5 Reasons the Philadelphia Eagles Still Pose No Threat to the New York Giants

Last offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles shocked the football world by going on a spending spree. Among others, they signed stud cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, top pass-rusher Jason Babin, Cullen Jenkins, Vince Young and traded for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. They were the "Dream Team."

It turned out to be a nightmare, as they struggled out of the gate, starting the season 4-8, before winning four straight at the end of the season to bring their record to .500. What happened?

For one, Michael Vick struggled to stay healthy, as has been the norm. Also, there was no chemistry amongst the new signings, and it took them a long time to find their groove. Once they did, it was too late.

The Eagles added an impressive draft class, headlined by former Mississippi State defensive tackle Fletcher Cox. Will a second year of the "Dream Team" result in the ultimate goal? Or will they still finish behind the world champion New York Giants?

Common wisdom says the latter. We'll break down five reasons why the Eagles will not overtake the Giants this season. 

Eli Manning and the Passing Game

Eli Manning had the best year of his career last year, and there's plenty of reason to believe that he will top that this season. Manning threw for 4,933 yards, 29 touchdowns and only 16 interceptions. In four playoff games, Manning threw for 1,219 yards, nine touchdowns and only one interception. Manning has entrenched himself amongst the game's elite.

He also throws to a very talented group of receivers. While Hakeem Nicks just broke his foot, he is expected to be back for the regular season. Add him to Victor Cruz and new draft pick Reuben Randle, and the Giants will be just as, if not more, formidable in the air than last year. New tight end Martellus Bennett can provide another down the field threat for Manning.

Assuming Manning stays healthy, it's very possible that he will eclipse 5,000 passing yards and 30 touchdowns. He will most likely be in the conversation for league MVP, as well. Manning and the Giants passing attack will be much better than the Eagles. While the Eagles pass offense is talented, it is not nearly as explosive as the Giants. Quite simply, Nicks and Cruz are better than DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, and Manning is better than Michael Vick. 

Michael Vick's Inability to Stay Healthy

There is no denying that Michael Vick is an incredible talent. When healthy, he is a dynamic playmaker, who can beat you with his arm or his legs. The problem is, he has trouble staying healthy. Last season, he only played in 13 games. The year before, he only played in 12. Vick's playing style exposes him to more hits than most QBs. That, combined with a relatively small frame, makes Vick an injury waiting to happen.

Behind Vick, the options aren't pretty. Mike Kafka is the favorite to be the backup. He threw only 16 passes last year, two of which were interceptions. Trent Edwards, who signed in the offseason, did not play last season. Nick Foles, who was their third-round pick this year, is unproven.

If Vick does get hurt, the Eagles will be in trouble. There is no one on the roster that can duplicate Vick's skills and there is no one who has proven to be able to manage an NFL offense. Vick holds the key to Philly's success, but placing your faith in him to stay healthy is a risky proposition. 

The Giants Pass Rush

The Giants are best known for their ferocious pass rush and this year is no different. In fact, it could be better.

Last season, in his first year starting, Jason Pierre-Paul notched 16.5 sacks. With more experience this year, he could improve that number, with a good chance of hitting 20 sacks.

Justin Tuck battled injuries all year and only posted five sacks. However, he is now healthy and should revert back to his 2010 form, where he had 11.5 sacks. When healthy, the veteran defensive end is one of the league's best pass-rushers. 

Osi Umenyiora may be disgruntled, but he can still get after the passer. In nine games last season, he posted nine sacks. 

With Mathias Kiwanuka capable of playing on the D-line, and former second-round pick Marvin Austin coming back from an injury, there is no reason why the pass rush shouldn't be as good.

A great pass rush keeps teams in games, no matter what the score is. It improves defenses, and has done just that for the Giants over the years. In fact, one of the main reasons the Giants won the Super Bowl was because of their pass rush.

The Giants have one of the best pass rushes in football. They can send waves of rushers in and harass opposing QBs all game long. This will keep them in every game, including games against the Eagles. 

The Eagles pass rush is good, but they have no one with the raw, natural talent of Pierre-Paul. The Giants also have more depth than the Eagles do. 

The Loss of Jason Peters

Not many focus on the intricacies of offensive line play, but those in the know realize that Jason Peters is one of the best left tackles in football. Peters, however, is lost for the season as he ruptured his Achilles tendon twice this offseason.

The Eagles signed former Bills tackle Demetress Bell to replace Peters. Bell is certainly capable, but he is nowhere near the player that Peters is. Without Peters, Michael Vick will be under more pressure, which will lead to more sacks, and for Vick, more potential for injury.

Bell is also injury prone, and only played in seven games last season. In his three seasons as a starter, he's missed 17 games due to injuries. If he can't stay healthy, behind him on the depth chart is King Dunlap, who has mostly played right tackle in his career and has only started seven games in his career. 

The Eagles offensive line is not the strength of the team. Losing Peters, who anchored the unit, is a huge blow. Unless Bell performs much better than expected, the Eagles offensive line will struggle greatly. 

Experience Matters

While the Eagles have done a lot of talking, it is the Giants who have done all the walking. They bring back the core of last year's Super Bowl team. In addition, there are still players, including Eli Manning, from the 2007 Super Bowl team. While the Eagles are very talented, they have not yet proven that they can perform in clutch situations.

The stats back it up, too. In the fourth quarter last season, Eli Manning (1,715 YDS, 15 TDS, 6 INTS) played his best football. Michael Vick (568 YDS, 3 TDS, 3 INTS) did not do nearly as well. 

To overtake the Giants, the Eagles will have to outperform the G-Men in tight situations. That's not an easy thing to do, as the Giants are completely calm under pressure; no situation fazes them. The Giants had eight fourth quarter comebacks, including in the NFC Championship game and the Super Bowl. 

The Eagles, however, have not proven themselves in tough situations. It is impossible to know how this iteration of the Eagles will react to pressure; however, we know that the Giants will respond very well. 

The Eagles have long struggled in pressure situations. The Giants thrive in them. Games between the Giants and Eagles often come down to the fourth quarter. That is the Giants best quarter, which will give them a huge advantage when they face the Eagles twice this season.