For their matchup of the season, the New York Giants travel to Lincoln Financial Field to face the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday Night Football. The two teams, and all the teams in the NFC East for that matter, have really struggled. The Giants are 1-5, while the Eagles are 1-4-1. Philadelphia has won the last seven meetings. But with the Eagles being almost completely decimated with injuries, anything can happen.
New York Giants
Daniel Jones had a passing touchdown and had a team-high 74 rushing yards last week. In the last meeting last year, he passed for 301 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. The Eagles have been better than previous years against the pass but can still get burned by the deep ball.
Devonta Freeman had 61 rushing yards last week and looked to have his 4th in a row with at least 50 scrimmage yards. He will look to get something going against a struggling Eagles’ rush defense that has allowed 125.5 rushing yards per game (21st in NFL) this season. That included them getting torched for 191 yards on the ground against the Rams in Week 2.
Now for Jones’ weapons in the passing game. Darius Slayton had a touchdown catch last week and will look to replicate his only career game versus the Eagles. In that game, he had five catches for a career-high 154 yards and two touchdowns. Golden Tate has had a touchdown catch in three of his five career games versus the Eagles, including the last one. Evan Engram has had just three receptions total in the last two games and will look to find something against a defense who struggles against tight ends. They have given up an average of six catches and 67 yards against tight ends. They have given up a total of six touchdowns, including three against Tyler Higbee.
Linebacker Blake Martinez led the Giants with 14 tackles last week. He had 15 tackles in his one career game against the Eagles last year when he was with Green Bay. Markus Golden aims for his third game at Philadelphia with a sack. Tae Crowder had a career-high 10 tackles and a 43-yard fumble return touchdown last week. Kyler Fackrell had a sack and his second career forced fumble last week. He has recorded a sack in two of his last three road games. Logan Ryan had a sack and pass deflection last week. In his last game versus the Eagles in 2018, he had five tackles and a pass deflection. James Bradberry had his second interception of the season last week. He has a league-leading ten pass deflections this season.
Eagles
Carson Wentz nearly brought the Eagles all the way back from a 24-6 deficit against the Ravens last week. He passed for two touchdowns with no interceptions and rushed for a touchdown. He has a rushing touchdown in four of the last five games. Wentz passed for 289 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions in the last meeting. With nearly no offensive weapons and guys being pulled off the street, he has somehow still put up some good numbers.
Miles Sanders is out, which leaves Boston Scott as the lead back. Scott had a career day against the Giants in Week 17 last season. He had a career-high 138 scrimmage yards (84 rec., 54 rush) and career-high three rushing touchdowns. He has 266 scrimmage yards and four rushing touchdowns in his two career games versus the Giants.
For the passing game, DeSean Jackson finally makes his return. In addition to Sanders, tight end Zach Ertz is also out. Richard Rodgers and Jason Croom will be the tight ends with Dallas Goedert on the injured reserve. Croom had a touchdown catch last week on his only offensive snap. Greg Ward and Travis Fulgham will continue to be relied on for Wentz. The two have combined for 42 catches, 475 yards, and five touchdowns through six games. Even with Jackson back, they will and should have a full-time role in the offense.
The Eagles’ defense allowed 30 points for the third time last week. But they face an offense who has only scored more than 20 points once when they put up 34 in a 34-37 loss to the Cowboys in Week 5. Brandon Graham had his eighth-career game with two sacks last week. He had three tackles for loss and a sack in the last meeting. Fletcher Cox had a fumble recovery in the last meeting. Josh Sweat had a career-high three tackles for loss last week. Darius Slay has a pass deflection in three of the last four games. He leads the NFL with 107 pass deflections since 2013. The Eagles’ front seven should feast on the Giants’ offensive line and give Jones little to no time to make a play.
Game Info
Date: October 22, 2020
Start Time: 8:20 p.m. EST
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Stadium: Lincoln Financial Field
TV Info: FOX/NFLN/Amazon
Betting Odds Sponsored by Jazz Sportsbook
Point Spread: NYG +4.5 (-110) | PHI -4.5 (-110)
Moneyline: NYG +190 | PHI -235
Over/Under: O 45 (-110) | U 45 (-110)
The Eagles being favored by 4.5 at home is a fairly easy pick, especially when they won by 17 in the last meeting. Even with the Eagles being so banged up, the Giants are worse at full strength. The Eagles’ pass rush is their strength, while the Giants’ weakness is their offensive line.
Prediction
The Eagles will walk to victory with a strong defensive game by surrendering their fewest points of the season. This helps Wentz put on a show with Jackson providing a deep threat.
Final Score: Giants 17, Eagles 37
Check us out on our socials:
Twitter: @PTSTNews and @TalkPrimeTime
Facebook Page: Prime Time Sports Talk
Join our Facebook Group: Prime Time Sports Talk
Instagram: @ptsportstalk
Follow Alex Kielar on Twitter @AlexKielar
Main Credit Image: Embed from Getty Images
One Response