NFL 2010 Week 15 – Preview: New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The New York Giants have reorganized since losing to the Philadelphia Eagles last month. Giants won 3 consecutive matches to create a tie on the NFC East. Although, winning from Eagles has
proved to be a difficulty for Giants.
This match will likely decide the division title and probably push the winner to a 1st-round bye for the games.
These teams enter with 9-4 marks, with Eagles defeating Giants 27-17 at home November 21. Philadelphia has the top offense in the NFL at 402.8 yards per game, and New York is 4th
at 385.4. Both are the best rushing teams in the NFC, as Giants’ averages 148.1 yards to Eagles’ 146.1.
"I've always said the records really don't matter when these two teams get together," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "Like I've also said, I think it's kind of neat that both teams are in a
position where the game is important this late in the season. It's a tribute to both teams and how they've played."
Last month's loss caused a change for Giants that has been influential in its win streak. Ahmad Bradshaw is replaced by Brandon Jacobs as the starting running back, and both has assisted
the New York to get 545 yards for a per-carry average of 6.1 in last 3 games. Both went over 100 yards with one touchdown in Monday's 21-3 win over Minnesota Vikings.
Last month, Giants could get just 61 rushing yards against Eagles.
The Giants, joined for the league lead with 39 sacks, are the only team to hold Michael Vick without a touchdown pass when he has played a complete game this season. Vick threw for 258 yards
and ran for 34 and one score in the previous match, and he leads the NFC with a 104.3 rating.
Eli Manning has created mixed outcomes and he has thrown for 24 touchdowns and a league-leading 19 interceptions. Asante Samuel got 2 of the picks in the last match and that has been a frequent
theme of late.
Manning has been intercepted 7 times in his last 4 games against the Philadelphia -- 4 by Samuel. The cornerback Steve Smith leads the league with 7 and he has came back to perform after
missing the last 3 games because of a knee injury.
Pro Bowl receiver Steve Smith is out for the season because of a knee injury that he got on Monday, so Manning will be without Pro Bowl receiver this season. Hakeem Nicks came back to action
last week after missing 2 games and had 7 catches for 96 yards, while Mario Manningham should be available in spite of a hip injury.
DeSean Jackson is the top receiver of Eagles but he missed practice Wednesday with a sprained left foot he sustained in last week's 30-27 victory at Dallas Cowboys. Jackson caught 4 passes
for a career-high 210 yards -- the most in NFL history for a player making 4 catches or less and 3rd-most receiving in franchise history.
"We think he's going to be OK here," Reid said, "but we'll just see how it goes."
LeSean McCoy also got a career-high 149 yards rushing last week for Philadelphia. McCoy had a go-ahead 50-yard TD run with 4:25 left last month against Giants. The New York Giants had allowed
an average of 143.0 yards on the ground over the 3 games prior to limiting Adrian Peterson to 26 yards on 14 carries Monday.
Giants will get at least the Number 2 seed in the NFC, if they win their final 3 games. The same holds true for the Philadelphia if Chicago Bears loses one of its final 3.
"We all know the magnitude of the game," Vick said. "We know it's a big one. Where else would you want to be? What other position would you want to be in?"
Philadelphia has not won 6 in a row over the New York Giants since a 12-game run from 1975-81.
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