NFC divisional
playoff game |
Eagles at Giants
Giants Stadium
East Rutherford, N.J.
Sunday, Jan. 7, 2001
AT A GLANCE: The Giants are looking to complete a season
sweep of the Eagles in this playoff matchup. New York handled Philadelphia in fairly easy
fashion in the first two meetings.
|
| OVERVIEW: Two of the NFL’s most surprising teams
face off in the second round of the playoffs when the Eagles and Giants tangle Sunday at
the Meadowlands. Most so-called experts tabbed the Redskins as the team to beat in the
NFC East, but the Giants rattled off five straight wins following head coach Jim
Fassel’s now-famous playoff guarantee. That streak wound up giving the Giants their
second division title in four years and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Eagles are enjoying a remarkable one-year turnaround under second-year head coach
Andy Reid. Last season the Eagles posted a 5-11 record. They reversed that this season,
going 11-5 before upsetting the Buccaneers in last week’s wild-card round.
The Giants have won eight in a row against the Eagles, including a pair of one-sided
decisions earlier this season. In those two meetings, New York racked up 771 total yards
compared to Philly’s 429. The Giants outscored the Eagles 57-25.
Since becoming the Giants’ head coach in 1997, Fassel has never lost to the
Eagles. However, Fassel has yet to taste playoff success as a coach. In 10 seasons as an
NFL assistant or head coach, he has been involved in only two postseason games — both
of which were losses.
The Eagles enter this game having won seven of their last eight .
WHEN THE EAGLES HAVE THE BALL:
QB Donovan McNabb accounted for 75 percent of the Eagles’ offense in the regular
season, partially because the team lacked a productive running back after Duce Staley went
down. However, last week vs. the Buccaneers, the Eagles ran a very balanced offense,
running and passing 33 times each. They were able to do that because RB Chris Warren
stepped up and had a nice game, picking up 85 yards on 22 carries. But in his first game
of the season with the Eagles in Week 17 vs. the Bengals, Warren lost two fumbles, so the
Giants’ defense will be looking to strip him of the ball. |
|
|
| Giants Stadium |
| East Rutherford, N.J. |
| Date: Sunday, January 7, 2001 |
| 4:15 P.M. Eastern Standard Time |
| Type Of Turf: Natural |
| Meeting Of The Year: Third |
| Season Record: |
| |
Philadelphia |
12-5-0 |
| |
New York Giants |
12-4-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Philadelphia |
10-5-2 |
| |
New York Giants |
9-7-0 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
Philadelphia (R) |
6-2-0 |
| |
New York Giants (H) |
5-3-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Philadelphia (R) |
6-2-0 |
| |
New York Giants (H) |
3-5-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf: |
| |
Philadelphia |
3-2-0 |
| |
New York Giants |
8-4-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf Vs. Spread: |
| |
Philadelphia |
3-2-0 |
| |
New York Giants |
7-5-0 |
|
|
| McNabb wasn’t particularly effective in the
two previous games against the Giants, as he was held to 29-of-64 passing for 343 yards,
two TDs and one interception. He also was sacked seven times. McNabb will need to be wary
of blitzing linebackers, as Giants ’backers accounted for five of those seven sacks.
However, McNabb showed outstanding poise last week against a very intimidating Tampa Bay
defense. TE Chad Lewis is McNabb’s favorite target, although the Giants would be
wise not to ignore TE Jeff Thomason. While Thomason caught only 10 passes in the regular
season, five of them went for touchdowns. He added another score last week vs. the Bucs.
Eagles wideouts were very quiet for much of the season, but they have been more
productive of late. They will be matched up against a quality secondary that features CBs
Jason Sehorn and Dave Thomas.
Check the status of RBs Stanley Pritchett (knee) and Darnell Autry (ankle).
WHEN THE GIANTS HAVE THE BALL:
The Giants want to feature a balanced attack, generally running speedy Tiki Barber
outside and powerful Ron Dayne inside. Those two open up Kerry Collins’ passing
attack. However, Barber will be entering this contest with a fractured forearm and an
injured big toe on his right foot. You can count on the aggressive Eagles defense to go
after Barber’s injured arm in an effort to force a fumble. Also, Dayne hasn’t
been particularly productive in his last three games, picking up 42 yards on 25 carries.
The Eagles’ defense has had some games in which it has surrendered large chunks of
yardage on the ground, but it has been strong when it comes to keeping the opponent out of
the endzone.
Collins was effective in the first two meetings of the season, connecting on 43-of-66
attempts for 473 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. WR Amani Toomer caught
16 of those passes for 188 yards and two TDs, and WR Ike Hilliard added 13 catches for 123
yards and one TD.
They will face an Eagles secondary that boasts CBs Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent and FS
Brian Dawkins. That trio accounted for 12 regular-season interceptions.
A marquee matchup in the trenches pits Eagles DRE Hugh Douglas vs. steady veteran OLT
Lomas Brown. Douglas (15 regular-season sacks) has been making big plays all season,
including a momentum-turning sack/forced fumble against the Bucs in last weekend’s
wild-card victory.
Check the status of WR Joe Jurevicius (knee).
All game previews and depth charts were compiled as of Jan. 1, 2001 |
OFFENSE |
| WR |
80 SMALL, 87 Pinkston*, 86 Van Dyke |
| OLT |
72 T. THOMAS, 76 Welbourn, 67 Schau |
| OLG |
76 WELBOURN, 74 Brzezinski, 63 Fraley* |
| C |
65 MILLER, 67 Schau |
| ORG |
71 MAYBERRY, 66 B. Williams* |
| ORT |
69 RUNYAN, 76 Welbourn |
| TE |
89 LEWIS, 83 Thomason, 84 Broughton |
| WR |
81 C. JOHNSON, 85 Brown, 82 Douglas |
| QB |
5 McNABB, 10 Detmer, 11 Powlus |
| RB |
35 WARREN, 24 Autry, 36 Pritchett, 30 Mitchell, 33
Hamner* |
| FB |
38 MARTIN, 36 Pritchett |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
98 WHITING, 59 Mamula |
| DLT |
78 H. THOMAS, 96 Grasmanis |
| DRT |
90 SIMON*, 98 Whiting, 97 Walker* |
| DRE |
53 DOUGLAS, 98 Whiting |
| SLB |
51 EMMONS, 56 Caldwell |
| MLB |
54 TROTTER, 57 Darling, 52 Gardner |
| WLB |
52 GARDNER, 56 Caldwell, 58 Reese |
| LCB |
23 VINCENT, 32 Bostic |
| RCB |
21 TAYLOR, 31 Harris |
| SS |
43 MOORE, 42 Cook |
| FS |
20 DAWKINS, 45 Hauck, 25 Cherry |
SPECIALIST |
| P |
7 LANDETA |
| PK |
2 AKERS |
| H |
10 DETMER |
| PR |
30 MITCHELL, 85 Brown, 16 Scott* |
| KR |
30 MITCHELL, 82 Douglas |
| LS |
88 BARTRUM, 89 Lewis |
* Rookie |
|
|
OFFENSE |
| WR |
81 TOOMER, 84 Jurevicius |
| OLT |
76 BROWN, 67 Bober |
| OLG |
62 G. PARKER, 66 Whittle, 78 Rosenthal |
| C |
52 ZEIGLER, 69 Engler |
| ORG |
65 STONE, 66 Whittle |
| ORT |
77 PETITGOUT, 78 Rosenthal |
| TE |
87 CROSS, 83 Mitchell, 89 Campbell |
| WR |
88 HILLIARD, 86 Dixon*, 82 Davis |
| QB |
5 COLLINS, 17 Garrett, 18 Cherry |
| RB |
21 BARBER, 27 Dayne*, 33 Montgomery, 29 Washington |
| FB |
34 COMELLA, 45 Walendy |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
92 STRAHAN, 97 Griffin* |
| DLT |
99 PETER, 97 Griffin*, 96 Wlliams |
| DRT |
75 HAMILTON, 93 Hale |
| DRE |
94 JONES, 79 J. Parker* |
| OLB |
91 PHILLIPS, 53 Short* |
| MLB |
58 BARROW, 51 Monty |
| OLB |
98 ARMSTEAD, 90 Golden*, 59 Lewis* |
| LCB |
41 THOMAS, 28 Stephens, 25 McDonald |
| RCB |
31 SEHORN, 26 McDaniel |
| SS |
20 GARNES, 37 West |
| FS |
36 WILLIAMS, 23 Stoutmire |
SPECIALIST |
| P |
9 MAYNARD |
| PK |
3 DALUISO, 2 Holmes |
| H |
9 MAYNARD, 17 Garrett, 18 Cherry |
| PR |
21 BARBER, 81 Toomer |
| KR |
86 DIXON*, 29 Washington, 28 Stephens |
| LS |
66 WHITTLE, 52 Zeigler, 83 Mitchell |
* Rookie |
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