Eagles-Giants: Philadelphia Wins a Big One in the Meadowlands, 23-11

The New York Giants host the Philadelphia Eagles for a chance to play Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship next week.

Pre-game summary:

If the Giants can win, they would host this game in the Meadowlands. If Philadelphia can pull off the win today, they would travel to Arizona next week.

I imagine the Cardinals are big Eagles fans this week, although they were crunched by the Eagles on Thanksgiving Day, earlier this season.

In order to win this game, the Giants must control Brian Westbrook, and try to prohibit him from big breakaway runs. Screen passes and other ways to free up Westbrook must be a concern.

Donovan McNabb must be pressured to make hurried throws, and not be given too much time to find open receivers or scramble around, creating opportunities for the Eagles offense.

The Eagles must find a way to contain, the triple threat running attack of the Giants, aptly named Earth, Wind, and Fire!  Eli Manning will get his completions, but big plays must be kept to a minimum.

Pressure on Eli, of course, is key, as he is prone to making mistakes when hurried, like most quarterbacks. If they allow Manning ample time in the pocket, he will have a big day.

I am picking the Giants, with a healthy Brandon Jacobs, playing at home, they should win this game. So far in my playoff picks, I am an average 3-3, having two picks lose yesterday, and the Miami Dolphins,losing last week.

For the season, I am now at 167-94-1 for the season. 73 games over 500. Next season, I will take on all the point spreads for the entire season, looking for a good percentage of winners.

The last time I picked all the games against the spreads for an entire season, I did manage to go 50 games over 500. That will usually win you a nice profit for the season.

But that's next year. Remember, gambling is illegal on sporting events in most of the country, but if someone would like to fly me into Vegas every weekend, I will guarantee you profit by season's end. The Casino's race-book will charge you a dollar for every $10 you bet,and i will need that ten percent also.

If you bet every game I gave you, and I finish 50 games over 500, at 1,000 dollars per game, you would make over 13,000 dollars for the season. That would be a fun trip every week, that's for sure! I'm taking applications now for next season, so get yours in early.

If your single, female, and cute, you will get priority consideration. I am not holding my breath, however.

Game Review and Comments:

Kick off and the game begins with the Giants getting the ball on the Philadelphia 34-yard line, on a big return by Bradshaw. Serve Smith is wide open on the first pass, but Eli Manning misses him with a wobbly pass.

Brandon Jacobs picks up seven yards on the next play. Then a short pass, misses the first down marker. Fourth and two and they go for it. Jacobs gets the yardage. The wind was too strong to risk the field goal attempt.

Manning hits the tight end, Darcy Johnson for another first down at the 12-yard line. Jacobs hits the hole for two more yards. Second and eight. Jacobs goes nowhere on the next run, and it's third and eight.

The Giants fail to convert the first down , bringing the field goal unit in. It's good from 22 yards and the Giants lead 3-0, over the Eagles. That was a score made possible by the nice return of the kickoff by Bradshaw of the Giants.

The Eagles now have the ball at the 33-yard line of Philadelphia. I am already sick of Drinkability and Wendy's commercials. The voice of the Toyota commercial guy is cool, though.

McNabb hits Sean Jackson to start for 10 yards. Next, Westbrook is stopped for a three yard loss. On second and 13, a screen pass to Buckhalter, loses three more. McNabb throws down the middle, incomplete. The Eagles will punt.

The Giants are playing six men back, on pass defense, covering everyone well.

Two flags are thrown on the punt. Both fouls are against New York and they start back behind the 20 yard line. The roughing call, a block on a player out of bounds, was ticky-tack.

Manning throws a horrible floater that's intercepted by Samuel, and the Eagles have first and goal on the two yard line. Westbrook gets hammered, and it's second and goal from about the four.

McNabb throws out of bounds, but defensive holding gets the Eagles an automatic first down. Westbrook is stopped again, in the air, second and goal. McNabb lunges towards the goal line. Touchdown, Eagles. Philadelphia leads 7-3 over New York.

That was costly, turning the ball over so deep in their own territory, for the Giants.

The Giants start the next drive on their 20-yard line. Ward is met in the backfield and stopped for a yard loss. Ward carries it for two yards. Manning completes to Smith for 12 yards, and a first down.

Ward carries again for no gain. Ward picks up one more yard and it's third and eight. Manning throws another floater out of bounds, but it's fourth down.

Feagles punts to the Eagles. Ha ha, and Philadelphia takes over. The Eagles should have Feagles on their roster, because without the F, he's an Eagles. That's just funny.

Westbrook loses another yard and gets to -4 for the game. The Eagles are backed up with a penalty down to the 4 yard line of Philadelphia. Buckhalter gains five and it's third down and 10. McNabb throws incomplete and the first quarter ends as the Giants get it back.

Jacobs picks up 12 yards on a nice powerful run. Philadelphia makes a nice defensive stand and the Giants have to punt. Feagles punts back to the Eagles, who take over on their own five yard line, pinned deep again.

Westbrook gain a yard. He is at -3 for the game. The Giants get a safety on McNabb and the Eagles. 7-5 Eagles over New York, and the Giants get the ball back on the free kick.

The Giants get it at their 32-yard line. Manning gets the first down to Boss on a short pass. Ward gains three more yards. Hands to the face on the Eagles, first down for New York.

Manning throws one of his better balls and Boss catches it for a nice gain. Jacobs runs it for no gain, and it's second and 10. The Eagles are doing a good job defending the run, daring the Giants to beat them with Eli Manning.

Manning is throwing a lot of wobbly passes today, as another ones falls incomplete. John Carney comes in to try a long field goal for the Giants. A 46 yard attempt is no good, wide right.

Buckhalter carries for no gain for the Eagles, then McNabb completes a short one for five yards. L. J. Smith catches a pass from McNabb for the first down.

Westbrook gains 2 more yards. Westbrook picks up seven and has positive yardage for the first time in the game.

Buckhalter fights for a first down, gaining a yard.  Another one yard run, an incomplete pass, and it's third and nine. Interception by the Giants and they take over the ball. McNabb tried to force one into the wind.

Brandon Jacobs takes off on a 24-yard gallop on the first play. After getting the ball. That was the longest play of the game from either team so far in this game.

Manning hits Boss down to the 26 yard line, as the defender fell down.  Jacobs runs for five more, and the two minute warning stops the action.

The Giants get a field goal to take the lead with 1:30 to go in the half. 8-7, the Giants take the lead.

The Eagles pick up a fist down at the 38, with :52 left on the clock. Westbrook gets his first catch down to the 49 of the Eagles. McNabb completes one to the 34 yard line and the Eagles take their final time out.

They are creeping into field goal range for Akers. It will be into the wind. Jackson makes the catch at the 25 yard line. McNabb throws it away on second and one to go. Westbrook gets the first down.

McNabb spikes the ball to stop the clock with 18 seconds left. We could have a holding to knock the Eagles back, no it's illegal contact and five yards on the Giants defense. 

First and goal at the seven yard line. One shot in the end zone and here comes the field goal unit. The Eagles take the lead at halftime, 10 -8 over the Giants .

This is a close battle and the running game should decide who wins. The cold and the wind is a factor and Manning is having trouble.

Philadelphia struggles in the opening drive, and the Giants kick a 35-yard field goal to take the lead back 11-10 over the Eagles. Will Westbrook become a factor? So far, no, but there is still time for a game-breaking play!

Asante Samuels is back after missing the first series, taking fluids in the locker room for cramps, perhaps.

Philadelphia takes over the ball at their own 25-yard line. Both quarterbacks have been spotty with their passes. McNabb throws incomplete, and then a holding call makes it second and 20.

McNabb ends up on his back, on an incomplete screen pass, and it's third and 20. McNabb avoids the blitz, and completes a huge first down pass.

Hands to the face on the Giants, and it's another first down. Buckhalter catches a short one and gets popped for a short gain. McNabb hits Curtis for 15 yards and another first down.

No gain, on a run by Buckhalter and it's second and 10. The Giants blitz again, and McNabb throws it away. Third and 10, and an injury timeout as Tuck, for the Giants is hurt.

Great protection for McNabb, as he completes another nice pass to Buckhalter, for a first down.

The Giants hold off the Eagles and a field goal attempt is good from 35 yards for the Eagles and Akers. David Akers has made 17 straight field goals in the post-season. It's 13-11 Eagles over the Giants. That is the fifth lead change in this game.

Bradshaw takes the kickoff to the 32 yard line where the Giants start their offense. They go to Jacobs who picks up three yards. A long pass is finally completed to Hixon for a big first down.

That pass went for 34 yards. The play clock winds down and the Giants call time out. first down in Eagle territory.

Manning throws incomplete and it's second and 10. Jacobs is stopped on a run, an incomplete pass, and another field goal attempt from 37 yards is no good.

That two misses from Carney today. Tom Coughlin looks disturbed.

The Eagles take over on the 36-yard line. Westbrook gains five. Westbrook is like a time bomb on the field. Something is going to happen if he keeps getting chances. Third and five now.

Curtis catches another pass for a first down on a great pass from McNabb. Face mask by the Giants, and a big penalty, to go with a pass completion. That's a 21-yard play.

Curtis makes another catch for a first down at the 12. There's a five yard gain, a run by Brian Westbrook and it's third and one. Westbrook makes the first down.

The final quarter will have New York going into the wind. Philadelphia has it first and goal at the two. Touchdown, Philadelphia, and it's 20-11 Eagles.

The Giants will have to do something on this possession or this one is over, folks.

Manning starts on their own 24 yard line. Brandon Jacobs gain 11 yards. Jacobs runs for five more yards. Jacobs gains two, and it's third and three. Derrick Ward fights to get the first down. It's a foot short.

The Giants challenge the spot of the ball. The ruling on the field stands,and they go for it. Manning is stopped short on a keeper. he could not pick up eight inches.

The Eagles will give them a heavy dose of Brain Westbrook now. Second and seven for the Eagles. Curtis catches a short one, and it's third and five. Westbrook is stopped by Cory Webster, on a great tackle.

The Giants get the ball back at the 11 yard line. They must score this time to have even a slight chance of a comeback. A nice run by Ward gets 14 yards.  Ward gets eight more yards in his first playoff game ever.

Ward picks up the first down. Manning gets a pass to Toomer for another first down. Jacobs picks up a yard, and it's second down. a short gain, another short gain, and the Giants have to go for it on fourth and two.

Brandon Jacobs comes up short and the Eagles stop them again.

Under six and a half minutes to play now, and the Eagles should pack their bags. They are going to the desert next week to play the Arizona Cardinals for the NFC Championship.

My nightmare weekend of picks continues with another loss and I am now 0-3 for the weekend. DeSean Jackson catches a bomb from McNabb and it's first down at the Giants one yard line.

Westbrook is stopped at the one. That won't last long. Another No. 1 seed bites the dust. Westbrook loses a yard, and it's third and goal. The Giants somehow hold, and Akers kicks a 20 yard field goal. 23-11 Philadelphia over New York.

Well, at least I have the Steelers tonight at home. Maybe I jinxed them too! Here comes the Giants again. They start at the 27-yard line. Hixon makes a catch for short yardage.

Toomer makes a catch at midfield. First down for the Giants. Manning is intercepted again, for the second time, and this game is over.

Congratulations to the Eagles who move on to the NFC championship against the Arizona Cardinals, who will be at home in the nice warm desert. Many said Arizona will lose when they travel east to cold weather.

Well, guess what? They are at home for the Championship Game. That should be a pretty good game, I would think.

1:58 left as McNabb is penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, for taking a phone call on the Eagles bench. Huh? Did he really just do that?

The "had a bad day" commercial comes on again, as the clock ticks down. Wow, deja vu from yesterday. No game in the NFL has ever ended 23-11. That is odd.

Look for one more game time, same time recap on the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Diego Chargers tonight. Thank for checking out my game re-cap and have a fantastic week.

Thomas [NFL Mikee] Moreland