They say keep your friends close, but your divisional rivals closer.
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With that in mind, each week Giants.com takes a look at the latest news and happenings around the NFC East:
NEW YORK GIANTS (4-4, 2-2 NFC EAST)
Week 8: L, 52-49 @ Saints (4-4) *Streak:Lost 1 Next: @ Buccaneers (3-4)*
• The Giants and Saints combined for 101 points, the third-highest total for a single game in NFL history. Eli Manning threw a career-high six touchdowns while his counterpart Drew Brees became the eighth player in league history to throw seven scores. Overall, the game featured 1,030 yards of offense and 63 first downs. The Giants' 4-4 record is their best mark at the midway point of the season since 2012 when they were 6-2. Through eight games, the Giants were 3-5 last season and 2-6 in 2013.
• Tight end Larry Donnell was carted off in the first half of the Saints game with a neck injury and did not return. Running back Orleans Darkwa (back) and right guard Geoff Schwartz (ankle) were also forced to leave. Middle linebacker and defensive captain Jon Beason missed Sunday with an ankle injury, and cornerback Prince Amukamara missed his third-straight game with a pectoral injury.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS (3-4, 1-1 NFC EAST)
Week 8: BYE *Streak:Won 1 Next: @ Patriots (7-0)*
• Wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who has not played since injuring his hamstring in the first quarter of Washington's opener, is optimistic about playing this Sunday against the undefeated Patriots.
"[I] was able to go out there without feeling it so that's a good thing," Jackson told reporters today. "Today, it's early, it's Monday, so I didn't try to go full speed, top speed, I just got in a groove, feeling good and everyday we'll be a build on day, leading up to Sunday."
• Coming off the bye week, the Redskins will also await the statuses of cornerbacks DeAngelo Hall (toe), Chris Culliver (knee), and Bashaud Breeland, in addition to center Kory Lichtensteiger (neck), linebacker Ryan Kerrigan (hand), and running back Chris Thompson (back). **
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (3-4, 1-2 NFC EAST)**
Week 8: BYE *Streak:Lost 1 Next: @ Cowboys *
• Philadelphia's first four games out of the break are against opponents with a combined record of 9-20: at Dallas (2-5), vs. Miami (3-4), vs. Tampa Bay (3-4), and at Detroit (1-7).
• Rookie wide receiver Nelson Agholor, the Eagles' first-round draft pick, has missed the last two games with an ankle sprain. Linebackers Kiko Alonso, DeMeco Ryans, and Mychal Kendricks have all missed time heading into the bye week, and offensive tackle Jason Peters looks to return after leaving their last game with back spasms. **
DALLAS COWBOYS (2-5, 2-1 NFC EAST)**
Week 8: L, 13-12 vs. Seahawks (4-4) *Streak:Lost 5 Next: vs. Eagles*
• All-Pro wide receiver Dez Bryant was targeted six times and caught two passes for 12 yards in his return from a broken foot that he suffered in Week 1 against the Giants.
• The Cowboys lost their fifth-straight game without Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo, who will miss at least two more weeks with a broken collarbone as he remains on the injured reserve/designated to return list. Brandon Weeden lost the first three starts in his absence, and Matt Cassel has lost the last two.
Gameday Photo timeline from the Giants Week 8 matchup against New Orleans Saints
10:00 AM - Giants players arrive at Mercedes-Benz Superdome for Sunday's game vs. New Orleans Saints
11:30 AM - Players take the field to begin their pregame warmups - View Gallery
1:00 PM - An honor guard stands at attention during the national anthem shortly before Giants vs. Saints kickoff
9:43, 1ST QTR, On fourth-and-2, Eli Manning passes to Odell Beckham Jr. for a 2-yard touchdown, NYG 7 – NO 0 - Watch Highlight
7:45, 1st QTR, Drew Brees passes deep to Willie Snead for a 34-yard touchdown, NYG 7 – NO 7
5:40, 1ST QTR, Brad Wing punts the ball 62 yards to the NO 4, downed by Mark Herzlich - Watch Highlight
2:30- 1ST QTR, Drew Brees passes short to Brandin Cooks, who runs it 26 yards for a touchdown, NO 14 – NYG 7
13:34, 2ND QTR, Odell Beckham Jr. catches his second touchdown of the day on a 1-yard pass from Eli Manning, NO 14- NYG 14 - Watch Highlight
11:15, 2ND QTR, Drew Brees hits Marques Colston for a 53-yard touchdown, NO 21- NYG 14
1:50, 2ND QTR, Willie Snead catches his second touchdown of the day on a 2-yard pass from Drew Brees, NO 28 – NYG 14
0:07, 2ND QTR, Shane Vereen scores on a 2-yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning as the first half comes to a close, NO 28 – NYG 21 - Watch Highlight
13:08, 3RD QTR, On the fourth play of the second half, Eli Manning throws to Odell Beckham Jr. for a 50-yard touchdown, NO 28 – NYG 28 - Watch Highlight
10:14, 3RD QTR, Brandin Cooks catches his second touchdown of the day on a 21-yard strike from Drew Brees, NO 35 – NYG 28
7:36, 3RD QTR, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie intercepts Drew Brees at the NYG 5 and returns it 2 yards - Watch Highlight
0:33, 3RD QTR, Drew Brees throws a 20-yard pass to Benjamin Watson for a touchdown, NO 42 – NYG 28
12:24, 4TH QTR, On fourth-and-5, Eli Manning escapes pressure and throws the ball to Dwayne Harris for a 9-yard touchdown, NO 42 – NYG 35 - Watch Highlight
10:31, 4TH QTR, Odell Beckham Jr. breaks free on a short pass from Eli Manning for 38 yards - Watch Highlight
9:37, 4TH QTR, On the third play of the drive, Eli Manning hits Dwayne Harris deep for a 20-yard touchdown, NO 42 – NYG 42 - Watch Highlight
7:23, 4TH QTR, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie forces a Willie Snead fumble, which is recovered by Trumaine McBride and returned 63 yards for a touchdown, NYG 49 – NO 42 - Watch Highlight
0:41, 4TH QTR, Drew Brees throws short to CJ Spiller for a 9-yard touchdown, NYG 49 – NO 49
0:20, 4TH QTR, Brad Wing punts 46 yards to Marcus Murphy, who returns the ball 24 yards before Craig Dahl forces him to fumble. Willie Snead recovers the ball at the NYG 47, but Wing is flagged for a 15-yard facemask penalty, moving the ball to the NYG 32.
0:05, 4TH QTR, Kai Forbath kicks a 50-yard, game-winning field goal as time expires, NO 52 – NYG 49
Final Score: New Orleans Saints 52, New York Giants 49. Big Blue looks to regroup before facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Nov. 8, at 4:05 p.m. ET - Watch Game Highlight
