Two weeks ago I would have said the Giants were the team to beat in the NFC. Even though they had beat-up on nothing but the weak sisters of the NFL, they did so in such impressive fashion, I couldn’t help but view them as ready and willing to put behind last season’s disappointing finish.
Eli Manning was throwing strikes. The unheralded receiving corps was catching everything in sight. The defense was suffocating. They were dominating by playing their style of ball. The run game may have been behind the aerial attack, and the pass rush seemed slightly askew, but not enough to sound alarms.
Then Big Blue traveled to New Orleans and got ripped a new one by the suddenly unstoppable Saints. Manning looked lost. The receivers couldn’t get open. The secondary was in a state of confusion. Toss in the struggling run game and a non-existent pass rush and it was a recipe for a blowout.
A similar Giants team took the field last Sunday night and lost a slugfest to the suddenly intimidating Cardinals. Manning’s erratic ways resulted in three interceptions and an injury-riddled defense had trouble getting off the field. For the second straight week, the Giants looked very mortal.
Ironically, the Eagles have endured a rough two week stretch of their own. They too have a slumping signal caller, a wildly inconsistent rush game, and a defense hampered by injuries. Something will have to give on Sunday.
If one team can awake from their slumber, it could be a long afternoon for the other. If both should continue their up and down behavior, it will undoubtedly be an ugly brand of football on display.
The Giants haven’t lost three in a row since 2006. Eli Manning has won four in a row in Philly. Get ready for a good ol’ fashioned NFC east grinder.
Tags: Eagles-Giants preview
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