into Tampa).

Donovan McNabb has been dominant, 16 for 22 for 246 yards and a 148.9 passer rating. The Birds have run the ball effectively without Brian Westbrook. The defense has tormented Eli Manning, who is fortunate to have 17 points on the board.

That's really all there is to say, except, whatever happens with the Phillies tonight, the 5-2 Eagles' season just got a lot more interesting.

Previously: The Giants got a really fortunate defensive holding call that negated a Sheldon Brown pick, and Eli Manning eventually hit tight end Kevin Boss for an 18-yard TD, getting the Giants within 16-7, but on the Eagles' first play after the kickoff, DeSean Jackson was all alone for a 54-yard TD that restored the 16-point margin, at 23-7, with 1:38 left in the first half. Then Manning was picked without a flag fluttering, first career interception for Quintin Demps, and a laser-sharp Donovan McNabb threaded a 23-yard TD pass to Jeremy Maclin. Thirty to 7 at the half? Seriously?

McNabb's halftime numbers: 11 for 15 for 201 yards, 3 Tds, no picks, 154.9 passer rating.

He might be out of that little slump he was talking about last Wednesday.

Standing ovation for the team running off the field at the half.

Previously:  The Eagles just drove 72 yards in 15 plays, eating up six minutes and 56 seconds of clock, before taking a 16-0 lead on a 30-yard David Akers field goal. A few stats: 152 total yards for the Eagles vs. 43 for the Giants. Four third down conversions in five tries for the Birds. Eli Manning has completed two of his first seven passes. Donovan McNabb is 6 for 10 for 82  and a TD.

Previously: Well, we're still less than four minutes into the game, and the Brian Westbrookless Eagles have two touchdowns, just as we all predicted (not).

First score was set up by a nice Ellis Hobbs kickoff return to the Eagles' 40. Third play of the drive, two tight end set, the Eagles ran Leonard Weaver up the gut, and the Giants were so surprised, he just kept running, 41 yards to the end zone.

The Giants got the ball and on second and 10 from their 43, Eli Manning threw a pick to Asante Samuel, who ran it down to the 10. On third and goal from the 18, thanks to a Jason Peters hold, Donovan McNabb hit Brent Celek perfectly for the TD. David Akers' extra point try was blocked, 13-0 Birds.

 So we can conclude, of course, that the Eagles still can't sustain long drives. (Yuk, yuk).

 Previously:: Eagles running back Brian Westbrook is inactive for today's game against the Giants. LeSean McCoy will get the start.

Also, Sean Jones will start at free safety for the injured Macho Harris.

Other inactives: wide receiver Kevin Curtis, defensive end Victor Abiamiri, guard Max Jean-Gilles and lineman Mike McGlynn. Kevin Kolb is again listed as the third QB with Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick on the active roster.

For the Giants, despite saying he was ready to go, wide receiver Mario Manningham is inactive.

From earlier

Eagles running back Brian Westbrook is not expected to play today against the Giants, ESPN is reporting, citing a team source. 

Westbrook sufferd a concussion on Monday night when he was kneed in the head against the Redskins. He has not practiced this week and has undergone a series of tests.

LeSean McCoy would start in Westbrook's spot at running back.

The Eagles listed Westbrook as questionable and coach Andy Reid said on Friday that Westbrook would be a game-time decision. He said Westbrook was feeling "pretty good right now."

"These are experts you are talking about that are looking at these things," Reid said Friday. "I know he wants to play. We have to listen the doctors, both Brian and myself and [head trainer] Rick [Burkholder].”

In other injury news, Giants wide receiver Mario Manningham told the NFL Network that he was "good to go" for today's game, despite a shoulder injury that kept him out of Friday's practice.

STAFF PREDICTIONS

Expecting a close game? We sure are ...

Les Bowen: Giants, 20-17

Ed Barkowitz: Giants, 23-17

Bill Conlin: Eagles, 27-24

Paul Domowitch: Giants, 23-20

Marcus Hayes: Giants, 18-15

Mike Kern: Eagles, 20-17

Vegas Vic: Giants, 23-21

KEY MATCHUPS 

1. Eagles WR DeSean Jackson vs. Giants CB Corey Webster: Webster likely will shadow Jackson much of the game. He's bigger and stronger than Jackson, but lacks Jackson's quickness and speed. Advantage: Eagles

2. Eagles RDE Trent Cole vs. Giants LT David Diehl: Diehl held Cole to just one sack in three meetings last year, but Cole is on fire right now with 6 1/2 sacks. Advantage: Eagles

3. Eagles MLB Will Witherspoon vs. Giants RB Brandon Jacobs: Witherspoon's size is better suited for the WILL. He could have problems with the 264-pound Jacobs. Advantage: Giants
 

Brian Westbrook watched Friday's practice and he remains a gametime decision for Sunday's meeting with the Giants, Eagles coach Andy Reid said. He said Westbrook is listed as "questionable."

"Brian had another (neurological) test today; we're waiting on the results," Reid said. Reid added that the light exercise Westbrook was scheduled for today would not occur until the results came in.

Westbrook hasn't practiced since suffering a concussion in the first quarter of Monday night's victory at Washington. Reid said the pregame workout Sunday would enough of a test of readiness, should Westbrook be cleared by doctors. But that seems an unlikely scenario.

Reid praised Phils manager Charlie Manuel and wished the best for the defending champs as they bring the World Series here for Game 3 tomorrow and Game 4 Sunday.

"He's got some tough guys playing for him," Reid said.

Donovan McNabb repeated his prediction of a 6-game Phils victory. He said Cole Hamels would pitch well tomorrow, and "Howard, Werth and Ibanez will hit homers."

Then McNabb paused to consider the reaction of some elements of the Eagles' fan base. "Why is he focusing on baseball?" McNabb asked, in a shrill falsetto."He needs to be focusing on the Giants!"

Less eager to volunteer his thoughts was rookie running back LeSean McCoy, raised a Yankees fan in Harrisburg.

Other Friday nuggets:

*Free safety Macho Harris (ankle) hasn't practiced and is questionable for Sunday. Sean Jones seems likely to start for Harris.

*As stated earlier, DE Victor Abiamiri (knee), WR Kevin Curtis (knee), and corner Dimitri Patterson (quad) are listed as "out."

*Reid said DE Chris Clemons missed practice Friday with an illness, but on the injury report, Clemons was listed as questionable with an elbow injury.

*WR DeSean Jackson (foot) practiced again and is listed as probable.

***

To view our earlier post on what we're watching when the Eagles take on the Giants,click here.

Each week, Daily News football writer Paul Domowitch will tell you the things he will be keeping his eyes on during that week’s game:

1. The turnover battle. The Eagles lead the league in takeaways with 18. That’s the good news. The bad news is they’ve scored just 53 points off of those 18 takeaways. The Giants have five fewer takeaways than the Eagles, but have cashed them in for 65 points.

2. The Giants’ giant pass rush. No matchup will impact Sunday’s game more than the Eagles’ offensive line vs. the Giants’ front four. If the Eagles don’t neutralize Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka, it’s going to be a long day for Donovan McNabb and the offense.

3. Oh, those third-and-longs. The Eagles have converted just six of 31 third-down opportunities in the last two games. The biggest problem has been that too many of their third-down situations have been long yardage. Twenty-three of the 31 third downs the last 2 weeks have been for 6 yards or more. The Eagles have converted just one of 22 third-down situations of 10 yards or more all season.

4. A better McNabb. Donovan McNabb has not been sharp the last two games, particularly on third down, where he completed just nine of 20 passes against the Raiders and Redskins. He struggled against the Giants last year, completing just 54.2 percent of his passes and averaging 5.63 yards per attempt in three games.

5. When opportunity knocks, answer the freaking door. The Eagles have had 27 possessions in the last two games and have had the ball in enemy territory 13 times. Yet all they have to show for those 13 trips beyond the 50 is four field goals. They need to capitalize on those opportunities Sunday.
 

To read Les Bowen's report from Thursday's practice session, click here.