Giants-Eagles: News and Notes for Sunday's Playoff Showdown

The Giants HAVE to Stop, or Contain, Brian Westbrook

Minnesota was doing a great job of containing Eagles running back Brian Westbrook, up until that infamous long screen pass. Their game plan was working until the Eagles squeaked out a victory.

Luckily for the Giants, they have a better defense than the Vikings had last week. Nonetheless, Westbrook has been a Giant killer for years.

Do you consistently run blitz? Do you keep a safety in the box at all times?

Stopping Westbrook isn’t easy. The Giants will have to throw some exotic looks at the Eagles. They need a pass rush, which has tapered off in recent weeks. Also, their linebackers need to make the tackles. If Westbrook gets past them, he’s likely heading to the end zone.

Donovan McNabb Is Hot

Yes. Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb is playing great football right now. The past two games have been exceptional for him and his squad, who were lucky enough to get into the playoffs.

While the Giants cornerbacks can stop Philadelphia's receiving core, like I stated before, it’s all about pass rush. If they can get pressure, it will be a nightmare for McNabb.

How Will Brandon Jacobs’ Knee Respond?

To be honest, I don’t know. Currently, no injury report has been released.

If he’s healthy, the Giants running back will be fine. If he’s 70 to 75 percent healed, he won’t be the same.

What makes Jacobs great is not the yardage he gets, but the wear and tear he puts on the defense. You have him pounding these guys all day. For all we know, Jacobs could be a defensive lineman because of his size and grit. If he's not at 100 percent, Ward and Bradshaw can step in and make big plays.

If he's able to play, the Giants will have no trouble succeeding on the ground. They need to depend on his grit if they plan to advance further.

Can Eli Manning Replicate Last Year’s Playoff Magic?

In short, no. But he can be close. 

The Giants quarterback was fantastic last year. It would be seemingly impossible for him to duplicate the performance he gave in his team's championship run. But, if he plays the way he’s played all year, he will be fine. He just has to limit his mistakes.

Can Return/Punt Coverage Be Effective Enough to Stop DeSean Jackson?

Giants punter Jeff Feagles has been making top-notch punts all year, and kicker John Carney has been great. One problem though is that Carney doesn’t always kick it that deep.

Another issue is that punt and return coverage has been spotty, especially against dynamic return men. If they can keep Jackson’s return to small gains, the Giants have a decided advantage. If Jackson consistently gets his team into good field position, it might be a nightmarish game for the G-Men.

It should be a great matchup. Division rivals. The works. You wouldn't want it any other way.