PHILADELPHIA EAGLES @ NEW YORK GIANTS
NFC DIVISIONAL ROUND GAME
SUNDAY, JANUARY 11, 2009 1:00 P.M.
A month ago the Eagles (10-6) embarrassed the defending Super Bowl Champion Giants (12-4) with a 20-14 upset at Giants Stadium. Philadelphia appears to be traveling the same road the Giants took last season in their improbable run to the championship. After benching QB Donovan McNabb they ran off five out of six wins, including an impressive 44-6 walloping of the Dallas Cowboys. The Giants are favored by four points Sunday, but the Eagles just might be the hottest team in the league right now. McNabb has certainly played better since his benching.
PHILADELPHIA: UP: Against the Vikings in the wildcard game CB Asante Samuel returned an interception for a touchdown. RB Brian Westbrook took a short pass and ran 71 yards with it for the game clinching TD in the fourth quarter. Head Coach Andy Reid improved his playoff coaching record to 9-6. Kicker David Akers was a perfect 4 for 4. The Eagles special teams held Minnesota to +1 yards in four punts. The defense held Viking QB Tarvaris Jackson to a paltry 15 of 35 completions for 164 yards and a 45.4 QB rating. DOWN: Philadelphia ran for a meager 67 yards vs. Minnesota. Westbrook was held to 38 yards in 20 carries. The Giants had a total offense of 401 yards in Philadelphia on Nov.9th as they beat the Eagles 36-31. Giants RB Brandon Jacobs had 126 yards and 2 TDs and QB Eli Manning passed for 182 yards and 2 TDs in that game. The Eagles defense let the Giants steal that win.
NEW YORK: UP: The Giants are in the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season, which is exactly the number of seasons Manning has been their starting quarterback. RB Derrick Ward rushed for 1,025 yards and RB Brandon Jacobs for 1,089 this season. C Shaun O’Hara is going to his 1st Pro Bowl after 9 seasons. K John Carney set a team record with 92.1% accuracy (35 of 38). Two of his misses were blocked, so he actually missed just one kick. DOWN: CB Sam Madison has a fractured ankle and is probably done playing football. WR Plaxico Burress is suspended following felony gun charges and is unlikely to ever play for the Giants again. Most disturbing to the team is the fact that Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will probably accept a head coaching position for another team after this season concludes for the Giants.
KEYS TO THE GAME: Giants special teams must improve its play to stop the Eagles returns on kickoffs and punts. Their offensive line must give Manning protection to counter the Eagles sticky backfield play. The Eagles defense must contain Ward, Jacobs and RB Ahmad Bradshaw. On offense McNabb must not force pass plays. Turnovers will be important in this game.
BY THE NUMBERS: Philadelphia is 11-6 ATS and 7-9-1 O/U while New York is 12-4 ATS and 9-7 O/U. As underdogs the Eagles are 1-2 SU and 2-1 ATS. The Giants are 10-2 SU and 9-3 ATS as favorites. On the road the Eagles are 4-4 SU and 5-4 ATS while the Giants are 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS at home. In playoff games the last 3 seasons Philadelphia is 2-1 both SU and ATS with New York being 4-1 SU and 5-0 ATS over the same period. This game is the 3rd one this year between these two NFC East rivals. Each team has won one. The rubber match is the most important one of them all. Both teams will be ready to play.