If you are playing football after Christmas you are playing for one thing. You are playing for a playoff spot. With a win Sunday, the Eagles have put themselves in a playoff spot as the 7 seed in the NFC.
The Eagles started off slow. When I say slow, they only threw the ball, so therefore the offense was not moving. The Eagles were unable to get anything going in the first half. Settling for just a field goal in the first 30 minute. Fortunately, the Eagles defense came to play. They held the Giants to only 3 points in the first half.
The second half the Eagles came out a completely different team. On the Giants second play in the 2nd half, Jake Fromm threw a beauty of a pass right to Eagles defender Rodney McCleod, and he was able to get the ball inside the 30 yard line. A few plays later, Boston Scott was able to find a hole and secure the Eagles first TD of the afternoon.
On the Eagles next possession, Jake Elliot was able to overcome an earlier missed Field Goal. He hit a 37 yard field goal to get the Eagles lead up to 10.
I am sure you are wondering...where is DeVonta Smith? On the Eagles next possession, the Eagles were able to march the ball down the field. It ended with a 4-yard TD reception by DeVonta Smith. The play was called a TD on the field, then overturned, and then finally the call on the field stood and we had a Smitty touchdown.
The play of the season for the Eagles! If you would have told me that this guy would have more touchdowns this season than our starting RB, I would have told you, you were crazy. The Eagles unleashed a play called "east texas," and Jalen Hurts was able to complete a TD pass to Lane Johnson. Yes the Eagles starting RT Lane Johnson scored a TD. That play is the definition of the Giants season. They let a starting RT score on them.
The Eagles ended their scoring frenzy with an Alex Singleton 29 yard pick 6. The Giants did score a garbage time TD, but the 2nd half was all Eagles.
Notes
The Eagles and Giants have played 188 times and that was the first time they were tied 3-3 at halftime
The Eagles held the Giants to less than 50 yards of offense in the 2nd half.
Miles Sanders left in the 2nd quarter with a hand injury and never returned.
Jordan Howard also left the game with an injury.
The Giants benched Jake Fromm for Mike Glennon and then was immediately called for a penalty.
Giants led the game in time of possession, but still got smacked
Eagles could have had 3 more interceptions, but they were each dropped.
Did I mention Lane Johnson has more TDs than Miles Sanders?
Jalen Reagor sucks as a WR (but we already knew that)
I suggest making Reagor just a punt returner
With the win, the Eagles are now in 7th in the NFC standings
Thoughts on the win
The Eagles won this game on defense. The Eagles easily could have gone into the locker room at halftime down 21-3. The defense kept them in the game during the first half. The offense was flat with some terrible play calling. The Eagles only success moving the ball this game was running the ball. Even though Miles Sander and Jordan Howard both went down with injuries, Boston Scott was having his way all game long.
The first half Eagles were playing like a bottom tier football team. The 2nd half Eagles looked like a playoff team. This defense is still playing at an elite level. Sirianni needs to sit back and see what is working and what is not. If Jalen is struggling, then run the ball and get Hurts some confidence back. The defense is keeping the Eagles in the game, and it is the job of the offense to win the games.
This Eagles team is fun to watch. Going into the season, we all thought this team was a lock for 4th place in the NFC East. We were excited about 3 top 10 draft picks. There was uncertainty that Jalen Hurts was the answer. Now we have our franchise QB, we are in a playoff position, and this team is so much fun.
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