Eagles vs. Giants: Complete Week 17 Preview for Philadelphia
In the playoff sense, there's nothing left for the Philadelphia Eagles to play for. Last week's 27-24 loss to the 3-11 Washington Redskins eliminated the Eagles from the postseason, giving the Dallas Cowboys their first division title in five seasons.
But don't tell Chip Kelly that the game won't count for anything; he’s going with all his regular starters.
It will likely be the last game for current Eagles quarterback Mark Sanchez, the first Philadelphia backup quarterback to start at least eight games in a season since Bubby Brister back in 1993 (who filled in for an injured Randall Cunningham).
Sanchez will try to beat a New York Giants team that has quietly won three straight. He’s likely playing for the chance to start somewhere in 2015 or at least compete for a starting spot, since it’s doubtful any team will sign Sanchez straight up to be its starter next season.
Will the Eagles win and finish with consecutive 10-win seasons for the first time since 2009 to 2010? Or will the team end the year with four losses in a row after a 9-3 start? Here is what you need to know for the Week 17 matchup with the Giants.
Eagles’ Week 16 Recap
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There wasn’t much good to report from last Saturday’s crushing 27-24 loss; losing to a 3-11 Washington team is bad enough, but seeing the Dallas Cowboys steamroll the Indianapolis Colts just 24 hours later and knock the Eagles out of the playoffs sealed Philadelphia’s fate.
In this game, usually-reliable rookie kicker Cody Parkey, a Pro Bowl alternate, missed two field goals. He said before the game that he was 100 percent, but it’s likely that his lingering groin injury was a factor in his performance.
"Cody Parkey told me he is 100% now. No longer feeling any pain from groin injury. #Eagles
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) December 20, 2014"
Mark Sanchez threw a game-ending interception with just over a minute to play, adding two more turnovers (for the day) to his season total. Second-year tight end Zach Ertz broke out; with the Eagles finally utilizing their playmaker, he hauled in 15 receptions for 115 yards.
On defense, the secondary was overmatched against DeSean Jackson and Co, with Bradley Fletcher getting beaten for a pair of 50-plus yard completions over the top.
News and Notes
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Five Eagles Players Made the Pro Bowl
Congratulations to the five Philadelphia Eagles players to make the Pro Bowl—running back LeSean McCoy, offensive linemen Jason Peters and Jason Kelce, linebacker Connor Barwin and return specialist Darren Sproles.
Kelce, Barwin and Sproles are first-timers. Kelce had a much better year in 2013 than he did this year, but it’s nice to see one of the game’s best young centers get recognized for his excellence at the position.
Barwin put together his finest year, making a living of sacking quarterbacks and hauling down ball-carriers for one-yard losses. And Sproles’ invitation was overdue for one of the game’s great all-purpose backs of the last decade.
This was McCoy’s third such award and Peters’ seventh.
Jeremy Maclin, Evan Mathis, Cody Parkey and Fletcher Cox, all deserving players, were named as alternates, ranging from the first team to the sixth team (Cox). There’s a good chance Maclin will make it when one of the eight Pro Bowl receivers pulls out due to injury or his team reaching the Super Bowl.
Chip Kelly Had Odell Beckham Rated as His No. 1 Collegiate Wide Receiver Back in the Spring
Remember this past spring when reports surfaced, per Sheil Kapadia of Birds 24/7, that the Philadelphia Eagles were desperately trying to trade up for Texas A&M wide receiver Mike Evans?
It turns out Evans wasn’t the guy Chip Kelly wanted badly—it was Odell Beckham, Jr, the flashy wide receiver for the New York Giants who has already established himself as a top-10 player at his position.
"Re: Odell Beckham -- Chip Kelly said he thought Beckham was top WR, but not speaking for Eagles' board. Said he knew Eagles wouldn't get him
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) December 24, 2014 "
OBJ’s numbers this year are spectacular. He’s caught 79 passes for 1,120 yards and 11 touchdowns, despite missing the first four games with a lingering hamstring injury. Beckham also has arguably the greatest catch in NFL history to his name.
Imagine what this Eagles offense would be with Beckham opposite Jeremy Maclin, plus Zach Ertz at tight end, LeSean McCoy at running back and Riley Cooper on the bench.
Chip Kelly Picks Fletcher Cox as His MVP This Season
Fletcher Cox didn’t make the Pro Bowl, but that doesn’t mean his great season was lost on the fanbase or his head coach. When asked about Cox’s performance this season, Chip Kelly had great things to say about the team’s 2012 first-round pick, calling Cox arguably the team MVP this year.
Cox’s numbers—four sacks, three fumble recoveries, 35 quarterback pressures, PFF’s fourth-rated 3-4 defensive end—don’t do him justice. He’s been an absolute terror this season, shedding blockers as a two-gap 5-technique defensive end.
Look no further than Connor Barwin’s 14.5 sacks to see Cox’s impact. Cox can play in a 4-3 or 3-4, and the Eagles wisely rotate him among the interior spots based on the defensive front. Look for Cox to get a hefty contract extension this offseason—one that should lock him up in Philadelphia for at least five to six more years.
Injury Report
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Per Brandon Gowton of Bleeding Green Nation, don’t expect much change from the Philadelphia Eagles’ injury report from last week to this week.
Trent Cole is still likely out, and Nick Foles is definitely out.
"Trent Cole said that he doesn't think he'll be able to play Sunday. It's quite possible Cowboys game was his last with the #Eagles.
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) December 24, 2014"
Other than that, oft-burned cornerback Bradley Fletcher may actually miss the contest due to a hip injury; that means last year’s star, nickel cornerback Brandon Boykin, may start.
| Position | Injury |
Nick Foles | QB | Collarbone (Out) |
Trent Cole | OLB | Hand (Doubtful) |
Bradley Fletcher | CB | Hip (Questionable) |
Mychal Kendricks | ILB | Ankle (Probable) |
Beau Allen | NT | Shoulder (Probable) |
Brandon Bair | DE | Knee (Probable) |
Trey Burton | TE | Hamstring (Probable) |
Chris Maragos | S | Hamstring (Probable) |
Jordan Matthews | WR | Knee (Probable) |
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X-Factor and Key Matchups to Watch
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CB Cary Williams/Bradley Fletcher/Brandon Boykin vs. WR Odell Beckham Jr.
After allowing three touchdown passes to Dez Bryant and two 50-plus yard completions to DeSean Jackson last week, now the Philadelphia Eagles’ secondary gets Odell Beckham Jr., perhaps the best rookie wide receiver the league has seen since Randy Moss in 1998.
Expect Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher to cover Beckham primarily, although Fletcher’s injury means nickel cornerback Brandon Boykin will be heavily involved as well.
Beckham is fresh off a 148-yard, two-touchdown performance against the St. Louis Rams, and the previous week, he lit up the Washington Redskins for three scores.
He’s almost unstoppable right now, and there’s no telling what he will do to these Philadelphia Eagles. Beckham could easily put up a 10-catch, 150-yard, two-touchdown line, especially since the Eagles have nothing to play for.
LT Jason Peters vs. RDE Jason Pierre-Paul
Jason Peters was just elected to his seventh Pro Bowl, and he’s still kicking butt at left tackle. He’ll get a tough matchup in impending free agent Jason Pierre-Paul, a two-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion who has 10.5 sacks this year to date.
Peters bested JPP the last time these two met back in Week 6, as Pierre-Paul didn’t record a sack, committed a penalty and registered his second-worst Pro Football Focus grade (subscription required) of the season.
JPP’s rookie contract expires after the season, and he’s likely in line for about $10 million per year over five years. Playing well against Peters would go a long way toward JPP showing he’s an elite pass-rusher and not a declining player mired by injuries.
TE Zach Ertz vs. S Antrel Rolle
For perhaps the first time this season, the Eagles really utilized Zach Ertz last week. The second-year tight end was targeted a ridiculous 18 times, finishing with 15 catches. His previous season best in catches was just five.
There’s no reason for the Eagles to not go back to using Ertz heavily; after all, the New York Giants are 21st in scoring defense, 25th in adjusted net passing yards allowed per passing attempt and 28th in total defense. Against tight ends, they’ve already allowed over 800 yards and eight touchdowns; just 11 teams have allowed more fantasy points.
Ertz will likely be covered by safety Antrel Rolle, although outside linebacker Jacquian Williams and safety Stevie Brown will also be involved. Regardless, this is a clear advantage if Mark Sanchez can get Ertz the ball.
X-Factor: Brandon Graham
This could be the last game in Philadelphia for Brandon Graham, and it’s been an up-and-down tenure for him. Trent Cole’s contract situation means there will definitely be interest in having Graham return, but he is likely to command a sizable dollar in free agency, and it’s doubtful the Eagles will pay that.
Here’s a chance for Graham to go out with a bang. Cole may still suit up, but he’ll be severely limited with a broken hand. Graham will take the majority of the snaps, and he’ll face off against New York Giants’ left tackle Will Beatty, who played much better early in the season than as of late.
Graham leads all 3-4 outside linebackers in pass-rushing productivity, per PFF, as he’s registered a quarterback disruption (sack, hit or hurry) on more than 19 percent of his rushing attempts. He’s officially at 5.5 sacks and four forced fumbles; even another half-sack can give Graham his personal single-season high.
Prediction
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What a fall the Philadelphia Eagles have experienced over the last three weeks, going from 9-3 and a likely candidate for a first-round bye to 9-6 and eliminated from the playoffs with a game still to be played.
Sunday’s game against the New York Giants will likely put the Eagles at 9-7. After all, there’s nothing left for the Eagles to play for, and the Giants are rolling right now behind Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr.
Beckham is a mismatch no matter how the Eagles try to stop him, and lately defensive coordinator Billy Davis just puts Bradley Fletcher in single man coverage against any elite wide receiver. Beckham will probably take over this game, and that will be enough for a fourth straight Eagles loss.
Prediction: Giants 38, Eagles 21
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