NFL: NY GIANTS at PHILADELPHIA (8:15 PM ET, NBC)
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2008-11-10
The NFL Week 10 Sunday Night feature pits NFC East rivals New York & Philadelphia. No disrespect to the Redskins, but according to the StatFox Outplay Factor Ratings, the Giants and Eagles are the top teams in the division, and with two head-to-head meetings coming in the next five weeks, the East title could hinge on what happens in those two games. Philly is a 3-point home favorite, but over 70% of early bettors were backing New York.
This first of the two matchups is in Philly, beneficial for the Eagles since they are trailing the Giants in the standings by two-games. HC Andy Reid’s team has won three of four games at home this year, allowing just 11.5 PPG. The defending champs are 2-1 SU & ATS on the road in ’08, and 13-1 SU & 12-2 ATS in their L14. With Philly a 3-point favorite, note that the underdog in this series has covered the L6.
Good things have happened in threes for the Giants at Lincoln Financial Field recently. New York has won three straight road games in the series, including two by a field goal. Few could have imagined the words third-place preceding the Eagles name in 2008, but such is the state of the NFC East. A win over the Giants, however, could slide them back into contention.
Having a healthy Brian Westbrook back in the lineup certainly puts Philadelphia fans in a better frame of mind and definitely gives the Giants' defense something to think about. In the last four meetings, Westbrook has averaged 134.5 total yards per game, and his pass-catching ability creates the biggest headaches. Applying pressure from the outside works great against teams lacking a short or intermediate passing game. The Eagles, however, have both, and regularly feature Westbrook on short swing passes or screen passes to nullify the ends advance.
Containing the Giants pass rush has been a major issue for Philadelphia.
Donovan McNabb was sacked 15 times in last year's two meetings, including a dozen in a 2007 Week 4 defeat. The Eagles, though, have shored up most of the issues on the line, and it shows in McNabb's performance. He's been sacked just three times in the last four games and not surprisingly, the team is 3-1 after a 26-7 win at Seattle.
McNabb's counterpart, Eli Manning, rarely has a dirty jersey at the final gun himself, because defenses can't get to him. Sacked just nine times, he's completing a career-high 61.2 percent of his passes thanks to the extra time and has curtailed his turnovers as well (five interceptions). He turned in another efficient performance in a 35-14 win over Dallas, throwing three touchdowns.
Blitzing the quarterback has long been a staple of the Jim Johnson-led defense with the Eagles, but unlike past units, there is no dominant rusher.
Instead, the production has been spread out among the ranks, with Darren Howard leading the way (6.5 sacks) The X-factor for the Eagles will be wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Kevin Curtis, who has returned to the lineup with nine grabs in the last two games. Jackson is the clear-cut No. 1, and the presence of Curtis can only help the passing attack as a whole.
PREDICTION: The Eagles' offense has taken off over the last three games, averaging 31.0 points, and presents a mighty challenge for New York. McNabb can more than match the Giants on the scoreboard. PHILADELPHIA 27, N.Y. GIANTS 21