Preview: Eagles Play First NFC East Opponent Thursday Night

By Paul Bowman, Eagledelphia Managing Editor

The Eagles offense has been terrible. While the defense will get the blame, the Eagles offense has put the defense in terrible position. The turnovers have been so bad that it has turned the Eagles from an easily 4-1 team to the 2-3 team they are now. The birds need to win this game and turn their season around by taking some control in the NFC East if they want any legitimate chance at the playoffs.

The short week means a short memory. The Eagles play the Giants on Thursday night this week in a matchup that could change the face of their season.

A Changed Outlook

When the Eagles faced off against the Giants last season, they were coming off a massive defeat in their matchup with the Chiefs. The Eagles seemed to be going nowhere. The struggle continued through their week three matchup against the Giants.

The game came down to rookie kicker Jake Elliot making a 61-yard field goal in the final seconds after missing two attempts earlier in the game. It provided the spark for the ensuing nine-game winning streak. They need another win like that this season after suffering three losses in the last four games.

Eyes On the Lines

The Eagles defensive line is improving with a healthier Brandon Graham and a more adjusted Michael Bennett. Eli Manning is the type of quarterback who will implode and run scared if the Eagles are able to land a good hit on him. An early hit can change the landscape of the game.

On the other side, former All-Pro/Pro Bowl tackles Jason Peters and Lane Johnson have been awful this season which is stressing the inside of the line and forcing everyone else’s play to suffer. They need to get their feet under them and the Giants may be the perfect team for that. The lone major threat in the Giants’ front seven is inside linebacker Alec Ogletree who was handled well by this line last season. The Giants are also last in the league registering only six sacks so far this season. The offensive line could use this game to build confidence and momentum.

Miracles at the Meadowlands

Over the past week, you may have seen commercials advertising that there have been four “Miracles at the Meadowland”. While that may not be true in the eyes of Eagles fans, the Meadowlands has been good to the Eagles.

While the Eagles have a distinct advantage at home, they also have an advantage at the Meadowlands. Over the last 10 seasons, the Eagles and Giants have met in New York 11 times and have won nine of those matchups.

Injury Report

Eagles

Out

RB Darren Sproles, S Corey Graham, LBs DJ Alexander and Nathan Gerry and DT Haloti Ngata

Sproles continues to suffer from a hamstring injury that has kept him out since week one. The Eagles do get Clement back, but aside from Clement and Smallwood, they will have little support as Josh Adams has not been impressive.

Alexander and Gerry are reserve linebackers meaning that the only backup to Grugier-Hill, Bradham or Hicks will be veteran LaRoy Reynolds. Malcolm Jenkins is not likely to be able to fill in at linebacker with Corey Graham out. Avonte Maddox will be playing a lot of safety, but Tre Sullivan has been re-signed from the practice squad and Deiondre’ Hall, who has yet to play, will be the lone backup.

Ngata has not made a huge impact thus far and Vaeao, who has been rotating in regularly, will start while Treyvon Hester will be the rotational piece at TY McGill, who the Eagles originally claimed when Ajayi was placed on IR, failed his physical (S Tre Sullivan took that roster spot).

Giants

Out

TE Evan Engram and WR Russell Shepard

Engram is a huge contributor to the Giants offense and his absence means that the ball will go to Odell Beckham and Sterling Shepard as well as Saquon Barkley more. Russell Shepard is more of a depth piece that could play a bigger part should the Giants be out both of their top two tight ends.

Questionable

TE Rhett Ellison

With Engram ruled out, if Ellison cannot play, the Giants will be very limited in their personnel as they will be down to their third string tight end. If that’s the case, the job of a thin linebacking corps is likely to become a bit easier.

Broadcast Information

Time: 8:20 p.m.

TV: FOX

Radio: 94.1 FM WIP

Online: NFL Gamepass