Monday Night Football: Giants at Eagles

Oct 19, 2015 by Scott Ross

The first-place New York Football Giants roll down I-95 this week for a primetime matchup against hated divisional rival the Philadelphia Eagles, who are tied for second with Dallas at 2-3. Both teams are coming into the game hoping to build on big Week 5 victories.

Eli Manning last week led the Giants on an 82-yard game-winning drive that culminated with a 12-yard touchdown pass with 21 seconds left on the clock, for a 30-27 win over the 49ers. Along the way, Manning set career highs for attempts and completions, going 41-54, for 441 yards, and became the winningest QB in Giants history, supplanting Phil Simms.

Eagles QB Sam Bradford, who was part of Coach Chip Kelly’s massive offseason overhaul, threw 2 end zone interceptions in the first half against the Saints, but eventually settled down, as Philly outscored the New Orleans 39-10 over the last three quarters, for a 39-17 victory.

The Giants continue to fight through a litany of injuries that includes everything from firecracker-induced finger amputations to MRSA to ho-hum hamstring pulls. Cornerback Prince Amukamara will be sidelined for the next few weeks with a partially torn pectoral muscle. The most potentially devastating was to Odell Beckham Jr., who tweaked his hammie last week while doing a touchdown dance. He returned to the game, but didn’t catch another pass. It’s nothing, but the Giants can’t lose Beckham, least of all to a dancing injury.

The Giants defense is still feeling the loss of Jason Pierre-Paul, as they have the fifth-lowest number of sacks in the NFL, with just 7 (how on Earth do the Dolphins have only 1 sack so far? I mean, honestly…). Despite giving up the most passing yards in the league, they are middle of the pack in terms of passing TDs and interceptions, so things aren’t quite as bad as they seem, but they soon could be without Amukamara.

The Eagles’ offense is still trying to coalesce as a unit. Running back DeMarco Murray, lured away from the Cowboys this past spring, finally got up to speed last week, rushing 20 times for 83 yards and a touchdown, and pulling in 7 passes for another 37 yards – the Eagles will need that and more for the offense to really click.

All stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com.

Watch the New York Giants vs. the Philadelphia Eagles at 8:30pm ET Monday on ESPN.