Game Preview: Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants, November 28, 2004

Top Ten Reasons to Be Thankful for the Eagles

#10 – October 31, 1999, Giants 23 – Eagles 17 (OT): The Eagles watch a 17-3 lead vanish in the second half as Duce Staley fumbles near his own goal line, setting up the tying touchdown pass by Kent Graham. In overtime, DE Michael Strahan intercepts a deflected pass from Donovan McNabb and returns it 44 yards for the game-winning touchdown. Eagle fans at the Vet are devastated.

#9 – September 29, 1985, Giants 16 – Eagles 10 (OT): Momentum swung completely to the Eagles late in this game as the Giants see Reggie White for the first time and White bats a pass up into the air that is intercepted and returned for a touchdown by none other than Herman Edwards again. However, the Giants get their revenge and the victory when CB Elvis “Toast” Patterson intercepts Ron Jaworski in overtime and returns the pick for a touchdown in a dramatic win at the Vet.

#8 – August 31, 1997, Giants 31 – Eagles 17: The Jim Fassel-era begins with a bang as does a 9-game, 4-year winning streak against the Eagles under Fassel with this opening day victory. The Giants were expected to finish dead last in the division, but wind up winning the NFC East. An Eagles’ comeback is thwarted in the waning moments of the ballgame as rookie safety Sam Garnes returns an interception 95 yards for a touchdown.

#7 – September 9, 1990, Giants 27 – Eagles 20: Giants begin their Super Bowl run by beating the defending NFC East Champions on Sunday night on national television. The Eagles had won the previous four meetings so this was a key psychological moment to start what ended up being a 10-game winning streak. Phil Simms threw two touchdown passes and David Meggett returned a punt for a touchdown.

#6 – November 22, 1981, Giants 20 – Eagles 10: Giants end a 12-game losing streak to the despised Eagles by beating the defending NFC Champions on their home turf. The Giants’ defense dominates and CB Terry Jackson returns an interception for a touchdown. This was a huge victory in the Giants’ 1981 playoff run.

#5 – December 7, 1997, Giants 31 – Eagles 21: Giants are in a three-way battle for the NFC East title and appear to be fading. Most experts think the Eagles or Redskins will overtake the Giants for the division. New York puts an end to that talk with a dominating game at the Vet with LB Jessie Armstead returning an interception for a touchdown and a big passing game from QB Danny Kanell. The Giants clinch the NFC East title the week after this game.

#4 – December 28, 2002, Giants 10 – Eagles 7 (OT): Giants win season finale at home in overtime as the Giants win their last four games of the season and make the playoffs. New York dominates everywhere but on the scoreboard. HB Tiki Barber rushes for over 200 yards, but fumbles the ball away three times – the last time setting up what looked to be a game winning field goal attempt by Pro Bowl kicker David Akers, who misses. Giants intercept the Eagles’ back-up quarterback in overtime to set up their own game-winning field goal. Most memorable play from the game was TE Jeremy Shockey’s game-tying touchdown reception over All-Pro safety Brian Dawkins.

#3 – December 27, 1981, Giants 27 – Eagles 21: Giants eliminate the defending NFC Champs by beating the Eagles in Philadelphia for the second time in the season, this time in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game. This game marked the Giants’ first post-season appearance in 18 years. QB Scott Bruner throws three touchdown passes and CB Mark Haynes recovers a fumbled kickoff in the endzone.

#2 – January 7, 2001, Giants 20 – Eagles 10: The first stepping stone en route to the Giants 2000 NFC Championship was beating the Eagles for the third time in the season and the ninth time in a row. WR Ron Dixon returns the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. CB Jason Sehorn seals the game in the first half by coming up with a miraculous interception return for a touchdown and a 17-0 lead. The defense held the Eagles to eleven first downs.

#1 – November 19, 1978, Eagles 19-Giants 17: “The Fumble”. Giants are leading in the waning moments and only have to take a knee in order end the game, but the Giants call a running play. QB Joe Pisarcik fumbles the handoff to FB Larry Csonka, Herman Edwards of the Eagles picks up the fumble and scores to win the game. This game set in motion the removal of Head Coach John McVay and Director of Football Operations Andy Robustelli. George Young is hired as general manager in January, ultimately leading to the hiring of Bill Parcells, the drafting of Phil Simms and Lawrence Taylor, and two Superbowl Championships. But none of that would have happened without “The Fumble”.

Approach to the Game – Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants, November 28, 2004: Obviously it’s going to take the Giants’ best effort of the year to beat the Eagles on Sunday. This will be the first of many times QB Eli Manning will confront Eagles’ Defensive Coordinator Jim Johnson’s complicated blitzing schemes. It is a chess match that will likely be played out for many years to come. Defensively, the Eagles have many weapons to worry about other than WR Terrell Owens. The undermanned Giants’ defense will need to force some turnovers. And the Giants’ special teams must have a big day.

Giants on Offense: The Falcons blitzed Manning some, but the Eagles will likely be coming on just about every play. What the Eagles like to do is bring more people at one point of the blocking scheme than you can pick up. That puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the quarterback to make quick, correct decisions. The Giants will have to get rid of the ball quickly. Screens are a good way to beat a blitz, but the Giants run so many screens that you know the Eagles will be ready for them too. A quick slant is another good play. Of course, the ultimate way to beat and discourage a blitz is to hit a long touchdown pass against the defense. The problem is that the Eagles get to the quarterback so quickly that it makes it real tough to get a 5- and 7-step drop. So instead of a bomb, what you really want to do is get a quick pass to a receiver who can make a big play running with the ball after the catch.

The Eagle run defense has improved since they got gouged against the Steelers, but it is critically important that the Giants and Tiki Barber be able to run the ball on them. This will help to keep the Giants in manageable down-and-distance situations and keep the edge off the pass rushers as well. As always, this game will be decided up front in the trenches. Key match-ups include RT David Diehl vs. DE Jevon Kearse (7 sacks), DT Corey Simon vs. RG Chris Snee, DT Darwin Walker vs. LG Jason Whittle, and DE Derrick Burgess/DE Hugh Douglas vs. Luke Petitgout. The line, backs, and tight ends will also have to pick up multiple blitz packages from both linebackers and defensive backs.

The receiving corps and tight ends need to get open quickly and make some plays after the catch. LCB Lito Sheppard (4 interceptions, 2 touchdowns) will be on WR Ike Hilliard and RCB Sheldon Brown will be on WR Amani Toomer. The safeties – Brian Dawkins and Michael Lewis – are real good. Jeremiah Trotter is the new starter at middle linebacker. He’s a physical player, but knee injuries and mental lapses have affected his play in the past. Singling up a back on him in coverage would be smart. This is a game where TE Jeremy Shockey needs to come through with a big effort against the safeties and linebackers.

Run the ball, beat the blitz. This game will be won or lost by the blockers up front and the ability or inability of the Giants’ play-makers to make big plays.

Giants on Defense: Everyone spends a ton of time talking about Terrell Owens, but it is the other weapons on the team that set up his antics. People forget that in the opener, it was the running and receiving of HB Brian Westbrook (161 total yards) and the receiving of tight ends Chad Lewis and L.J. Smith (108) yards that set up Owens’ three touchdowns (but only 68 total yards). Obviously, Will Allen (who was rusty as hell in Week 1) needs to come up with one of his best efforts against Owens. But that won’t matter unless the Giants’ linebackers do a much, much better job of dealing with the tight ends and Westbrook in coverage. In my mind, that is the entire key to the game. WR Todd Pinkston also caught a 53-yard bomb on the Giants in Week 1 and New York needs to keep him under wraps.

Defensive Coordinator Tim Lewis has been keeping the defense competitive in recent weeks with a variety of different schemes and looks. But that will only take you so far, especially against a team loaded at the skill positions like the Eagles are. The big guys up front need to shut down Westbrook in the running game and get after QB Donovan McNabb. McNabb is not as dangerous as Michael Vick in terms of running with the football, but he keeps drives alive with his feet. Keeping him in the pocket and pressuring him will be important too. McNabb is a streaky quarterback and you can disrupt his timing if you get in his face.

Stop the ground game. Disrupt the timing of the passes to the tight ends and Westbrook (this game will be won or lost by the linebackers here). Get in McNabb’s face.

Giants on Special Teams: David Akers is as good as it gets and he is excellent on kickoffs so it will be tough for the Giants to break a big kickoff return. The Giants need to get better blocking for punt returner Mark Jones as the team needs to get a big return in this game. Eagle kickoff man J.R. Reed has a 66-yard return this year.