I don’t really think NFL previews are all that helpful as the keys to winning each week are usually the same for every team. Don’t turn the ball over. Get pressure on the QB. Stop the run. Etc…
But with the Birds facing their biggest game of the year, in prime-time, I figured I’d at least take a look at what we can expect come Sunday. Here are the basic ranks for each team (sorted by match-up).
The teams are very evenly matched when it comes to yardage, but the biggest difference comes with the Eagles scoring offense and the Giants scoring defense. The Giants’ D might not give up a lot of yards, but they sure do give up a lot of points. In fact, they haven’t given up less than 21 points since a Week 5 victory over the Raiders.
Here are the match-ups I will be watching…
Giants’ D-Line vs. Eagles’ O-Line
The Giants have one of the most talented lines in the league, and perhaps the best defensive player in Justin Tuck. Their pass D is ranked #7, but I think this is more because of the pressure they get on the QB than the talent they have in their secondary. If Peters can stay on the field for an entire game, and Justice can continue his solid play, it could open up the passing game for McNabb.
DeSean Jackson vs. Himself
Yes, that was lame, I know. But I am concerned about how Jackson will play. Will he be hesitant to put himself in harms way after seeing what happened to Westbrook when he came back too early from a concussion? With Maclin a little hobbled, we need Jackson at 100% for this game.
Kevin Boss vs. Eagles’ LB
With Joselio Hanson back, our cornerback crew is a bit stronger and it will be tougher for Steve Smith, Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks to get open. That leaves the TE, an area that is always an Achilles heel. Will Witherspoon seems to have provided somewhat of an upgrade in TE coverage since he arrived and Akeem Jordan will finally be back. Hopefully we can lock down Eli’s safety valve.
Andy Reid vs. Michael Vick
Vick showed some promise last week, both running and passing, but did Andy only play him because of the situation (being in Atlanta)? Will we see him for more than 3-4 plays, and if so, is this the week he makes the big play we are all waiting for?
Giants’ Secondary vs. the Big Play
We’ve had trouble with sustained drives and putting the ball in the end zone on them, but we’ve been the best team in the league in big plays. If the Giants can stop the big play and make us punch it in from the red zone, it will help their chances tremendously.
This should be an very evenly matched game, nothing like the 40-17 thrashing we put down on them at home. This is a critical game for both teams. If we win, we have a very good chance of taking first place from the Cowboys (as they play the Chargers) and we can also put some distance between us and Giants. If the Giants win, they tie us for the Wild Card spot and have tremendous momentum for the last 3 games. If they lose, it will be nearly impossible for them to catch us or the Packers for the spot in the playoffs.
With the Giants hungry and the game being played on their home field, the intangibles go to the Giants, but Andy Reid’s team’s always play well at the end of the year (12-3 in December the last 3 years), and I think that getting back Hanson, Jordan and Jackson will really be a big help.
Prediction: Eagles 24, Giants 20
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Giants fans are Yankees fans. It will be nice to silence these punks 6 weeks after they silenced us.
i bitched for Eagles previews and i finally got one. thanks
Pete
I know you’ve been asking why Weaver doesn’t get more carries in just about every eagles post. I read this a few days ago in the Sporting News Today daily email magazine (it’s pretty cool if you haven’t checked it out you should)
“Weaver had been slowed last month by a high ankle sprain that relegated him mostly to blocking and pass protection, but with the worst behind him and with mountain injuries on offense the coaches have dialed Weaver’s number more frequently.” -Geoff Mosher
Sorry for the formatting and spelling errors. I copied it and didn’t proofread dohh
I like the prediction. That’d be nice. Whether Coach’s extension was right or not, I don’t know, but it’d be a nice way to celebrate it.
I wonder about the NY Football Giants. So good so early, so bad of late. Did theyreally turn the corner with the win over Dallas? Dallas has played some lousy football of late, save the Oakland game, and is expert at beaing themselves. I guess I’d be inclined to give the Giants some slack ad expect them to play well. Should they, and the Iggles still win, I think we will be able to at least realistically fantasize about the Birds doing some damage in the payoffs even though the Vikes and Saints are really good, and Arizona is ridiculously unsung.
I guess it was on another thread, someone earlier in the week had said that if the Birds took care of business against the Giants, and if Dallas lost, the Eagles could lose the last 3, and make the playoffs.
Turns out to be only close to the truth. I think.
Now that the Birds have hung 45 on the Giants, and Dallas has lost, the Birds are up one on Dallas, and 2 on NYG. If NYG wins out, the Eagles still need a win to beat them out (both would have 10, Birds sweep for tiebreaker). If Dallas wins out, they would be 11-5, win the division, and leave the Eagles and Giants vying for the 6 spot, necessitating 1 Eagle win. If both the Giants (10-6) and Dallas win out (11-5), the Eagles need 1 more win to get in. Unless I’m mistaken, its a lock that the Eagles are in if they win 1 and the NFC East gets the wild card other than Green Bay (a virtual lock). And I don’t see any other division that could send a wild card.
Other than that, its still complicated. I know this though. San Fransisco beating Arizona Monday night helps the Eagles chances of the 3 seed, and hosting a wild card against the 6 seed on wildcard weekend. Higher than the 3 seed would take a mircle as in the Vikes losing 3 straight and the Birds winning out.
I hope nobody reads this as the gospel truth, but when I read that lose 3 and get in anyway, it shocked me that it was so close to the truth as it turns out, and I’m sorta thinking out loud here.