The Eagles aren’t the matchup the Giants want
Tom Coughlin and the New York Giants aren’t going to admit it (at least not publicly), but the Philadelphia Eagles weren’t the matchup they wanted for their first playoff game.
Thanks to Donovan McNabb’s 300-yard passing day, Brian Westbrook’s 71-yard touchdown reception off a screen pass and Jim Johnson’s blistering defense, the Eagles beat the Minnesota Vikings 26-14 in their Wild Card playoff game Sunday at the Metrodome.
Had the Vikings won, the Giants would be hosting the Arizona Cardinals next weekend – the same Arizona Cardinals that have played like complete crap on the East Coast all season. But thanks to the Philly’s victory, the G-Men “lucked out” and get the sixth-seeded Eagles. They luck out by getting a team that has already beaten them once at Giants Stadium, has a seasoned playoff quarterback in McNabb, a secondary that rivals any defensive backfield in the league, and will face a defense that blitzes more than Chris Berman stutters through a highlight.
Even though the Eagles have largely been inconsistent this season, they aren’t your typical sixth-seeded playoff team. That said, Philly has to do a better job against the run next week because unlike the Vikings, the Giants have a quarterback in Eli Manning that can make plays in the passing game.
The Eagles allowed Minnesota to rush for 148 total yards and were gashed by a 40-yard Adrian Peterson touchdown run. If they can’t stop the Giants’ dynamic rushing game, Manning will likely strike for big plays via the pass. Philly definitely has the edge in terms of their secondary vs. the Giant wideouts, but it won’t matter if the Eagle safeties have to sell out to stop the run every play and leave the corners on an island. Eventually Manning will pick them apart.
Again though, there’s no doubt the Giants would have rather faced the Cardinals and allowed the Carolina Panthers to take their chances with the Eagles. But with Philly’s win, fans are treated to an NFC East clash with everything on the line. And what makes this matchup even more compelling is that both of these teams know each other so well. It’s going to make for a great week leading up to the contest, and the game itself will likely live up to expectations.
Next weekend couldn’t get here soon enough.
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Definitely not the matchup the Giants wanted…you don’t want to have to play a team 3x in one season, especially one that is playing with the confidence the Eagles are right now. That said, the Giants were in this same position last year in the divisional round going on the road to play the Cowboys for the 3rd time in the 2007 season, and we know how that turned out. Coming off a bye week, Jacobs should be feeling better and the Giants should be well rested. It will all hinge on the play of the offensive line. If they can give Eli some time, he’ll make some plays, despite the lack of a playmaker at receiver.
As a Giants fan this one definitely has me nervous.
As another long time Giants Fan….I to am very concerned about this weeks game. I don’t like the way we finished, I dont like a week off and the Manning, deer in the headlights look scares the crap out of me.
Don’t like this game…
You don’t have to worry about Manning…he proved he’s got more sack than anyone (including me) gave him credit for. I’m surprised that a lifelong fan as yourself didn’t see that the deer in the headlights look is long gone. I’m more concerned about Antonio Pierce covering Brian Westbrook. Pierce can’t cover BW without help so we’ll have to rely on ex-Eagles coach Steve Spagnuolo (prediction) to devise a gameplan to give him some help. A win in that game will seal the deal on who the Jets will hire to replace their former “Genius”.