Philadelphia Eagles can keep pace in NFC East with win over Giants
The Philadelphia Eagles have a golden opportunity to keep pace with division rivals in an NFC East that looks mediocre to this point.
The Philadelphia Eagles fell to the Kansas City Chiefs on Week 2, a game that provides a great opportunity to shake it off and look to the next game. This is more easily done when you’re staring in the face of another division rival on Week 3 – this time the winless New York Giants.
With the Dallas Cowboys getting hammered by another AFC West opponent on Week 2, the Eagles have the chance to maintain at least a share of first place in the division if they can force the Giants into a nearly insurmountable 0-3 hole.
After two games, the Giants once effective offense has taken a dramatic turn. New York has scored a measely 13 points in two games and seems more than willing to help out the Eagles in their quest to return to the playoffs.
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Adding to the urgency is the fact that the Eagles finally play a home game at Lincoln Financial Field. Opening on the road for the first two weeks is somewhat ridiculous on the part of the NFL schedule-making department.
Having said that, this means that Philadelphia will play eight of their final 14 games at home. This includes three-straight games at ‘The Linc’ on weeks 7-9 as well as a back-to-back stint in friendly confines over the last two weeks of the regular season.
Yes, the schedule plays out rather well for the Philadelphia Eagles as head coach Doug Pederson tries to get his team into the postseason for the first time.
But none of these benefits will matter if the Eagles don’t care of business in the games they definitely should win.
There’s an old saying that goes, ”Never kick a man while he’s down.”
Others would say that there’s no better time to kick a man.
Hello, Eli Manning.
Not to overstate the obvious, but the New York offense is positively offensive at this early stage. Manning isn’t looking as old as he looks frustrated by the lack of pass protection and options with top receiving target Odell Beckham, Jr. still obviously hobbled by what looks like the kind of ankle sprain that might hinder this player all season long. Beckham’s return for New York’s home opener against the Detroit Lions meant nothing at all in the big picture.
Yes, the Giants defense is a strong unit, but the few points this group is getting from its offense is hanging it out to dry. Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz will have to find ways of exploiting this weakness because too much is on the line in this game to fall to 1-2.
Perhaps the biggest key to this game against the Giants is simply not turning the ball over. The Eagles can score points so long as they don’t waste opportunities of their own while also giving extra chances to a Giants team that seems eager to grab a top-10 selection in the 2018 NFL Draft next spring.