Giants Preview

Posted: October 19th, 2015 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 52 Comments »

This feels like the first really big game of the year. It it mid-October and the weather has turned cold, which instantly gives the game a more significant feel. First place in the NFC East (or Least) is on the line. The Giants and Eagles have combined to go 5-1 in the last 6 games so these teams that started so slow are heating up at the right time.

I wish that I could tell you the whole big game vibe was a good thing. I really have no idea with this Eagles team, since we just don’t know this configuration that well. Maybe they will step up and play well. Maybe they will be too uptight and the ultra-sloppy play will return. Last week the team seemed very relaxed and I thought that helped them play well.

I wrote my preview for PE.com.

Running the ball won’t be easy against the Giants front. Passing is another story.

The Giants were dead last in pass D with their best CB. That doesn’t bode well for how they’ll do without him.

I think this game will be high scoring. The Eagles offense seems to be clicking. Eli Manning is playing at a high level. It sounds like Odell Beckham will play, barring a setback in warm-ups. Even at less than 100 percent, he is a good player and can be tough to deal with.

Turnovers can play a big role in this game, as always.

Who does that favor? You can make an argument for each team. If the Eagles can’t get any pressure on Eli, I doubt he just throws the ball to the wrong guys. At the same time, the Eagles have done a great job of playing the ball this year. And you know if the ball is available anywhere, Jordan Hicks is going to be right there to get it.

We know the Eagles are a flawed team. What about the 3-2 Giants? Just how good are they? Here is some interesting perspective from beat writer (and good guy) Jordan Raanan.

Wow.

Either the Eagles will get back to .500 and start to show some of that summer hype had some basis in reality or the Giants are going to have a 2-game lead on a weak division. One thing we know for sure. It won’t be a boring game. The Giants and Eagles usually have back and forth contests with some really crazy events.

My dream would be for another shutout, but I’ll certainly settle for a win.

_

52 Comments on “Giants Preview”

  1. 1 bdbd20 said at 2:43 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    How awesome would it be for Sproles to take one back with Westy in the house?

    Not sure how comfortable Eli is gonna be. Cox and Logan are playing at an incredibly high level. Billy may be able to get pressure with 3 or 4 guys.

  2. 2 Mr. Magee said at 3:13 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    First really big game? I don’t think so… That was Dallas in week 2

  3. 3 HawaiianEagle said at 3:17 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    OK, hate to sound like a REAL dork…
    If Ryan Mathews plays, who is the better fantasy play, him or Sproles?

  4. 4 TypicalDouche said at 3:48 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    That’s one of those flip a coin and there is your answer kind of question. You can say Mathews because he has been running well, on the flip side you can say Sproles because he might be more involved in the passing game.

  5. 5 laeagle said at 5:00 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    I didn’t play Sproles this week, but given the uncertainty around Mathews, I’d say Sproles is a better play. I didn’t play Sproles b/c I had more reliable options. But I felt bad about it, because I think he’s a matchup nightmare on the Giants LBs. Long story short, I think Sproles is a better bet, mainly because of activity in the passing game.

  6. 6 wee2424 said at 5:47 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    Very close. I would side with Sproles simply due to his receiving ability and possibly ST TD.

  7. 7 SteveH said at 3:21 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    I think we need to win. We don’t want to be 2-4 headed to Carolina.

  8. 8 TypicalDouche said at 3:43 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    Thanks Captain Hindsight lol. At this point I am pretty sure everyone thinks they need to win every game.

  9. 9 RobNE said at 5:17 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    Captain Obvious?

  10. 10 TypicalDouche said at 5:20 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    You’re clearly not a fan of Southpark if you didn’t get that reference.

  11. 11 RobNE said at 5:20 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    not in a few years. Sorry…my bad.

  12. 12 TypicalDouche said at 5:23 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    No problem buddy, you did miss a good episode in that one. I attached a pic to help you understand the reference easier.

  13. 13 botto said at 3:44 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    man I love eagles giants games! so stressed out…
    but they are always the best games, crazy stuff always goes down.
    eagles are going to humiliate these dorks.

  14. 14 ChoTime said at 3:55 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    Seems appropriate, so I’ll repost from yesterday : NYG pass D: 32nd in the league by conventional stats, but only 20th in the league by DVOA. 32nd is awful, 20th is just the tail end of average. Who is ranked 32nd? Our friends in NO. They were 32nd before us and remain 32nd.

    Aggregate yardage is a bad way to rate a unit.

  15. 15 botto said at 4:01 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    none of this matters. stats and so forth are out the window in NFC east games, especially with NY.
    punt returns, blocked field goals picked up and run in, fumbles (eli falling face first), interceptions, bombs, great runs, etc…

  16. 16 ChoTime said at 4:05 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    I’m not sure it doesn’t matter, but I would not be surprised to see it turn on a crazy play or two. Hopefully Bradford will rifle a tight one right in Jordan Matthew’s grill in the endzone, causing it to stick in his facemask and not allow him to drop a game-winning TD. Or Sproles will put on his “S” T-shirt (It’s not an “S”, it means “hope” in my language) and run in a punt for us.

    Either that or a blowout. I will be at work, but I have a view of the TV and will be watching!

  17. 17 HawaiianEagle said at 4:09 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    I have 12 Guinness in my fridge. I’ll have 0 by the end of the game, win or lose.

  18. 18 botto said at 4:11 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    so you are going to start at 2.15?
    12 Guinness in 3 hours? that’s heavy

  19. 19 HawaiianEagle said at 4:23 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    more like 1330…

  20. 20 botto said at 4:32 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    pregame pre party!

  21. 21 botto said at 4:48 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    dang I can’t start so early. I have to wait until like the 4th quarter.
    and then it’ll be a need to calm down

  22. 22 HawaiianEagle said at 4:48 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    remember, game starts here at 1430…

  23. 23 botto said at 5:11 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    I know that’s what I mean too early for me to start drinking in MAUI

  24. 24 RobNE said at 4:16 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    what about the 2nd half?

  25. 25 ChoTime said at 4:16 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    That’s quite an investment in Hawaii prices, boys!

  26. 26 botto said at 4:11 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    “S” means hope?

  27. 27 RobNE said at 4:15 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    if you are from Krypton

  28. 28 botto said at 4:48 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    good thing I am

  29. 29 botto said at 4:02 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    Bradford, this is it buddy, this is what a rivalry is, not St. Louis vs. Seattle or any new crap like that. welcome to Philadelphia.
    get it rolling tonight.
    At least we know Murray hates these guys.

  30. 30 anon said at 4:23 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    “The fans can be nasty at times,” said defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins, who has played for and
    against the Eagles (2011-12). “I remember they made one of the players
    [Casey Matthews’] fiancé cry up there. I remember some unnecessary
    comments people made after Coach [Andy] Reid went through that
    unfortunate situation with his son. It’s a tough place because they can
    get turned up fast.”

  31. 31 botto said at 4:42 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    poor Mrs. Matthews.
    F.U. Cullen!

  32. 32 BobSmith77 said at 4:38 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    Put or shut up game. Eagles either win this game or play out the string because they aren’t good enough to go 8-2 or better down the stretch.

    Win this game, go 6-4 down the stretch, and win the East at 9-7.

  33. 33 anon said at 4:45 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    Shutout central in 4 hours.

  34. 34 botto said at 4:47 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    no way they play out the string.

  35. 35 Sean Stott said at 5:39 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    Playing out the string is totally unacceptable for this team, or for any team for that matter. You have a right to fans to put your best product out on the field.

    Even speaking practically, most of the starters on this team will be here next year, and if they can’t win games, it means they needs more practice.

  36. 36 botto said at 5:46 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    wait, what does playing out the string even mean?
    the 2nd string? no way. in game 6?

  37. 37 Joe Minx said at 5:54 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    I think he just meant they’d be playing for nothing. Which is pretty much the truth.

  38. 38 oreofestar said at 6:22 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    Giants fans have been bothering me too much, need to shut the bastards up let’s Smash these clowns!

  39. 39 TypicalDouche said at 6:58 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    I’m with you on that one Oreo, I work in Manhattan and all I here all day everyday is stupid Giants and Jets fans. I really hope we put the ass whooping on them so I can walk around my office gloating for the next week.

  40. 40 JoeBlow said at 6:50 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    Off topic- I need the Eagles D and JMatt to get me 8 fantasy points tonight, that is it!

    On topic- Think the Eagles win by double digits, but it’s a close game throughout….37-24 is my prediction

  41. 41 TypicalDouche said at 6:57 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    Is your fantasy league PPR or half point PPR by any chance? Regardless I think Matthews and the DEF should get you those 8pts.
    …
    As for your prediction, I like where you head is and I hope it plays out that way.

  42. 42 JoeBlow said at 6:59 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    ppr….he’s let me down a lot so far

  43. 43 TypicalDouche said at 7:00 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    Oh I definitely understand that, I have him in my ppr league as well. But I still think him and the DEF can get you more then 8pts.

  44. 44 anon said at 7:07 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    do you get points for drops?

  45. 45 JoeBlow said at 7:08 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    ha! i wish

  46. 46 HawaiianEagle said at 8:07 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    I have 7 eagles playing tonight: Bradford, Murray, Sproles, Cox, Hicks, Jenkins, Sturgis. I believe in our men. I need 49 points. Half PPR.

  47. 47 BobSmith77 said at 7:00 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    So Dave Spadaro said he would rather have Beckham play because if he didn’t he was worried the Eagles’ defense might have a letdown.

    Reuben Frank just laughed at him and asked Spadaro if he thought the Eagles would have preferred to play Rodgers last year in GB instead since they were worried about a letdown facing if he didn’t play? Spadaro tried to say it was different, Frank just said ‘ok Dave if you say so’, and laughed him off.

    Frank has gotten testy before with Spadaro on the Eagles pre-game when Spadaro veers off to comically indefensible territory.

  48. 48 CrackSammich said at 7:21 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    Chip was asked the same question earlier this year about Dez Bryant and answered that he’d rather Dez not play. But the question is valid. The great player you know how to plan for, or having much less insight into how your opponent will attack you. It’s why you see a lot of backup quarterbacks steal their first game and then revert back to what you thought of them.

  49. 49 anon said at 7:36 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    QB Thad Lewis, CB Denzel Rice, ILB Kiko Alonso
    (knee), ILB Mychal Kendricks (hamstring), DE Brandon Bair (groin), and
    OL Tanner Hawkinson. Josh Huff will get the start outside in place of
    an injured Agholor.

  50. 50 OregonDucker said at 7:44 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    Sproles, Huff and Ertz could have a big day. And Cox will get sum too.

  51. 51 anon said at 7:46 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    I think huff does his thing today, excited for a big game from him.

  52. 52 OregonDucker said at 7:49 PM on October 19th, 2015:

    I hope the first play goes to him. He could rule that secondary.