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Game Preview: Giants Vs. Eagles

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What better way to start the home schedule than against a division rival?

The Eagles host the New York Giants today at 1 p.m. after splitting their first two games on the road, earning a win at Washington before losing a tough one last Sunday in Kansas City. Our pregame coverage begins with The Kickoff Show presented by Axalta at 12:30 p.m. featuring the offense being introduced to the crowd at Lincoln Financial Field live. Last season's matchups were both decided by five points with the home team winning each game.

After getting off to a slow 2-3 start, the Giants went a torrid 9-2 in their final 11 games earning a Wild Card playoff spot which was their first postseason appearance since their Super Bowl win in 2011. The Giants are off to another slow start losing their first two contests to the Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions.

Ben McAdoo enters his second season as the Giants' head coach after an 11-5 season which marked the franchise's highest win total since 2008. Running the show on the field for the Giants for the 14th consecutive season is quarterback Eli Manning. During the offseason, the Giants strengthened their receiving corps by picking up wide receiver Brandon Marshall, who should help draw pressure away from star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. However, Beckham has been slowed by a high ankle sprain and the offense has scored just 13 points in the two losses.

It should also be noted that it was the Giants' defense that set the team apart last season as New York finished second in the league in points allowed (17.8). The cornerback trio of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Janoris Jenkins, and Eli Apple was among the league's best. Jenkins, however, is a game-time decision with an ankle injury that kept him out of the Lions game. The Giants finished with the second-highest total of passes defensed (101) and fourth-most interceptions (17) in the NFL. Defensive ends Olivier Vernon and Jason Pierre-Paul took care of business up front combining for 15.5 of the team's 35 sacks.

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Trends To Watch

16 –In 13 games at Lincoln Financial Field, Manning has thrown 16 interceptions including three in their last season's matchup.97 –The Giants currently rank last in rushing yards per game with 97. The Giants finished with the fourth-lowest total rushing yards in the NFL last season.16.7 –Only six of the 36 touchdowns the Giants scored last season were rushing touchdowns. That marked the lowest rushing touchdown percentage in the NFL.762 –The Eagles put up 762 total yards in their first two games, good for fifth most across the NFL and second most by teams that played their first two games on the road.

Did You Know?

  • Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery had season highs of seven catches for 92 yards and a touchdown last week against Kansas City. Since 2013, Jeffery is eighth in the league in receiving yards per game with 78.4.
  • Tight end Zach Ertz has 90 receiving yards in three straight contests dating back to Week 17 of the 2016 season. The last Eagle to accomplish that feat was Terrell Owens in 2004.
  • Running back Darren Sproles (19,114 career all-purpose yards) could surpass wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. (19,180) and Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk (19,190) for sixth place on the NFL's all-time list. Sproles leads all active NFL players.
  • The Eagles have won five of their last six games against the Giants, including three straight at the Linc.
  • The Eagles rank second in the league in third-down conversion percentage (55.2) behind only Denver (56.7 percent).
  • With 39 plays of 10-or-more yards, the Eagles lead the league.
  • Eight is great for the Eagles' defense. The team ranks tied for fifth with eight sacks through the first two games.

Last Time They Met

After losing the first regular-season matchup to the Giants, the Eagles bounced back to beat the Giants at Lincoln Financial Field, 24-19. Prior to the Week 16 matchup, the Eagles were 0-4 against division opponents. The win also snapped a five-game losing snide for the Eagles.

Running back Darren Sproles ignited the offense early in the Thursday night contest on an early 25-yard dash along the right side. On the ensuing Giants' possession, Malcolm Jenkins stole a throw delivered by Eli Manning and returned it 34 yards for an Eagles score. The Eagles led 14-3 after the first quarter.

Midway through the second, wide receiver Nelson Agholor put the Eagles up 21-6 off a deep 40-yard gunner from quarterback Carson Wentz. The Giants narrowed the gap before the half, however, when wide receiver Sterling Shepard landed in the end zone to make the tally 21-13.

The Giants put up three in the third quarter cutting the Eagles' lead to five heading into the fourth quarter. With 1:31 remaining, the Giants got the ball back with one final opportunity to win the game. The Eagles' defense prevailed after safety Terrence Brooks picked off Manning at the Philadelphia 5-yard line, securing the Eagles' victory.

It wasn't the best offensive showing as the Eagles only managed to put up 286 total yards. Agholor led the way with his third career touchdown and 47 yards. Wentz briefly exited the game in the second quarter with an injury but returned to play the entire second half.

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