Skip to main content
New York Giants homepage
Advertising

Giants News | New York Giants – Giants.com

10 Things To Watch For

Presented by

10 things to watch in Giants vs. Eagles

_1920x108010thing_WK12

FUTURE OF OFFENSE AFTER CHANGE AT OC

On Tuesday, the Giants relieved Jason Garrett of his duties as the team's offensive coordinator. Although head coach Joe Judge would not announce who would be taking over as the team's offensive play-caller, he admit you can expect to see some changes this Sunday.

"There are a number of things that could change," Judge said. "Changing a play caller is one aspect of it and maybe the approach we take as an offense is another aspect of it. In a short week, you're not going to go ahead and completely blow up an offense and redo things, but you are going to look to use things a little bit differently. Maybe that's personnel, maybe that's scheme, maybe that's situation calls, whatever it may be.

"As we build through the game plan this week, that's what we're focusing on. In terms of how the game gets called, we'll talk about it as we build on through the week, what we think is best in the game plan, what our adjustments will be and when we get into the game situationally, what ends up being best for us to call."

The Eagles' defense has been up and down this season. The unit ranks 20th in points allowed and 13th in yards, but opponents are scoring on 66.7 percent of their trips inside the 20. Philadelphia's defense ranks 24th in both passing and rushing touchdowns surrendered.

ALL-TIME SERIES

Sunday's meeting will be the 177th overall matchup between the Giants and Eagles, with Philadelphia holding an 88-86-2 edge in the series. After losing 12 of the last 13 games between the division rivals dating back to 2014, the Giants defeated the Eagles, 27-17, at MetLife Stadium last year.

_1920x1080W2W_wk12

INJURY REPORT

Giants

Out: FB Cullen Gillaspia (Calf), WR Sterling Shepard (Quad), TE Kaden Smith (Knee)

Doubtful: TE Kyle Rudolph (Ankle), WR Kadarius Toney (Quad)

Questionable: RB Saquon Barkley (Ankle), WR John Ross (Quad)

Eagles

Out: RB Jordan Howard (Knee)

Questionable: CB Tay Gowan (Quad)

SAQUON LOOKS TO GET BACK TO FORM

The Giants got one of their top playmakers back for the game against Tampa Bay, as running back Saquon Barkley suited up for the first time since injuring his ankle against the Cowboys in Week 5. He averaged 4.2 yards per carry on six rush attempts while catching all six of his targets for 31 yards.

Barkley has played a large role in the passing game, catching at least five passes in each of the last three full games in which he's played. On the season, Barkley has 20 receptions for 161 yards and a score.

The Eagles' run defense got off to a slow start, allowing each of their first seven opponents to register over 100 yards on the ground. But over their last four games, Philadelphia has allowed an average of just 87.8 rushing yards per game. On the season, they rank 21st in rushing yards and 24th in rushing touchdowns allowed.

THOMAS' IMPACT ON O-LINE

Andrew Thomas made his return to the field on Monday after missing four of the last five games due to injury. Thomas was solid in his return, earning a 70.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, including a 78.8 pass block grade. He also scored the Giants' only touchdown on an impressive catch, which earned him a 90.4 receiving grade. On the season, the second-year tackle ranks 15th among all tackles with his 78.1 pass block grade.

Thomas was not the only lineman to put up a solid performance against a talented Buccaneers pass rush. Right tackle Nate Solder earned a 65.2 pass block grade, while center Billy Price received a 63.4 grade. Meanwhile, left guard Matt Skura finished with a 77.6 overall grade, the highest on the offense. Jones was sacked just twice in this contest, although he was pressured at a higher rate.

The Eagles come into this game tied for 28th in the NFL with 18 sacks, and just one over their past three games.

GETTING GOLLADAY INVOLVED

Kenny Golladay played on 76 percent of the team's offensive snaps against the Buccaneers, while Kadarius Toney was on the field for 60 percent. However, the two receivers combined for just eight receptions for 52 yards, with Toney accounting for seven of the catches. It was both receivers' second game back after missing some time due to injuries, with both players seeing an increase in snaps.

Toney did not practice this week and is listed as doubtful for this week's game, while Sterling Shepard has been ruled out. This means the Giants will likely need Golladay to play an even bigger role in Sunday's game. The veteran comes into this matchup with 20 receptions for 322 yards in seven games. Philadelphia has allowed 19 TD passes on the season, good for the 7th-most in the NFL.

View rare photos of the historic rivalry between the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles.

DJ'S TIME

Daniel Jones will have his third different play caller in three seasons with the Giants and is looking forward to how the offense can improve.

After averaging 296 passing yards per game through the first four weeks of the season, Jones has not topped 242 passing yards in six games since. His rushing production has also dipped in that same span, as he has registered 20+ rushing yards only once in the last six.

GETTING PRESSURE ON HURTS

The Giants' defense has picked up 20 sacks through the first 10 games of the season, which is tied for 22nd in the league. However, over their past three games, the defense has registered just three total sacks. 

The Eagles have allowed just 20 sacks through 11 games, which is tied for the 11th-fewest in the league. A big part of that is due to Hurts' mobility, as the young quarterback has proven to be tough to bring down.

Philadelphia has several talented offensive linemen, starting with veteran right tackle Lane Johnson. Johnson has earned 76.4 pass block grade this season, and right behind him is left tackle Jordan Mailata with his 76.3 pass block grade. Center Jason Kelce has also played well, receiving an 82.8 overall grade, while right guard Jack Driscoll ranks seventh among guards with a 76.5 pass block grade.

SLOWING DOWN EAGLES' RUN GAME

The Eagles enter Week 12 with one of the top running games in the league. In 11 games, the offense has run for 1,687 yards (153.4 avg.). Only the Cleveland Browns (156.8) are averaging more yards on the ground. Additionally, Philadelphia's 17 rushing touchdowns is tied with the Browns and Arizona Cardinals for the most in the NFL. 

Philadelphia has scored 30+ points in three of their last four contests, including two games with 40+ points. In all three of those games, all of which were wins, the Eagles ran for over 215 yards, with three different players topping 50. Jalen Hurts is easily the team's leading rusher, as his 618 yards are 224 yards more than Miles Sanders (394). In fact, regardless of position, Hurts ranks ninth in the league in rushing yards. Sanders has yet to find the end zone this year, but Jordan Howard, Boston Scott and Kenneth Gainwell have three rushing touchdowns apiece. Hurts has eight scores on the ground. 

Although the Giants' the defense ranks 22nd in rushing yards allowed, the unit is tied for seventh in rushing touchdowns surrendered. 

FINISH STRONG

Seven games remain on the schedule, including five against teams with records currently under .500. Four of the games left are against NFC East opponents.

Joe Judge's squad will take on the Eagles (5-6) twice, the Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears (both 4-7) and the Washington Football Team (4-6). And remember, the Giants hold the first and fourth-round picks of the Bears and the third-round pick of the Dolphins in the 2022 draft, meaning wins against those two clubs would enhance the value of those draft picks.

View photos of Pro Football Hall of Famer and Giants legend Michael Strahan.

SINGLE_GAME_Strahan_1920x1080 (1)

Tickets for Michael Strahan Ceremony

Limited tickets are available for Michael Strahan's jersey retirement game on November 28th

Related Content

Advertising