New York Giants vs Philadelphia Eagles: Complete Week 6 Preview for New York
One of pro football's most heated rivalries is set to renew this Sunday night, as the New York Giants travel to take on the Philadelphia Eagles in an old-fashioned, NFC East brawl.
These two teams must have missed each other given the way they've been talking all week. We'll dive into the trash talk later, but, for now, just know that a few Giants and Eagles are in danger of exploding out of anticipation for this game to finally start.
Last year, the Giants and Eagles split this series. Philadelphia took the first matchup, 36-21, in Week 5, while New York got its revenge three games later with a 16-7 win in Week 8. The Eagles got the last laugh, though, claiming the division crown and clinching a playoff berth at 10-6.
Well, perhaps a few Giants got a chuckle out of the Eagles' first-round expulsion from the comfort of their couches.
New York leads the all-time series, 85-77-2, yet Philadelphia has claimed nine of the last 12 meetings. The Giants have not beaten the Eagles twice in one season since 2007.
Both teams will be out for blood on Sunday.
Read about the latest news, injury updates, matchups to watch and more.
Week 5 Recap
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New York fans were graced with another week of glorious Giants football last weekend, as Big Blue came from behind to take out Atlanta, 30-20.
Although the Giants trailed by 10 points during the second half, they never lost their cool in the Falcons game. They did not abandon the game plan, and, eventually, it produced a victory.
Rookie wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. stole the show. Making his NFL debut, he caught four passes for 44 yards, including a 15-yard score that gave New York the lead in the fourth quarter.
OBJ is a playmaker we're sure to see a lot more of in the coming weeks.
While a pass-catcher broke out, a ball-carrier broke down. Starting running back Rashad Jennings sprained his knee after taking 10 handoffs for 55 yards. Jennings' injury could keep him out multiple weeks.
In his stead, rookie Andre Williams has become the featured back. He mopped up the Falcons for 65 yards and a touchdown after Jennings had already worn them down. We'll see how effective Williams is as a starter moving forward.
The offensive line was solid again, allowing just one sack of Eli Manning for the third consecutive game. The defense was stingy as well, allowing just one long scoring play when Antrel Rolle missed an all-or-nothing tackle.
There were a few “bad” signs even in the Giants' third consecutive win.
For example, Manning's completion rate slipped below 65 percent for the first time since Week 1. It's worth noting, however, that the 63.3 percent completion rate he posted against the Falcons is still better than his career-best rate (full season) of 62.9, set in 2010.
Another example would be Julio Jones' outing. Although the Giants kept him out of the end zone, Jones racked up 11 catches for 105 yards. Billed as an elite unit, New York's secondary has not yet showcased the ability to shut down a top-tier receiving threat.
Lastly, one week after catching three touchdown passes, Larry Donnell was nowhere to be found. Not only did the tight end go the entire afternoon without a catch, Manning didn't even target him once. I guess with OBJ back, there aren't as many balls to go around.
News and Notes
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Smack-Talk Roundup
It all began when Antrel Rolle discredited the Eagles' 2013 NFC East title, per Jordan Raanan of NJ.com:
"Last year is last year. I don't feel like there was much to really battle with last year in our division. I felt like it was a weak division last year. I feel like this year it's definitely up and rising. We didn't get a lot of credit in the preseason in our division, but I think now the tables are starting to turn a little bit. Dallas is playing good, Philly is playing good right now. I think we're rising and we're stepping up to the challenges and we're playing some good football right now.
"
Eagles cornerback Brandon Boykin was quick to get into it with Walter Thurmond III this offseason over who the better slot corner is, but this time he chose instead to let his play do the talking. Outside linebacker Trent Cole, however, subtly fired back at one "Anton" Rolle.
“We’ll see after the game and when the season is done,” Cole told Zach Braziller of the New York Post. “He’s just sending shots, he’s firing shots. It’s all right, it’s all a part of it. It’s a fun game.”
Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin said Rolle "talks too much" off the field, according to a separate report by Braziller.
Then, Prince Amukamara and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie were pictured in a tweet by superfan License Plate Guy Joe. In it, LPG Joe is wearing his infamous "0 Superbowls" jersey, and the Giants cornerbacks are both throwing up a goose-egg hand gesture.
"Hanging with The Prince of NY and @drc_two1 tonight. You already know what they think of the jersey! #GIANTS #0 #4 pic.twitter.com/zQZZewpg9b
— LPG - Joe (@LicensePlateGuy) October 7, 2014"
Eagles running back LeSean McCoy pointed out that DRC is ringless, as well.
The latest: Actor and Eagles fan Bradley Cooper referred to Giants as "loudmouths" in a hype video posted on Vimeo (h/t USA Today).
Donnell Makes Permanent Decision
Two weeks ago, Larry Donnell lamented his fantasy football decision to start San Francisco's Vernon Davis over himself at tight end. The former undrafted free agent, like every other fantasy owner, did not expect the three-touchdown outing against the Redskins in Week 4.
The decision to start Davis cost Donnell his fantasy matchup that week.
Then, last week, in his own starting lineup, Donnell wasn't even targeted. No catches, no yardage, no touchdowns. That will hurt your fantasy team, and Donnell knows it. After what happened last week, Donnell has vowed to bench himself (in fantasy, thank goodness) for the remainder of the season, according to Jordan Raanan of NJ.com.
This should stir a conversation about fantasy football and ethics, but it hasn't. Several players and just about every writer engage in the wildly popular activity nowadays. At what point does it begin to bleed into a conflict of interest?
While I'm certain Donnell's fantasy team is all in good fun, who's to say there aren't others taking it to a different level? With some fantasy games offering cash prizes, at what point are we no longer talking about a young tight end goofing around in a fantasy league and instead about what has kept Pete Rose out of the Baseball Hall of Fame?
OK to Throw It Away
Sometimes really good quarterbacks have to be reminded about really simple things. Like, for example, if no one is open, it's OK to throw the ball away.
That's what quarterbacks coach Danny Langsdorf had to tell Eli Manning. This has been described as an "ongoing" conversation by Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News.
So far, the willingness to throw more incompletions into the stands has Manning making fewer mistakes. He has been sacked three times in as many weeks, throwing just one interception over that span.
Throwing more balls away actually has Manning's completion percentage on the rise. His current rate of 66.3 percent through five games is far better than any season-long rate he has posted in his 10 previous seasons as a pro.
Quote of the Week
Former Giants head coach Bill Parcells on ball security and the matchup with Philly, per Matt Lombardo of NJ Advance Media:
"The Giants have been winning when they don't turn the ball over. If they turn it over too much, that's a recipe for disaster for them. I know they still like to run the ball. I think they're probably down to just one or two backs this week so that might be a little bit more difficult.
Their entire methodology is if they turn it over, it's not good news for them. The other aspects of the team are not so great that they can overcome those kind of things. If they play error-free, they can make some hay running the ball and can control the game against Philadelphia. I think they can win. But, if they get in one of those shootout kind of games, I think that's definitely in Philadelphia's advantage.
"
Injury Report
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Here's the Giants' Week 6 injury report, courtesy of NFL.com:
| Player | Injury | Practice | Game |
| RB Rashad Jennings | Knee | DNP | Out |
| LB Spencer Paysinger | Hamstring | DNP | Out |
| LB Jon Beason | Foot/Toe | Limited | Questionable |
| CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie | Ankle/Hamstring | Limited | Probable |
| P Steve Weatherford | Ankle | Limited | Probable |
| DE Robert Ayers | Neck | Limited | Questionable |
It's nice to see a couple of rookies remove their names from the injury report. This is the first time Odell Beckham Jr. hasn't been listed since the spring. It's also a bit surprising to see Devon Kennard's name completely removed; the linebacker suffered a hamstring injury of his own just a few weeks ago.
The new additions are Jennings and Paysinger, both of whom are certain scratches, as well as Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who was injured in the Falcons game but returned to action. DRC has quickly become a valuable contributor in the defensive backfield, and the Giants cannot afford to have him sidelined.
After teasing us the past couple of weeks, Beason may actually make his return to action in Week 6. If he does, he will likely ease his way back into the middle linebacker role, splitting snaps with Jameel McClain.
Weatherford will continue to punt. His sprained ankle has not affected his performance this season a bit.
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Matchups to Watch and X-Factor
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Odell Beckham Jr. vs. Malcolm Jenkins
These two won't be directly matched up, but Beckham is sure to have Jenkins' attention on Sunday night.
Beckham gives the Giants a veritable deep threat, which Jenkins must respect from his safety position. The former New Orleans Saint was signed in the offseason to bolster Philadelphia's shakiest unit on defense. So far, he has put in good work for the Eagles.
He will underestimate OBJ at first, though, and the rookie will make him pay. All Beckham needs to do is beat Jenkins on a deep ball once, and the complexion of the game will change dramatically.
With Jenkins playing more conservative coverage to keep Beckham in check, the Eagles defensive backfield will thin out. New York's receivers will have more room to operate underneath, and Eli Manning, if protected, should be able to pick apart Philly's defense.
Andre Williams vs. Eagles Linebackers
Williams will look to make a good first impression as a starter, and he may do so against a depleted corps of Philadelphia linebackers.
Both of the Eagles starting inside 'backers, DeMeco Ryans and Mychal Kendricks, sat out of practice on Wednesday. Kendricks was on the sidelines again on Thursday, while Ryans practiced on a limited basis. Behind Kendricks and Ryans, the Eagles have former member of the Giants' practice squad Emmanuel Acho and the Matthews Family outcast, Casey.
The Eagles are best off fielding Ryans and Kendricks, even if they're less than 100 percent. I'm telling you, though, if they're hurting now, they may be in a world of pain after going 60 minutes with a bruising runner like Williams.
This is a favorable matchup for Williams in his first NFL start.
Giants Defense vs. Darren Sproles
It will take a total team effort to shut down Philly's 5'6”, 190-pound jitterbug.
It's amazing how a man so small can create a mountain of trouble for a defense, but that's exactly how Sproles has made his living in professional football. Whether it's as a pass-catcher or a ball-carrier, this is one player the Giants do not want to let out of their sight. I'm not even going to pretend to know how New York plans to bottle him up on Sunday night, but I do know all 11 men need to know who is responsible for No. 43 every time he steps onto the field.
The worst part for the Giants is Sproles' impact goes beyond the Eagles offense and extends to special teams. So while I've only called out New York's defense in the subheadline above, the punt- and kick-coverage units must be on their A-game, as well.
Tom Coughlin, if you're going to lose this one to Chip Kelly, please don't let Sproles become the game's MVP. I just can't handle the mad football genius narrative much longer.
Giants X-Factor of the Week: Johnathan Hankins
Chip Kelly's offensive approach is all about timing, precision and execution. Nothing messes those things up more than a big, fat guy causing disruption in the middle.
Hankins is big and fat, and the Giants need him to be disruptive against the Eagles. Hankins has been exceptional for New York at nose tackle so far this season, stuffing the run and collapsing the pocket from the interior D-line. He had a game-clinching, fourth-down sack on Matt Ryan in Week 5.
Prediction
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And now, the moment you've all been waiting for: Boilard's bullet-point predictions.
- Trash Talk. Antrel Rolle will be lured into some after-the-whistle jawing and will be called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
- The Iceman Cometh. Peyton Hillis will see his largest workload of the year, primarily on third downs. He will have more receptions than carries.
- Breakout. Odell Beckham Jr. will lead all Giants receivers with more than 100 yards. He will catch his second touchdown pass of the season.
- Tap the Brakes. Eli Manning will be sacked more than once for the first time since Week 2.
- Rookie Mistake. Andre Williams will fumble the ball, setting up a short field for the Eagles in the second or third quarter.
- 100. The Giants defensive front will hold the Eagles to less than 100 total rushing yards.
- Four. Jason Pierre-Paul will lead the team in sacks, as New York finds a way to bring down Nick Foles at least four times.
- Pinpoint Punting. More than half of Steve Weatherford's punts will be downed inside the 20-yard line. One will be downed inside the 10.
Be sure to include your own game predictions, including final score, in the comment section below.
My prediction: Giants 29, Eagles 25
Kevin Boilard writes about the New York Giants at Bleacher Report.
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