Giants-Eagles Preview

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• Countdown Daily Recap: Giants-Eagles

SCOUTING REPORT

Giants-Eagles: 10 observations After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Giants-Eagles matchup. 1. New York needs balance on offense: As well as the Giants run the football, it's important for offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride to devise a game plan with early down short passes to make third-down conversions more manageable. Keeping the Eagles' defense off balance will be important for a New York victory.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
NYG	6-4	266	235	3-2	3-2	2-1	4-3
PHI	6-4	266	204	3-2	3-2	2-1	5-2
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

NY Giants Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Mannin... 60.5 2454 18 9 Carr 62.5 172 1 0

Philadelphia Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT McNabb 61.6 1929 14 5 Kolb 64.6 741 4 3

NY Giants Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Jacobs 163 656 4.0 3 Bradsh... 115 549 4.8 4

Philadelphia Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD McCoy 106 452 4.3 3 Westbr... 47 225 4.8 1

NY Giants Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Smith 65 798 12.3 5 Mannin... 40 617 15.4 4

Philadelphia Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Jackso... 42 728 17.3 5 Celek 50 568 11.4 5

Full Player Stats: NY Giants | Philadelphia

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	NYG	386.0
	PHI	355.0
Yards Passing	NYG	251.7
	PHI	247.1
Yards Rushing	NYG	133.8
	PHI	107.6
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	NYG	282.2
	PHI	305.1
Pass Yds Allowed	NYG	177.4
	PHI	200.8
Rush Yds Allowed	NYG	104.8
	PHI	104.3

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Philadelphia leads 12-7
Jan 11, 2009	NYG 11, @PHI 23
Dec 7, 2008	NYG 14, @PHI 20
Nov 9, 2008	NYG 36, PHI 31
Dec 9, 2007	NYG 16, PHI 13
Sep 30, 2007	NYG 16, @PHI 3
Jan 7, 2007	NYG 20, PHI 23
Dec 17, 2006	NYG 22, @PHI 36
Sep 17, 2006	NYG 30, PHI 24
Dec 11, 2005	NYG 26, PHI 23
Nov 20, 2005	NYG 27, @PHI 17
Nov 28, 2004	NYG 6, @PHI 27
Sep 12, 2004	NYG 17, PHI 31
Nov 16, 2003	NYG 10, PHI 28
Oct 19, 2003	NYG 10, @PHI 14
Dec 28, 2002	NYG 10, @PHI 7
Oct 28, 2002	NYG 3, PHI 17
Dec 30, 2001	NYG 21, PHI 24
Oct 22, 2001	NYG 9, @PHI 10

Although the cities of New York and Philadelphia will no doubt be focusing on the World Series matchup of the Yankees and Phillies this weekend, it will be difficult for fans not to turn their attention to the meeting between the Giants and Eagles.

Making the game between the NFC East rivals all the more enticing is the fact that the Eagles ruined the Giants' hopes of repeating as Super Bowl champions last season.

A busy Sunday of sports in Philadelphia starts at Lincoln Financial Field, where the Eagles look to hand the suddenly vulnerable Giants a third straight loss and gain at least a share of first place in the division.

Before the Yankees and Phillies play Game 4 of the World Series at Citizens Bank Park, one of the NFL's fiercest rivalries will continue across the street.

"We love it, we love it," Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb said. "Everyone can tune into our game first and go to the bathroom and refresh your popcorn and drinks and then go out and watch the excellent baseball game."

The Giants (5-2) lead Philadelphia (4-2) and Dallas in the division, with the Eagles set to host the Cowboys next weekend.

"It is a divisional game; we have a half-a-game lead on the Philadelphia Eagles," coach Tom Coughlin said. "The game is in Philadelphia. I don't know that it gets any more exciting."

New York will likely have the bitter end to last season on its mind. The Giants went 12-4 to earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC but fell 23-11 to the Eagles in a divisional playoff game -- one of two home losses to Philadelphia that season.

"We have a big game vs. Philly at Philly, it's a huge game," Giants quarterback Eli Manning said. "We know it's going to be a tough battle, but we have to go out there, play well and eliminate the mistakes."

Manning, 4-0 as a starter in the regular season at Philadelphia, knows he has to cut down on his miscues after the last two games. He had 10 touchdowns and two interceptions during the Giants' 5-0 start but threw for two scores and four interceptions in the losses.

Manning was 19 of 37 for 243 yards with one touchdown and three INTs in last Sunday's 24-17 home loss to Arizona. He was sacked three times, matching his total in that category over the first six games.

McNabb, meanwhile, proved to be very difficult to bring down for the Giants last season. New York sacked him 15 times in two wins during its Super Bowl season two years ago, but didn't register any last season in three games with Osi Umenyiora missing the year due to knee surgery.

Umenyiora set a Giants record with six sacks of McNabb in a 16-3 win Oct. 5, 2007, as he took advantage of then-rookie left tackle Winston Justice. Now the Eagles' right tackle, Justice will go up against Umenyiora or Pro Bowl defensive end Justin Tuck -- the cornerstones of New York's top-ranked defense.

"We all know what type of player Osi is -- he is an All-Pro guy; one that people focus in on," McNabb said. "So I don't think it is a change.

"The defense that they had -- you always start off by saying Michael Strahan and Osi. Now you say Osi and Tuck. So there are two guys that you truly focus in on no matter if they are on the right side or left side. You just always know where they are."

The Eagles bounced back from a 13-9 loss at lowly Oakland two weeks ago with a 27-17 road win over Washington on Monday night. DeSean Jackson scored on a 67-yard run and a 57-yard reception in the first half as Philadelphia built a 20-point lead and cruised.

The bad news for Philadelphia was the loss of running back Brian Westbrook in the first quarter with a concussion. His status for this week is uncertain.

"We'll see what kind of improvement he makes," coach Andy Reid said Wednesday. "He is doing the tests that the guys do throughout the week here. We'll see how he does by the time we get to game time."

New York receiver Steve Smith is second in the league with 45 catches and third with 594 yards through the air, but has failed to reach the end zone in his last three games. Rookie receiver Hakeem Nicks, though, had 194 yards in the last two games and scored a TD in each of the last four contests.

Manning believes the Giants should be able to correct their problems.

"We are 5-2, we're not in a bad spot," he said. "We are going to get back to playing better football."

FBO: Week 11 Quick Reads

Football Outsiders apply their metrics to Week 11. Findings: Even when Wes Welker doesn't find the end zone, he's historic; Mark Sanchez isn't ready; DeAngelo Williams needs the rock more; and T.J. Houshmandzadeh may have saved Minny's season.

Greenberg: Bears don't deserve national stage

If they hadn't already made it clear, the Bears don't deserve national stage.

Eagles halt short skid, hurt Bears' playoff hopes

Donovan McNabb and the Philadelphia Eagles found a way to pull out a close win. They also hurt the Chicago Bears in the process.

Pasquarelli: Young targets come in handy for Giants

The Giants snapped a four-game losing streak by beating Atlanta in overtime. A lift from an inexperienced receiving corps made the feat possible, writes Len Pasquarelli.

Traffic charges against Plaxico Burress dismissed

Four Broward County traffic tickets have been dismissed against former New York Giants football player Plaxico Burress , who still faces another case in which he's accused of cursing several times at a sheriff's deputy, the athlete's attorney said this morning.

NFL Putting Off Plaxico Punishment

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said today there is no timetable for making a decision on league disciplinary action for Plaxico Burress.

GIANTS: Updated: Boldin hires Eli's agent

KTAR Radio in Arizona reports that Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin has hired Tom Condon to be his agent.

Moving the Chains: Giants' Umenyiora takes aim at Eagles

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. A special buzz is building around the 2009 football season in Philadelphia, and a lot of it has to do with the rivalry between the Eagles and Giants.

Canty happy to be part of 'tremendous defense' in New York

CHAREAN WILLIAMS The movers were at Chris Canty's new home last week. He is starting to feel at home in the New York Giants' locker room, too.Canty left the Dallas Cowboys almost three months ago, the Giants' six-year, $42 million offer too rich for Dallas to beat.

Eagles' Sheldon Brown Skips Workout

Cornerback Sheldon Brown was a no-show and running back Brian Westbrook was a non-participant because of injury today when the Philadelphia Eagles began eight days of workouts that, while voluntary, are generally regarded as "full-roster" in nature.

Jon Runyan contemplates future

Life is different for Jon Runyan these days, and it has nothing to do with the fact that he spent yesterday afternoon on a two-hour road trip to pick up his pet pig.

Ankle injury sidelines Westbrook

In a lighter moment at camp, the Birds' quarterback duo of Kevin Kolb and Donovan McNabb united in laughter yesterday during the almost-full-squad workout at the team's NovaCare Complex.

Jim Johnson situation a new one for Eagles

Sheldon Brown wasn't there, which is just kind of pointless. Brian Westbrook wasn't there, which is just kind of troubling.

Birds' Eye View: Donovan speaks -- sort of

With the Eagles set to open a full-squad passing camp tomorrow at the NovaCare Complex, Donovan McNabb's team of publicists sent out a release today pitching the 10-year anniversary of the quarterback's charitable foundation.