Eagles-Giants scouting report
Philly.com, Inquirer, and Daily News coverage of the Eagles
Eagles-Giants scouting report
Jeff McLane
As wretched as the Eagles played last week against the Arizona Cardinals - especially on offense - they're still a predictable2-1 heading into Sunday night's NFC East showdown with the 2-1 New York Giants.
It has been an ugly 2-1, but a victory over their chief NFC East rivals would nearly wipe away the residue of a sloppy start and position the Eagles atop the standings at the quarter pole.
A loss to the defending Super Bowl champs would not be a backbreaker, but coming off the drubbing in Arizona and with the Pittsburgh Steelers lying in wait next week, it would justify a 7 or 8 on the panic meter.
When the Eagles run
Yes, the Eagles will run the ball - more than they did against the Cardinals. But don't expect a significant increase with the Giants secondary ailing. LeSean McCoy carried 24 and 23 times in two games against New York last season, and he should get somewhere in that neighborhood Sunday. The big question, though, is how productive he'll be running behind a line that is in tatters. Center Dallas Reynolds and left tackle Demetress Bell had many breakdowns last Sunday, but their better moments were as run blockers. The Giants' run defense is ranked 10th in yards, but Cowboys tailback DeMarco Murray ran for 131 yards on 20 carries in the opener. Outside linebacker Michael Boley has three interceptions already, but he's a solid run defender. He dropped McCoy on a key fourth-and-1 carry last season at the Linc. The Giants haven't blitzed much this season, but if they do - and they should considering how the Eagles have fared against the blitz - offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg should have a few draws ready to go.
Edge: EVEN
When the Eagles pass
As important as it is for the Eagles offense to establish some balance, the Giants pass defense is there for the picking. Opponents have averaged 6.51 yards per pass attempt - second worst in the league. Their vaunted front four hasn't been as dominant and the Giants could potentially be without two of their four starters in the secondary. Rookie cornerback Jayron Hosley is out with a hamstring injury and safety Antrel Rolle (knee sprain) is questionable. Cornerback Corey Webster, who is expected to play with a cast on his broken right hand, has struggled when targeted. Opposing quarterbacks have completed 11 of 15 passes for 251 yards and a touchdown throwing at Webster. The untested Prince Amukamara is likely to play in place of Hosley. Wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, the latter back after missing a game, should have room to roam. It'll be up to Michael Vick to find them - provided he has time. That's a big if against the Giants' defensive front. Veterans Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck have been quiet, but Jason Pierre-Paul is a beast. He'll line up anywhere and get into the backfield, but he's had his most success this season coming off the right edge. Rushing from the right, Pierre-Paul has seven hurries and 11/2 sacks in 45 snaps. Bell may need a lot of help from tight ends Brent Celek and Clay Harbor.
Edge: EVEN
When the Giants run
Except for a few late runs, the Eagles defense held the Cardinals run game in check. Their run stoppers have been nasty for most of the season, allowing only 4 yards a carry. Take away a 35-yard end-around in the opener and a 43-yard gain by Ray Rice in Week 2 and the average-per-rush dips to 3.1 yards. Linebacker DeMeco Ryans has been the difference, plain and simple. The Giants were last in rushing yards and yards per carry a year ago, but journeyman running back Andre Brown has given them a lift. He ran for 184 yards on 33 totes and scored three touchdowns filling in for Ahmad Bradshaw after Bradshaw went down in Week 2. Bradshaw is expected to be back Sunday, but the 6-foot, 227-pound Brown should be a complement to the shifty starter. One thing to watch for is how the Giants use their running backs as pass catchers. Bradshaw and former Giant Brandon Jacobs each caught touchdown passes last September against the Eagles.
Edge: EAGLES
When the Giants pass
Eli Manning has picked up from where the Super Bowl-winning quarterback left off in February. He's already thrown for 1,011 yards and led the Giants past the Buccaneers two weeks ago for the 22d fourth-quarter comeback of his career. (Vick has 10 comebacks in 27 fewer starts than Manning.) The Eagles aren't expected to blitz Manning much. That would be wise. He has a 114.8 passer rating against the blitz this year. Hakeem Nicks is doubtful, but the 6-6 Ramses Barden stepped up in his absence against Carolina (nine catches for 138 yards). The Giants run a lot of three-wide receiver sets with Victor Cruz working out of the slot. Rookie Brandon Boykin will often responsible forhave to guard the Salsa Sensation, who had his coming-out party last year against the Eagles when he caught two touchdown passes. The Giants have a new weapon in 6-6, 265-pound tight end Martellus Bennett (15 catches for 185 yards and three TDs). Linebacker Mychal Kendricks will see Bennett some, as could safety Nate Allen. The Giants offensive line is weaker on the edges than in the middle. With right tackle David Diehl sidelined, Eagles defensive end Jason Babin (21/2 sacks) should have a favorable matchup against Sean Locklear.
Edge: GIANTS
Special teams
The Giants have the NFL's top punt cover unit, allowing only 3.2 yards a return. Eagles returner Damaris Johnson has an only slightly higher average (5.3). He's had greater problems, though, fumbling once last week and fielding punts inside his own 5-yard line twice already this season. The Giants are ranked ahead of the Eagles in all four special-teams units - punt cover (first to the Eagles' 22d), kickoff cover (12th to 24th), punt return (22d to 30th), and kick return (24th to 30th). Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes leads the NFL in points with 38 and has hit all 10 field goal attempts. The Eagles dumped the inconsistent Chas Henry and brought back veteran punter Mat McBriar last week. The Eagles could also be without longtime long-snapper Jon Dorenbos (ankle).
Edge: GIANTS
Intangibles
The Eagles have won seven of their last eight against the Giants, dating to December 2008. They'll have a decided home advantage on the night legendary safety Brian Dawkins will have his number retired. The Eagles didn't have much of a home advantage last season, losing five of their first six at the Linc. But the comeback win over the Ravens in Week 2 was a nice ice breaker.
Edge: EAGLES
Pick: Giants, 24-20.
Not with Vick at quarterback. And not with Andy Reid as coach.— sackvicknow- Of course we can beat them, what a dumb question! When we do, it won’t stop the chuckleheads from running screaming for their computers to explain to us why we won in spite of ourselves.— Laughingaloud123
- I am really conflicted over this game. On the one hand, I always want the Eagles to beat the Giants, but on the other hand the sooner we get to 8 and 8, the sooner we can dump Vick and Reid and have a chance at winning a super bowl. Until they are both gone, we will never even come close to a championship.— eaglesfancostarica
- -- @costarica - Thank you, you've made my point perfectly!
Go Eagles!!!
— Laughingaloud123 - First of all, if you want your team to lose, then you aren't a fan. Second, it would seem to make sense that if you want them to lose, then you should want them to finish even worse than 8-8 so that they get a better draft pick. — Penfold18
- The edge has to go to the Giants simply based on the quality of opponents. The Eagles managed to squeak out two one point victories against two teams with a cumulative record of 1-6, but were totally out played by Arizona. Based on NYG's performance against Carolina on the road last week, the fact that the Giants have outscored the Eagles by 47 points in three games against tougher opponents, my prediction is a Giant victory by more than 10 points. And let's face it -- the Giants are a much better coached team.— Ron T
- The Giants have outscored the Eagles against tougher opponents? Seriously? The defenses of Dallas, Carolina, and Tampa Bay compared to the defenses of Cleveland, Baltimore, and Arizona? Really? Baltimore and AZ are a combined 6-1 by the way.
You do realize many have picked the Ravens to go to the Super Bowl, and they were a missed FG away from it last year. And they just beat Cleveland at home by only 7.
"The Eagles managed to squeak out two one point victories against two teams with a cumulative record of 1-6" HUH??? The Ravens alone have 3 wins. Do you work for the Obama campaign?
I'm not arguing your prediction, but where are you getting those facts from?— smfree31 - seriously Ron T...stop drinking before noon. — Gray Areas
- The Eagles go into every game believing that they have the Game Plan to win. The problem is; that when the other team's coaches evaluate what the Birds are doing, they adjust accordingly. Reid, being the stubborn mule he is, won't change a thing. Think Fitz torching Boykins and the same Cardinal blitzes killing Vick as two perfect examples. Coaching is this team's achilles heel!— cooperhawk
- Agreed cooper hawk,he is incapable of evolution and change. even their audible to the run is exactly the same as when Donovan was here (whenever he slaps his back leg) Everything is the same, the only thing missing is the stupid bubble pass they would throw to Pinkstin, which may ACUALLY work with Desean. There is a reason why other teams know the plays that are coming, they are exactly the same!!!— yourdaddy!
- @ Ron T The Eagles have played 3 games. The Eagles are 2 & 1. If you take all the records of those 3 eams they played it comes out to 6 &5.
4 of those losses in the aforementioned stat come from Browns.
So if you want to play "demo hack politics with numbers" you can say the Eagles are 2 & 1 and of the three teams the Eagles played so far two teams have a record of 6 & 1. What level of education did you complete?— Alpha58 - But when asked the other day whether running the ball more is something the Eagles might want to do, Mornhinweg scoffed and said, "No, we go after people." All right then
.....GET MARTY OUT OF TOWN! FAT ANDY TOO!!— pauldamon - Hey Pegions!!! Get ready for a GIANT Meltdown...Tissues on sale outside the stadium with a free NY Post!— MRD
- Another meltdown from the Giants? I'll take it! Hey, I thought you were a Giants fan? Are their fans really that dumb? Don't even bother trying to answer that. I wouldn't want you to hurt yourself trying to sound intelligent. — Penfold18
- Giant fans are mental midgets, faghedaboudit...
Birds 23
Gints 17— BirdinParadise
