PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (3-6) at NEW YORK GIANTS (6-3)
Sunday, 8:20 P.M. ET, NBC, Sirius (Phi 92, NYG 93), Westwood One Radio
Why Watch
Because Andy Reid hasn’t had this much fun with a wide receiver since Terrell Owens. Reid deactivated DeSean Jackson for missing a team meeting ahead of the Arizona Cardinals game. The Eagles lost to Cardinals, who they expected to beat, Now, Reid gets to relive his best T.O. moments.
Like Owens, Jackson is something of a prima donna who, like Owens, is pouty about his contract. He must have missed the story of how Owens’ behavior hastened his exit from the team. Reid must have forgotten that his only Super Bowl appearance and his only real hope of returning came when Owens, diva act and all, was on the roster. It is no different with Jackson. Sometimes, you have to bend a little.
All this comes just as the Giants hope to bury the Eagles’ playoff dreams.
What To Watch
Watch Eagles quarterback Michael Vick’s mobility. Vick is playing with broken ribs as Tony Romo did earlier this season. Vick is more mobile than Romo, which is both good and bad. Running is a bigger part of his game, so hit to his rib cage will be more frequent and may be more damaging to Vick than for Romo. The Eagles are the NFL’s #1 rushing team thanks to both Vick and RB LeSean McCoy. Vick and McCoy have a hand in 21 touchdowns. In other injury notes, CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is OUT for the Eagles.
The Giants and Eagles have swapped identities. Now, New York is the passing team, while Philadelphia is the running team. Eli Manning threw four touchdown passes in their earlier win against Philadelphia. Two went to WR Victor Cruz. That performance was the introduction to Cruz for most NFL fans. Cruz has only two more TD scores since then, but he has a total of 11 receptions of 20 yards or more. He is the perfect balance to fellow receiver Hakeem Nicks.
The Giants 22nd-ranked defense may have a problem stopping the Eagles on the ground. LB Michael Boley, New York’s defensive signal caller, is Doubtful. Philadelphia’s maligned defense is the better performer statistically than New York, and will be helped by Ahmad Bradshaw’s broken foot. The Giants are 4.5 point favorites.
Who Will Win
Rivalry games are not played on paper. They are played on TV where anything can happen. The Eagles would like nothing better than to avenge its home loss to the Giants by dealing the same to New York. Call it a hunch, but go with the Eagles, who might be more dangerous as spoilers than they have been as contenders.
