New York Giants-Philadelphia Eagles: Keys For Advancing to the NFC Championship

When the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles square off, we fans are always in for a treat. Either team can be having a hot season, mediocre, or losing season. But when these two square off, whether it's in Philadelphia or New Jersey, we are given a taste of "sandlot football" from the professional level.

The Giants have no tricks that the Eagles don't already know about, just as the Eagles haven't any tricks up their sleeves that the Giants don't already know about.

When these two teams play each other, the summary of what will happen to win the game is quite simple: It comes down to whichever team scores last will win.

Certainly, the intangibles are a factor, crowd advantage can play a part, but these are professional athletes who are able to make the necessary adjustments to block out everything but what's going down on the field. Let's be real. These two teams play each other at least twice a year, and both know what they're in for regardless of where they play.

Jim Johnson

Jim Johnson is the mastermind behind the Eagles defense. He does a great job of drawing up defensive schemes and blitz attacks to keep the Eagles endzone safe from the Giants' offense. Without Jim Johnson, the Giants don't have the quality defensive coordinator in Steve Spagnuolo.

Steve Spagnuolo, Giants Defensive Coordinator

Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo brought something with him when he came to New York: Eagles defense.

"Spags," as he's known among fans, coaches, and players, has implemented an Eagles defensive style gameplan, while also adding some of his own ingredients to create a very dominant Giants defense.

Blitz schemes, and a lot of pressure will be brought against Donovan McNabb and the Eagles' offensive line. There's nothing quite like fighting fire with fire.

Eagles QB, Donovan McNabb

Donovan McNabb has been through a lot during his 10 year career with the Eagles. He was boo'ed on draft day, has suffered various injuries, and has been labeled a choker.

Media hype aside, McNabb is the best quarterback in Eagles history. For six years the Eagles owned the NFC East during McNabb's tenure.

He is not the easiest quarterback to sack, he has no problem making a pass while in motion, he will even run the yards himself if he can find an open window.

McNabb and Eli Manning's numbers are quite similar on the season.

McNabb: 345-of-571, 3916 yards, for a 60.4 percent of completion; longest completion for 90 yards; he's been sacked 23 times for a loss of 149 yards. McNabb has also thrown 11 interceptions, and has a QB rating of 86.4%.

Giants QB, Eli Manning

Eli Manning has really come into his own, and that started last season. But here we are on the threshold of another postseason, and Eli Manning and the Giants are in the thick of it.

Eli Manning does not like moving out of the pocket, but he will if he sees an opportunity to pick up some yards. He has also developed really well into a team leader.

Here are Eli's numbers on the season: 289-of-479, 3238 yards, for a 60.3 percent of completion; longest completion for 48 yards; he's been sacked 27 times for a loss of 174 yards. Manning has also thrown 10 interceptions, and has a QB rating of 86.3%.

The battle at quarterback is even. While Eli doesn't like to move out of the pocket, he has the ability to get in a groove and dissect defenses.

McNabb is a quarterback who can be just as effective from the pocket as he can outside the pocket.

Eagles RB, Brian Westbrook

Brian Westbrook is one of the TOP running backs in the league.

He has 15 total touchdowns on the season, and five of those are receiving touchdowns!

As the Giants defense is well aware of, the Eagles can, do, and will utilize Westbrook at both the tailback position and line him up as a slot receiver.

Giants RB, Brandon Jacobs

Brandon Jacobs is by no means a running back. Before you attack me, please allow me to explain.

This man is a linebacker. He is 6'4", 264 lbs! He outweighs his three fellow running backs by an average of 48 lbs!

This explains why Jacobs has 15 touchdowns on the season. Oh yeah, and they're all rushing touchdowns. This man is a bruiser!

Eagles Defense

The Eagles have a young, fast, and blitz happy defense that has accumulated 48 sacks, 14 fumble recoveries, 20 forced fumbles, and 15 interceptions for five touchdowns.

Giants Defense

The Giants defense has been very powerful this year. It's another defense that is blitz happy, young, fast, and powerful. However, both the Giants and Eagles defenses are pretty evenly matched.

The Giants' defensive numbers on the season: 42 sacks, five fumble recoveries, 13 forced fumbles, and 10 interceptions for two touchdowns.

Eagles Kicker, David Akers

David Akers is one of the most accurate kickers in the NFL. He is 33-of-40 in total field goals, two-of-five at 50+ yards.

Giants Kicker, John Carney

John Carney is equally one of the most accurate kickers in the NFL as well. Carney is 35-of-38 on total field goals this season, and he is one-for-one on 50+ yards attempted.

Eagles Punter, Saverio Rocca

Sav Rocca is huge. When you hear talk of the punter's position—something commonly talked about in my household, as I am somewhat of a punter myself—what's the first image that comes to mind? Some puny, weak pathetic excuse for a man, who is nothing more than a bench warmer, right?

Well, Sav Rocca is none of these. At 6'5", Rocca is taller than the Giants' Brandon Jacobs and Eli Manning. At 265 lbs, he outweighs the Giants' Brandon Jacobs by one pound. I know I'm comparing apples to oranges, but I can't resist!

Sav Rocca, a former Australian Rules football player, became an Eagle in 2007. Rocca has a 43.3 yards per punt average, 4 touchbacks (inside the endzone), 24 inside the 20 yard line, with his longest punt of the season at 65 yards.

Giants Punter, Jeff Feagles

Jeff Feagles has been one of the better—best even—punters for the Giants. Fealges has a punt average of 44 yards per punt, five touchbacks, 23 punts inside the 20 yard line, and his longest punt on the season is for 61 yards.

The Eagles and Giants are pretty even in this department as well.

From the Coaches Desk: Eagles Injury Report

Out: Victor Abiamiri, Shawn Andrews.

From the Coaches Desk: Giants Injury Report

Out: Sam Madison (Injured Reserve).

Outcome: My Prediction

Eagles win a close one by three.