Eagles at Giants
Giants Stadium
East Rutherford, N.J.
Monday, Oct. 22, 2001
AT A GLANCE: While the Giants and Eagles each have two
losses early in the season, both are still considered legitimate playoff teams. This game
will have a big impact on which team emerges as the NFC East champion.
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| OVERVIEW: Playing in what many consider to be the
weakest division in the NFL, the Giants and Eagles are clearly the class of the NFC East.
This matchup could be an early indicator of which team will eventually win the division. Philadelphia
had its confidence shaken by the Cardinals in Week Four and then had to stew in defeat for
nearly two weeks because of last week’s bye.
Despite losing last week in St. Louis, the Giants may have actually had their
confidence bolstered, particularly on defense. In defeat, they did what few other NFL
teams have done — limit the Rams’ high-flying offense.
This will be a grudge match of the highest order. It’s a rivalry that dates back
to 1933. The Giants have dominated the Eagles in recent years, winning nine straight,
including a 20-10 win in the divisional round of the playoffs last season. The Giants have
covered in eight of those wins.
When the Eagles have the ball:
QB Donovan McNabb is the key to the Eagles’ offensive attack, although he
wasn’t particularly sharp vs. the Giants last season. In three meetings, McNabb
completed 46.7 percent of his passes and was sacked 13 times.
Always a threat to run with the ball, McNabb has been relying more on his arm this
season. In the last three games, he has taken off with the ball only 12 times. Head coach
Andy Reid attributes that to McNabb progressing through his reads better, often hitting
the third option. While Reid is pleased with this aspect of McNabb’s game, the coach
is unhappy with the mistakes the quarterback made in Week Four, when he had a fumble and a
poorly thrown pass that was intercepted. McNabb has four fumbles in four games. |
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|
| Giants Stadium |
| East Rutherford, N.J. |
| Date: Monday, October 22, 2001 |
| 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time |
| Type Of Turf: Natural |
| Meeting Of The Year: First |
| Season Record: |
| |
Philadelphia |
2-2-0 |
| |
New York Giants |
3-2-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Philadelphia |
2-1-1 |
| |
New York Giants |
4-1-0 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
Philadelphia (R) |
1-0-0 |
| |
New York Giants (H) |
2-0-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Philadelphia (R) |
1-0-0 |
| |
New York Giants (H) |
2-0-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf: |
| |
Philadelphia |
0-0-0 |
| |
New York Giants |
3-1-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf Vs. Spread: |
| |
Philadelphia |
0-0-0 |
| |
New York Giants |
3-1-0 |
|
| The Eagles can’t afford mistakes vs. a relentless Giants defense that held the
Rams to just 15 points in Week Five. St. Louis had been averaging 31.8 points per game.
Spearheading the New York defense is DLE Michael Strahan, who has been a one-man wrecking
crew. He had four sacks vs. the Rams and now has 8½ in the last three games. ORT Jon
Runyan is sure to have his hands full. Productive rookie RB Correll Buckhalter may get
another start, even if Duce Staley’s injured shoulder allows him to play. They will
be in for a tough battle, as the Giants have been very stingy on the ground in their last
three outings.
Through the air, TE Chad Lewis is a true weapon. Todd Pinkston, who is averaging 17.7
yards per catch, seems to be emerging as the big-play wideout, while James Thrash is also
capable of having a big game at any time. The Giants have a deep secondary that is led by
starting CBs Jason Sehorn and Will Allen, the club’s first-round pick. Another
rookie, Will Peterson, is contributing in the nickel defense. That unit did a nice job of
slowing down the Rams’ passing attack last week. In fact, no St. Louis pass catcher
had 100 yards last week, which is a rarity.
When the Giants have the ball:
The Giants’ offense could get a boost this week if RB Tiki Barber is able to
return from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him for two games. He gives the Giants a
rushing-receiving threat. The other part of the rushing equation is Ron Dayne, who is
averaging a yard more per carry than he was at this point last season.
New York will be facing an Eagles defense that may be on the same level as the
Giants’. However, great defenses don’t generally allow a lackluster team like
Arizona to move 74 yards on eight plays in just over a minute and score the winning
touchdown, as happened in Week Four. Expect the Eagles to have a chip on their shoulder,
looking to prove they have the dominant "D" in the NFC East. They love to blitz
in their aggressive attack, and that could cause problems for QB Kerry Collins, who has
been sacked nine times in the past three weeks.
Surprising WR Joe Jurevicius has been the club’s most productive receiver,
although big-play threat Amani Toomer isn’t far behind. Ike Hilliard caught his first
TD reception of the season last week.
That trio will face one of the NFL’s most talented secondaries, featuring CBs Troy
Vincent and Bobby Taylor, as well as FS Brian Dawkins, arguably the best safety playing in
the NFL today. Philadelphia has surrendered only 314 passing yards in its last three
games.
If the Giants are to succeed, they must cut back on the penalties. They were flagged 12
times for 125 yards in Week Five.
All game previews and depth charts were compiled as of Oct. 14. |
|
Offense |
| WR |
80 Thrash, 84 F. Mitchell*, 86 Scott |
| OLT |
72 T. Thomas, 76 Welbourn, 67 Schau |
| OLG |
76 Welbourn, 74 Brzezinski, 73 Pyne |
| C |
63 Fraley, 73 Pyne, 67 Schau |
| ORG |
71 Mayberry, 66 Williams, 73 Pyne |
| ORT |
69 Runyan, 76 Welbourn, 67 Schau |
| TE |
89 Lewis, 83 Thomason, 88 Bartrum |
| WR |
87 Pinkston, 85 Brown, 82 Douglas |
| QB |
5 McNabb, 10 Detmer, 14 Feeley* |
| RB |
28 Buckhalter*, 22 Staley, 30 B. Mitchell |
| FB |
38 Martin, 34 Reader |
Defense |
| DLE |
98 Whiting, 94 Kalu |
| DLT |
90 Simon, 97 Walker |
| DRT |
78 H. Thomas, 96 Grasmanis, 98 Whiting |
| DRE |
53 H. Douglas, 59 Burgess* |
| WLB |
56 Caldwell, 58 Reese, 55 Caver* |
| MLB |
54 Trotter, 52 Gardner, 55 Caver* |
| SLB |
51 Emmons, 56 Caldwell |
| LCB |
23 Vincent, 41 Hampton |
| RCB |
21 Taylor, 31 Harris, 29 Crutchfield* |
| SS |
43 Moore, 45 Hauck, 42 Cook |
| FS |
20 Dawkins, 33 Carroll* |
Specialists |
| P |
7 Landeta |
| PK |
2 Akers |
| H |
10 Detmer, 89 Lewis |
| PR |
85 Brown, 30 B. Mitchell, 80 Thrash |
| KR |
30 B. Mitchell, 80 Thrash, 85 Brown |
| KC |
88 Bartrum, 89 Lewis |
* Rookie |
|
|
Offense |
| WR |
81 Toomer, 82 Davis |
| OLT |
76 Brown, 67 Bober |
| OLG |
62 Parker, 78 Rosenthal |
| C |
52 Zeigler, 66 Whittle |
| ORG |
65 Stone, 69 Seubert* |
| ORT |
77 Petitgout, 78 Rosenthal |
| TE |
87 Cross, 89 Campbell, 83 Rivers* |
| WR |
84 Jurevicius, 88 HIlliard, 86 Dixon |
| QB |
5 Collins, 17 Garrett, 3 Palmer* |
| RB |
21 Barber, 27 Dayne, 29 Washington |
| FB |
34 Comella, 44 Green* |
Defense |
| DLE |
92 Strahan, 95 Ferrara |
| DLT |
97 Griffin, 70 Legree* |
| DRT |
75 Hamilton, 99 Kolodziej* |
| DRE |
90 Holmes, 96 Scott* |
| OLB |
53 Short, 51 Golden |
| MLB |
58 Barrow, 55 Jones |
| OLB |
98 Armstead, 57 C. White* |
| LCB |
25 Allen*, 41 Thomas, 22 Brown |
| RCB |
31 Sehorn, 24 Peterson*, 26 McDaniel |
| SS |
20 Garnes, 23 Stoutmire, 35 LeBlanc |
| FS |
36 Williams, 28 Patmon* |
Specialists |
| P |
2 Williams |
| PK |
8 Andersen, 9 Pochman* |
| H |
2 Williams, 17 Garrett |
| PR |
21 Barber, 25 Allen*, 81 Toomer |
| KR |
86 Dixon, 23 Stoutmire, 29 Washington |
| KC |
66 Whittle, 52 Zeigler |
* Rookie |
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