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Players to watch in Week 8 divisional rematch

PLAYERS-TO-WATCH-WEEK-8

The Giants will have their first divisional rematch of the season this week when they head to Philadelphia for a Week 8 matchup with the Eagles.

Looking to rebound from last week's tough loss, the Giants will have an opportunity to pick up a victory in Philadelphia for the first time since 2013. It would also be the Giants' first season sweep of the Eagles since 2007.

It won't be an easy task, though, as the Eagles are coming off a 28-22 win in Minnesota that saw Jalen Hurts and the passing game come alive.

Here are five players to watch:

QB Jaxson Dart

While last week's game saw mixed results from Jaxson Dart, it was an overall positive performance from the rookie quarterback. Going up against one of the league's top defenses, Dart accounted for four touchdowns, including three passing. Heading into this matchup, the Broncos had only allowed four passing touchdowns all season. Now Dart did complete just 45.5 percent of his passes and threw the key interception in the fourth quarter. But in a hostile environment, the rookie completed eight of 14 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns when blitzed, the third-most passing yards by any player against the blitz this season.

In the four games since Dart was named the starting quarterback, the Giants are averaging 25.3 points per game. The 22-year-old has stepped up in key situations, too. On third downs, Dart has converted a first down at the third-highest rate (48.8 percent) and averaged the second-most EPA per drop back (0.44) in the NFL, according to Next Gen Stats. He's also done a good job of avoiding negative plays in these situations, as he's been sacked just once out of 15 pressures he's faced on third down.

For the first time in his young career, the rookie will face a defense for the second time (and in 17 days, too). Not only that, but the Eagles' defense will have some reinforcements compared to the Week 6 outing, with defensive tackle Jalen Carter, cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, and unretired Brandon Graham all looking good to for Sunday's matchup.

"I don't think there's really too much of an advantage for either team, it's just going to be the guys who execute their schemes at the highest level," Dart said Wednesday about facing a team for the second time. "It's important for us that we put together a really good game plan and also have an open mind that during the game they might do things that we didn't really expect them to do and they're going to be thinking the exact same thing. Like I said, it's a game of chess."

See the top photos from practice as the Giants prepare for their Week 8 matchup against the Eagles.

RB Cam Skattebo

Cam Skattebo had another solid outing last weekend against a tough Broncos defensive front. The rookie running back compiled 60 yards on 16 carries, but added another 34 yards and a touchdown on three receptions. It marked the fifth consecutive game in which Skattebo has totaled 90 yards or more from scrimmage, which coincides with him taking over as the lead in the backfield.

Through seven games, Skattebo leads all rookies with 587 total yards from scrimmage and six total touchdowns. The first-year back didn't have much production in Week 1, too, which means all of his production has come over the last six weeks. Since he's taken over the backfield in Week 3, Skattebo has forced 31 missed tackles, which only trails San Francisco's Christian McCaffrey (37). Meanwhile, his 316 rushing yards after contact ranks as the fourth-most since Week 3.

In the first matchup against the Eagles, Skattebo carried the ball 19 times for a season-high 98 yards and three touchdowns, adding another 10 yards on two receptions. It led to the Giants compiling season-high marks in rushing yards (172), touchdowns (four), and yards after contact (125). The 23-year-old running back forced five missed tackles in the Week 6 matchup.

T Andrew Thomas

Andrew Thomas had one of his most difficult matchups of the season this past week going up against a Broncos front that had wreaked havoc on every opposing offensive line this year. Facing off against Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper, among others, Thomas was credited with just one total pressure allowed on 44 pass-block snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. Meanwhile, ESPN had him down for a 100 percent pass block win rate.

Thomas has been a model of consistency since returning to the field in Week 3. His "worst" outing was against the Eagles in Week 6, where he allowed a total of just two pressures. PFF has credited Thomas with zero sacks allowed on the season, as the star left tackle has provided the offensive line with a substantial boost since returning to the lineup.

In the first meeting between the two teams, the Eagles totaled two sacks for a loss of one yard on Dart. They also totaled two sacks for 15 yards against Minnesota's Carson Wentz this past weekend, bringing their season total to just 11, tied for 26th. However, the return of Brandon Graham should provide the pass rush with a bump, in addition to Jalen Carter being one more week removed from his heel injury. In 24 career games against the Giants, Graham has registered eight sacks, 16 quarterback hits, 17 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles.

"Good defense, a lot of good players," coach Brian Daboll said Wednesday. "Jalen Carter will be back. He's a problem to block. He wasn't there the first game."

DL Dexter Lawrence

Considering what we've seen from him over the last few seasons, it's been a slow start to the season for Dexter Lawrence. We are seven games into the season and the defensive lineman has yet to register a sack. He's found other ways to impact the game, such as his impressive interception against the Chargers, along with getting his hands on passes at the line of scrimmage (he's already matched his career-high with three passes defensed on the season).

Similar to last season, Lawrence is seeing double teams at an incredible rate. Through the first seven weeks, the veteran has been double teamed on a league-high 61.2 percent of his pass rushes, according to NGS. It's the second consecutive season he's lead the NFL in double team rate. Unlike last year, though, Lawrence has not been getting as much pressure on the quarterback. But perhaps the 29-year-old has turned a corner recently. Lawrence has registered seven total pressures over the last two games, according to PFF, compared to seven total pressures through the first five weeks.

The last game against Philadelphia began this recent stretch of stronger play from the defensive lineman, as PFF had him down for three pressures in Week 6. In the one game he played against the Eagles last season, Lawrence recorded two sacks. Jalen Hurts has taken multiple sacks in every game since the season opener, including 12 total sacks over the last three games.

OLB Abdul Carter

Heading into Week 8, Abdul Carter has yet to record his first full sack in the NFL. Nevertheless, the rookie outside linebacker has still found a way to affect opposing quarterbacks. Carter leads all rookies with 29 pressures generated, which ranks eighth in the league. Not only that, but his 19 quick pressures (under 2.5 seconds) are the most of any player in the NFL, according to NGS.

Carter was held out of the box score in the first meeting against the Eagles, although PFF did have him down for two pressures. In fact, the 22-year-old has multiple pressures in every game this season and just one game with less than three.

"Abdul is a great talent," fellow outside linebacker Brian Burns said Wednesday. "I mean, obviously, like you just said, the numbers aren't there. But they're going to come. And I'll be telling him that. Just keep his head down. Keep doing what you've been doing. Like, you're getting pressure. You're winning. It's not like you're losing. So, the sacks will come. They come in bunches. And I've just kind of been trying to keep his head straight on that. Keep his head clear of everything else. But the man's a talent. Like, he's going to be something special. He's going to be something special. So, I can't wait until his numbers start showing what he can actually do."

View rare photos of the historic rivalry between the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles.

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