Eagles vs Giants: 5 Second-Half Adjustments New York Must Make

As long-time NFC East foes, the Eagles and Giants know each other well. This year, the rivalry has been especially intense, with members of both teams trading barbs in the media throughout the offseason and during the run-up to this game. 

New York is aiming to shut down the "dream team" talk for good. So far, they're hurrying Michael Vick and making the vaunted Eagles look ordinary. Here are five adjustments to keep New York on top, in what would be a HUGE early divisional win.

1. Protect the Quarterback

Eli Manning is an interception machine when he gets pressured. You can bet the Eagles will come up with some new blitzes at halftime to try to get the turnovers they need to put them back in the game. The Giants should consider preemptively switching to more max protect packages, leaving a couple backs in to pick up the Eagles' exotic packages.

2. Keep Pressuring Vick

On the defensive side, the Giants simply can't let Vick drop back and pick out his targets unmolested. Coming off a concussion, the G-Men need to keep and testing Vick's health.

At the end of the Eagles' first drive the Giants got pressure on Vick and it resulted in an interception. Later on, a big sack ended a promising Eagles drive. If the Giants want to win today, they'll need to keep Vick off his feet.

3. Clean up the Penalties

The Giants have been penalized for 21 yards as of the 2-minute warning, the last 15 of which came on an Antrel Rolle personal foul. The Giants are winning, but they aren't good enough to give the Eagles free yards. The G-men need to maintain their edge without going over the line and fueling a Philly comeback.

4. Ground and Pound

Now that the Giants have the lead, they should continue to give the ball to Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs. With weapons like Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, the Eagles are a big play team that is dangerous from anywhere on the field. The Giants' best defense in the second half will be a game-control offense.

5 Win the Physical Battle

Vick is playing today, but he's clearly not at full strength. He's gotten up slowly from Giant hits a few times today already, and there's a chance New York could knock him out of the game in the second half. Sometimes football really is as simple as being tougher than the other team. If New York can maintain its physicality, it could intimidate the vaunted Eagles right off the field.