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TURNING POINT**
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WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE OFFENSE
The bad: settling for field goals. The good: mostly everything else. The Giants were efficient and balanced as quarterback Eli Manning spread the ball around to seven different receivers. The Giants pounded away in the run game and converted enough third downs to dominate the time of possession 38:05-21:55. The offense did stall in the third quarter, but the Giants most importantly took care of the ball as their defense dominated.
WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE DEFENSE
As Antrel Rolle went, so did the defense. Notching an interception and a sack on the Eagles' first two drives, Rolle set the table for the Giants, who extended their streak to 10 quarters without allowing a defensive touchdown. Matt Barkley replaced Michael Vick (hamstring) at quarterback on the final drive of the first half and did throw a bit of a curveball to the Giants' game plan. Led by Barkley, the Eagles ate up some yards – LeSean McCoy, the NFL's leading rusher, finished with 48 yards on 15 carries after being held to just seven yards in the first half -- but couldn't handle the Giants' pass rush in key situations. The Giants had four sacks after recording just six all season heading into Sunday.
WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT SPECIAL TEAMS
Josh Brown, who went four games without making a field goal (just two attempts in Weeks 3-6), has now connected on eight straight attempts in the last two games. Brown accounted for all of the Giants' points against the Eagles with a career-high five field goals from distances of 40, 44, 33, 46, and 27 yards. Meanwhile, after the Giants' gave up their third punt return touchdown last week, Steve Weatherford and the coverage team twice pinned the Eagles inside their own five-yard line down the stretch to help out the battle for field position. However, they couldn't come away completely clean after long snapper Zak DeOssie sailed a snap over Weatherford's head in the fourth quarter, which the Eagles recovered in the end zone for a touchdown.
ROOKIE WATCH
Justin Pugh again started at right tackle. Michael Cox made his first career start at running back and had nine carries for 19 yards along with an 11-yard catch. Defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins suited up for the third time this season. He made his NFL debut three weeks ago in the first game against the Eagles. Quarterback Ryan Nassib was inactive.
