Rivalry football at its finest will take place in the City of Brotherly Love on Saturday as the Philadelphia Eagles take on the New York Giants in the NFC Divisional Round at Lincoln Financial Field.
Philly earned the top seed in their conference thanks to a 22-16 victory versus the G-men, while New York advanced to this stage by beating the Minnesota Vikings 31-24 in the Wild Card Round.
Match preview
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Until their star quarterback got injured, the Eagles were the team to beat in the NFL this season, third in total yards per game (389.1) while allowing the second-fewest yards-per-game defensively (301.5) and leading the league in team sacks (70).
Nick Sirianni also had a pretty dependable secondary which held quarterbacks to the third-lowest-rating in the league, along with the third-lowest yards-per-attempt, while they were tied for fourth in interceptions and had the third-highest turnover differential (+8).
While they were outstanding at dropping opposing QBs behind the line of scrimmage, the Eagles had difficulty slowing down running quarterbacks, allowing 6.5 yards per carry to that position while also giving up a 4.4-yard average to running backs.
Containing running backs in the passing game was by far the Eagles' biggest defensive deficiency this season, conceding a rating of 95.2 to that position in 2022-23.
Philadelphia ran the ball efficiently throughout the campaign, averaging the fifth-most rushing yards per game (147.6), while they were ninth in passing, amassing 241.5 per contest.
The Eagles have only won two playoff encounters since 2010, and they both occurred during the 2017-18 season, when Philly captured its only Super Bowl in franchise history.
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The first playoff appearance for the Giants since the 2016 season was a success as they outlasted the Vikings to advance into the Divisional Round for the first time since 2011-12, when they won their last Super Bowl.
Brian Daboll has seen his side grow offensively over the past few weeks, with the Giants putting up 24+ points in three of their last four games.
Almost everything worked for them on offence in Minnesota last Sunday as they rushed for 142 yards, were 2/2 on fourth downs and did not turn the ball over for a second successive contest.
Protecting their quarterback in the pocket has been an issue, with the Giants' offensive line allowing 49 sacks this season, including three versus the Vikings.
Overall, they had difficulty containing the run this season, allowing an average of 5.2 yards-per-contest, though New York handled Dalvin Cook last weekend, holding him to 60 yards on 15 carries.
New York have thrown for at least one touchdown in four consecutive games, while six or more players have registered a catch in each of their encounters this season.
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Team News
In his return from the injured list, Eagles QB Jalen Hurts struggled, putting up a dismal 65.1 rating and an interception, while Boston Scott ran for their only score two weeks ago against New York.
Miles Sanders was dependable all season for Philly, rushing for 1,269, good for fifth in the NFL, Haason Reddick finished second in the league for sacks (16), AJ Brown had the fourth-most receiving yards (1,496), Javon Hargrave made 11 sacks, while CJ Gardner-Johnson produced six interceptions.
Robert Quinn has a problem with his back, Linval Joseph is questionable because of a calf strain, Lane Johnson might be sidelined due to a tender groin and Avonte Maddox did not practice all week after sustaining a toe injury.
Daniel Jones looked as good as we have seen all season, with the Giants pivot going 24/35 for 301 yards last weekend, compiling a passer rating of 114.1, finding Daniel Bellinger and Isaiah Hodgins for touchdowns, while Saquon Barkley found the end zone twice on the ground.
Darius Slayton registered four catches on eight targets for 88 yards in their Wild Card victory, Adoree' Jackson and Jaylon Smith each had six tackles, while Nick McCloud and Micah McFadden registered at least a sack respectively in their previous visit to Philadelphia.
Azeez Ojulari could be out because of a quad strain, Fabian Moreau has a hip flexor, Julian Love is dealing with a sore hamstring and Landon Collins was limited at practice this week due to an ankle injury.
Head To Head
Philly have a 91-87-2 edge all-time over the Giants, winning three in a row as Jake Elliott connected on five field goals in their victory against them earlier this month.
The previous New York triumph versus the Eagles came in November 2021, when Graham Gano kicked a pair of field goals and Jones hit Chris Myarick for a one-yard score as the Giants won 13-7.
They have not beaten Philly at Lincoln Financial Field since the 2013 campaign, when Josh Brown scored all of their points, kicking five field goals in a 15-7 triumph.
The Eagles won the previous playoff encounter against New York, 23-11, in the 2008 NFC Divisional Round as Donovan McNabb ran for a score, and Brent Celek caught a one-yard touchdown pass from him in the fourth quarter.
We say: Philadelphia Eagles 33-23 New York Giants
Hurts's health will be critical to the Eagles' Super Bowl hopes, but even if he is still not 100% this weekend, Philly have plenty of defensive studs who can make plays and keep the Giants' offence at bay.
Jones has looked good of late but could have to hurry the ball quicker than he would like versus a dangerous defensive line, not to mention having to throw against two of the top cover men in the NFL in James Bradberry and Darius Slay.
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