Game Preview – PHI at NYG

Posted: December 10th, 2022 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 1 Comment »

The Eagles play in the New Meadowlands on Sunday. I wonder if anything interesting will happen. I seem to recall a miracle or two happening up there over the years.

Even when there aren’t miracles, the games can be memorable. The Eagles lost 13-7 last year when they played at the Giants. Jalen Hurts threw a pair of bad INTs. Boston Scott had a critical fumble late in the game. But the Eagles still had a chance to win. Jalen Reagor dropped a TD pass and then a pass that would have put the team near the goal line. Both drops came in the last minute. Ugh. The Giants tried to give the game to the Eagles, but Reagor said “No thanks.”

I’ll be shocked if Sunday’s game is 13-7. The Eagles average 28.2 points per game. They have scored at least 17 points in every game. The Giants defense has struggled recently, allowing 24 points per game over the last five games. Maybe this is the week they play out of their minds and shut down the Eagles, but that would be a major surprise.

The Eagles ran for 363 yards on Green Bay. Last week Jalen Hurts threw for 380 yards in the win over the Titans. What will it be this week? The Giants are 26th in the league in rushing yards allowed. They are 27th in run defense DVOA. I’m guessing Hurts and Miles Sanders will be doing a lot of running on Sunday. Why pass when you can run?

Giants DC Wink Martindale loves to play a lot of DBs. That allows him to be creative and do a lot of blitzing, but means they will struggle against the run. Three of the top four tacklers for the Giants are DBs. You have to get down to the number five spot to find a LB. For comparison, the Eagles top two tacklers are LBs. Julian Love leads the Giants in tackles and makes plays all over the field. He’s a sure tackler and isn’t afraid to mix it up with anyone. He also leads the team with 2 INTs.

The Giants scheme wouldn’t work without some outstanding DL. Dexter Lawrence is having a great season. The stud DT is third on the team in tackles. He leads them in sacks (6) and QB hits (20).

Lawrence is able to win with size, strength, athleticism, skill and effort. Jason Kelce is going to have his hands full for three hours.

Lawrence isn’t alone. Leonard Williams is an athletic, disruptive DL. Rookie edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux has shown real flashes. He’s got 2 sacks and 10 QB hits. Jihad Ward is another key player up front. He’s a productive veteran who has 3 sacks and is a tough, physical player.

The Giants are 23rd in yards allowed. You can move the ball on them. They play good situational defense. They are 6th in third down defense and 5th in red zone defense. They make it tough to sustain long drives and tough to score TDs.

Martindale loves to blitz and take chances. Hurts has handled the blitz well in recent weeks. It will be up to him and the receivers to burn the Giants when they come after him. There will be plays to be made.

One of the big reasons the Giants are 7-4-1 is that they aren’t losing games. Daniel Jones was a turnover machine in the past. He threw 29 INTs in the previous three seasons. This year he’s only got 4. He had 36 fumbles in the previous three seasons. This year he’s only got 5. The Giants might not be scoring a ton of points, but they protect the ball. That’s huge.

Jones has career highs in completion percentage (66) and yards per attempt (6.8). Those aren’t Pro Bowl numbers, but you have to consider his lack of weapons. Darius Slayton and Richie James are complementary pieces more than weapons. Rookie TE Daniel Bellinger has potential, but he averages 8.4 yards per catch this year. There just aren’t a bunch of explosive skill players for Jones to get the ball to.

There is one…Saquon Barkley. He has looked like the Barkley of old, a dynamic player who can make guys miss and deliver huge plays. He’s run for 1,055 yards and has 40 catches. Barkley is the workhorse who makes the Giants offense go. It has been great to see him healthy after a couple of years of injuries. He did show up on the injury report with a neck issue, but practiced on Friday and Giants reporters seem to think he’ll play.

The Eagles shut down Derrick Henry, but Barkley is tougher to stop. He has great later agility and burst. Henry needs good blocking to get going. Barkely can turn nothing into something. The Eagles limited him to 28 carries for 72 yards in their two meetings last year so Jonathan Gannon and his guys know what it takes to handle Barkley.

It feels like Gannon ought to use last week’s gameplan this week as well. Load the box, shut down Barkley and force the QB to beat you. Ryan Tannehill couldn’t get that done. I doubt Daniel Jones would either. There is one X-factor and that is Jones ability to run. Tannehill burned the Eagles last week with scrambles. Jones is faster and more elusive than him so Gannon does need to account for that. Pass rushers can’t get too deep. They need to be smart with how they go after Jones.

The Giants OL is improved, but still erratic. Jones has been sacked 37 times this year. Andrew Thomas and Evan Neal give them a pair of solid young OTs, but the overall line needs work. The Eagles should be able to get pressure on Jones.

This is a game the Eagles should win. But crazy things do happen in division games and especially at the Meadowlands (new or old). Last year Hurts was 14 of 31 with 3 INTs. There were some bad drops, but also some bad decisions and bad throws. Hurts is a much improved player this year so I don’t see anything like that performance.

If the Eagles run game gets going, Sanders and Hurts could have big days and the Giants will be in trouble.

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One Comment on “Game Preview – PHI at NYG”

  1. 1 The Linc - Josh Sweat makes listing of high 10 NFL edge rushers - Philadelphia News Station said at 10:14 AM on December 11th, 2022:

    […] Game Preview – PHI at NYG – Iggles BlitzIt looks like Gannon ought to make use of final week’s gameplan this week as nicely. Load the field, shut down Barkley and pressure the QB to beat you. Ryan Tannehill couldn’t get that achieved. I doubt Daniel Jones would both. There’s one X-factor and that’s Jones capacity to run. Tannehill burned the Eagles final week with scrambles. Jones is quicker and extra elusive than him so Gannon does must account for that. Go rushers can’t get too deep. They must be sensible with how they go after Jones. The Giants OL is improved, however nonetheless erratic. Jones has been sacked 37 instances this 12 months. Andrew Thomas and Evan Neal give them a pair of strong younger OTs, however the general line wants work. The Eagles ought to be capable of get strain on Jones. This can be a recreation the Eagles ought to win. However loopy issues do occur in division video games and particularly on the Meadowlands (new or previous). Final 12 months Hurts was 14 of 31 with 3 INTs. There have been some dangerous drops, but additionally some dangerous selections and dangerous throws. Hurts is a a lot improved participant this 12 months so I don’t see something like that efficiency. […]