Skip to main content
New York Giants Website
Advertising

Giants News | New York Giants – Giants.com

10 things to watch for against the Eagles

andre-center-101715.jpg

1. RIVALRY RENEWED


NEWS
> Read Eagles Scouting Report
> 5 Players to watch vs. Eagles
> Prince confident about speedy recovery
PHOTOS
> Know Your Opponent: Eagles
VIDEOS
> Giants Online: Eagles Preview


Just like last year in Week 6, the Giants travel to Lincoln Financial Field on a three-game winning streak after a 0-2 start to the season. However, they will try to avoid the same result against the Eagles, who posted a 27-point shutout against the Giants in 2014 and have won three of the last four meetings in the series. The Giants (3-2) currently lead the NFC East heading into the "Monday Night Football" matchup as they look to create more separation in the race. Philadelphia, Dallas and Washington all sit at 2-3.

"It'll be loud, they'll be fired up, they're going to be rocking," quarterback Eli Manning said of returning to Philly. "We've got to do our job and we've got to go out there and play smart, handle the crowd noise, hopefully get off to a fast start and try to calm them down."

2. ​THE ENCORE

Week 5 was a wild one, and the Giants were in the middle of it. Eleven games were won by a team that trailed at some point in the contest, seven of which were down in the fourth quarter. That included Manning's 32nd game-winning drive, this one in which he threw a touchdown to tight end Larry Donnell with 21 seconds remaining to defeat San Francisco, 30-27.

3. PLAYERS OF THE WEEK COLLIDE

Including the late-game heroics, Manning completed a franchise-record 41 passes for 441 yards and three touchdowns against San Francisco to earn his third NFC Offensive Player of the Week Award (he received the previous two in victories over Philadelphia in 2006 and 2011). Meanwhile, Eagles defensive end Fletcher Cox is the reigning NFC Defensive Player of the Week after recording three sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and six tackles in a 39-17 win over New Orleans.

4. GIANTS INJURY REPORT

Cornerback Prince Amukamara has already been ruled out for two-to-four weeks with a partially torn pectoral muscle. WR Victor Cruz (Calf) and LB Devon Kennard (Hamstring) are also Out.

DE Robert Ayers (Hamstring), LB Jon Beason (Concussion), WR Odell Beckham (Hamstring), LB Jonathan Casillas (Calf), CB Trumaine McBride (Illness/Groin) are Questionable. While Guard Justin Pugh (Ankle), WR Rueben Randle (Hamstring) and DE George Selvie (Calf) are listed as Probable.

5. EAGLES INJURY REPORT

WR Nelson Agholor (Ankle), LB Kiko Alonso (Knee), DE Brandon Bair (Groin), and LB Mychal Kendricks (Hamstring) are Out. RB Ryan Mathews is Questionable.

6. GIANTS CONFIDENT IN HOSLEY AT CB

While Amukamara is out, fourth-year pro Jayron Hosley is set to start in his place. Hosley is no stranger to being in that situation. He made the 10th start of his career earlier in the season when he replaced the Giants' other starting cornerback, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who was out with a concussion in Week 3. The Giants defeated the Redskins, 32-21, that week to spark their current winning streak.

"I think Hosley is going to do great," Amukamara said. "Hosley did a great job for DRC against the Falcons and the Redskins. I feel like he's been playing great for us, and I feel like he's definitely ready." Amukamara added that Hosley is a more confident player now.

7. CHIP KELLY 3.0

This is Chip Kelly's third season as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, and opposing NFL defenses have seen his offense 38 times so far in live action. Kelly is 22-15 in the regular season and 0-1 in the postseason. He is 3-1 against the Giants with his offense averaging 26.0 points per game and 378.3 yards of total offense (138.8 on the ground). So is the Philly offense still that much different than the rest of the NFL?

"Way different," Rodgers-Cromartie said. "Just the fast pace and the little things they do in and out the backfield, using all the backs. They have three good backs and they do have receiver talent at the receiving level, so it's definitely different."

8. FOLES & MCCOY OUT, BRADFORD & MURRAY IN

Philadelphia filled up its transactions log this offseason, most notably acquiring quarterback and former No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford from St. Louis Rams in exchange for Nick Foles.

The Eagles then acquired linebacker Kiko Alonso from Buffalo in exchange for running back LeSean McCoy, the franchise's all-time leading rusher. To replace McCoy, Kelly signed former Cowboy DeMarco Murray, the 2014 NFL rushing champion. Bradford has completed 63.2 percent of his passes this year with eight touchdowns and six interceptions. In four games, Murray has 49 carries for 130 yards, 83 of which came last week alone.

9. ELUSIVE SPROLES

Eagles running back/return specialist Darren Sproles is the only player in NFL history with at least 25 receiving touchdowns, 15 rushing touchdowns and five punt return touchdowns.

"Great catch mechanics, he gets a head start, he's very elusive," special teams coordinator Tom Quinn said. "You see him on offense and what he can do there, he does the same thing in the return game. If you give him any space at all, he's real elusive, quick, explosive and he can finish. Legit."

10. PUNCH IT IN

In 19 trips to the "green" zone, the Giants have come away with just seven touchdowns, or 36.8 percent, which is 30th in the NFL. Conversely, the Eagles have the No. 8 red-zone defense, allowing a touchdown just 46.7 percent of the time.

"We need to make better decisions down there, we need to minimize mistakes, and certainly eliminate the penalties," offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo said. "That'd be a good start."

This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be missing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an issue.
Advertising