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Eagles-Giants scouting report

Recent history: Each team won on the other's home field this season. The Giants lead the series, 81-69-2, and have won two of three playoff games.

Recent history: Each team won on the other's home field this season. The Giants lead the series, 81-69-2, and have won two of three playoff games.

OFFENSE

Eagles: 350.5 yards per game (9th)

Giants: 355.9 yards per game (7th)

Quarterback

Eagles: In the six games since his Baltimore benching, Donovan McNabb has completed 64.9 percent of his passes and thrown 10 touchdowns and just two interceptions. The Vikings got a lot of pressure on him, but he still managed to complete 23 of 34 passes. His ability to scramble and extend plays will be important.

Giants: There's not a lot of verticality to the offense, particularly since Plaxico Burress' suspension. Eli Manning has just 32 20-plus yard completions and four 40-plus yard completions. He wasn't much of a factor in either of the two meetings with the Eagles, completing 51.7 percent of his passes.

PICK: EAGLES

Running back

Eagles: Knee and ankle injuries have only allowed Brian Westbrook to show occasional flashes of his '07 brilliance. He had 203 rushing and receiving yards and two touchdowns vs. Giants in Week 14, but has averaged just 3.0 yards per carry since. They may give backup Correll Buckhalter more touches this week.

Giants: Brandon Jacobs is a 265-pound load who rushed for 126 yards and two TDs vs. Eagles in Week 10. But he's nursing a knee injury that has him at considerably less than 100 percent. Hasn't played in three of the last six games, but ran for three TDs in Giants' win over the Panthers. Derrick Ward is averaging 5.6 yards.

PICK: GIANTS

Receiver

Eagles: Donovan McNabb has completed just six passes of 20-plus yards in the last three games, and three of those were catch-and-runs to running backs. Wideouts have just 11 TD catches this season, the fewest since '03. Take out the Arizona game, and they have just four red-zone receptions in the last seven games.

Giants: Without Plaxico Burress, the Giants no longer have a receiver who requires special attention. Amani Toomer, Steve Smith and Domenik Hixon have combined for just three TDs in the last seven games. Tight end Kevin Boss hurt the Eagles in Game 1 but was held to one catch for 5 yards in the rematch.

PICK: EAGLES

Offensive line

Eagles: While this unit's run-blocking has been inconsistent this season, it's done a good job of protecting Donovan McNabb. He's been sacked once every 24.3 pass plays and wasn't sacked in either of the regular-season meetings with the Giants. Right tackle Jon Runyan's injured knee could hamper him against Justin Tuck.

Giants: Led by Pro Bowl right guard Chris Snee and center Shaun O'Hara, this is one of the league's best blocking units. It spearhead the league's No. 1-ranked ground game, which averaged 157.4 yards per game and 5.0 yards per carry. The line gave up just one sack in the two regular-season meetings with the Eagles.

PICK: GIANTS

DEFENSE

Eagles: 274.3 yards per game (3rd)

Giants: 292 yards per game (5th)

Defensive line

Eagles: Defensive lineman Victor Abiamiri, who missed last week's game with a foot sprain, is expected to play. He's their version of Justin Tuck - a bigger guy who gives them a run stopper at left end on first and second down, then can move inside on passing downs.

Giants: Giants haven't moved Justin Tuck inside on passing downs nearly as much this year as last year. Almost all of Tuck's 12 sacks have come from the left end spot. Mathias Kiwanuka was moved to right end from strongside linebacker after Osi Umenyiora got hurt in the preseason and has done an excellent job.

PICK: GIANTS

Linebacker

Eagles: This talented, young unit has improved every week. Their outstanding play Sunday was one of the keys to neutralizing league rushing champ Adrian Peterson. Weakside linebacker Akeem Jordan's coverage skills have helped turn what was a weakness - covering the tight end - into a strength.

Giants: Eagles managed to get Brian Westbrook isolated on middle linebacker Antonio Pierce in their last meeting, and Westbrook burned him for a 40-yard touchdown catch-and-run. Westbrook has 14 catches and two TD receptions in his last three games against the Giants.

PICK: EAGLES

Secondary

Eagles: Aided by a pass rush that has allowed them to be aggressive in their coverage, this unit hasn't given up a scoring pass in four games and has held its last eight opponents to a .491 completion percentage and 5.38 yards per attempt. Rejuvenated free safety Brian Dawkins has been a disruptive force.

Giants: Steve Spagnuolo has cut back on the blitzing and relied mainly on his front four for pass-rush pressure, which has put extra pressure on cornerbacks Aaron Ross and Corey Webster, but they've played very well. They have three big, physical safeties in rookie Kenny Phillips, Michael Johnson and James Butler.

PICK: EAGLES

Special teams

Eagles: Giants Stadium has been a chamber of horrors for David Akers during his career. He had made just three of 11 field-goal attempts from 35-plus yards there before hitting a 51-yarder in Week 14. But he also had two others blocked. Punt returner DeSean Jackson won't get the return room this week he got in Minnesota.

Giants: Both of the Giants' coverage units are solid (third in punt coverage, 12th in kickoff coverage). With Domenik Hixon now the team's No. 3 wideout, they've given his punt-return duties to R.W. McQuarters, who is averaging just 6.6 yards per return. Placekicker John Carney missed just three of 38 field-goal attempts.

PICK: GIANTS

Hot and not

HOT:

Eagles: QB Donovan McNabb. Has thrown 10 TD passes and just two interceptions in the last six games.

Giants: RB Derrick Ward. Is averaging 9.7 yards per carry in the last two games.

NOT:

Eagles: WR Hank Baskett. Has just six catches for 38 yards in his last four games.

Giants: WR Amani Toomer. Has just nine catches and zero TDs in the last four games.

Key matchups

1. Eagles RT Jon Runyan vs. Giants LDE Justin Tuck: Tuck has 12 sacks. Runyan is playing on a bum leg and probably will need some help. ADVANTAGE: GIANTS

2. Eagles SS Quintin Mikell and WLB Akeem Jordan vs. Giants TE Kevin Boss: Eagles held Boss to one catch for 5 yards in last meeting. ADVANTAGE: EAGLES

3. Eagles MLB Stewart Bradley vs. Giants RB Brandon Jacobs: Eagles have held last eight opponents to 3.3 yards per carry. ADVANTAGE: EAGLES

Domowitch's prediction

Giants 10, Eagles 9