FINISHING ON A HIGH NOTE
The 2024 campaign has not transpired how the Giants would have hoped, as they enter the final game of the season at 3-13. However, the team has a chance to finish the season strong with back-to-back wins as they travel to Philadelphia for a Week 18 matchup against the Eagles. Philadelphia's win on Sunday locked them into the No. 2 seed, which led to coach Nick Sirianni announcing Wednesday that the Eagles plan on resting some starters in the finale. Regardless of who's out there for the Eagles, the Giants are looking to finish the season with a victory.
"Our focus is really on the task at hand," coach Brian Daboll told the media Monday. "We have a lot of guys that are committed to trying to do things the right way and competing at a high level. When you play the way those guys played yesterday, again, all the credit goes to those guys, then you get the results that we all covet. So, our focus is going to be on this week and doing everything we can do to prepare for this game."
Daboll added, "I do think consistency is important. You don't like the negative results, by any means. Then you don't get too high with the positive results. You look at the things that you did well and then you look at the things that you didn't do as well, which there's plenty of those in each game, whether you win or whether you lose. Then you try to improve on those things. We have obviously one game left and you put everything you got into it to have a good week, prepare the right way and do the things necessary you need to do to be at your best on Sunday."
ALL-TIME SERIES
The Giants (3-13) travel to Philadelphia to face the Eagles (13-3) in their final game of the 2024 season on Sunday, Jan. 5 at Lincoln Financial Field. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS.
Sunday's game will be the 180th regular season meeting between the two teams, with Philadelphia leading the series, 91-86-2. The Giants and Eagles met in Week 7 of the 2024 season when the Eagles defeated the Giants, 28-3, in MetLife Stadium.
The Giants look to return to the win column against the Eagles. Their most recent win against Philadelphia was on Jan. 7, 2023, when the Giants won 27-10, in MetLife Stadium.
INJURY REPORT
Giants
Out: ILB Micah McFadden (Neck), T Evan Neal (Rib/Hip), C John Michael Schmitz (Ankle), CB Greg Stroman (Shin), DL Armon Watts (Knee - Placed on Injured Reserve)
Eagles
Out: QB Jalen Hurts (Concussion/Left Finger)
Doubtful: WR A.J. Brown (Knee/Rest), WR DeVonta Smith (Wrist/Rest), RB Saquon Barkley (Rest), LB Zack Baun (Rest), DT Jalen Carter (Rest), G Landon Dickerson (Rest), T Lane Johnson (Rest), T Jordan Mailata (Rest), CB Darius Slay (Rest), LB Nakobe Dean (Abdomen)
Questionable: QB Kenny Pickett (Ribs), RB Will Shipley (Concussion)
NABERS LOOKING TO MAKE HISTORY
Wide receiver Malik Nabers has already made some history this season, as he and running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. became just the third rookie duo in NFL history, and only the second since the 1970 merger, to each have 1,000 yards from scrimmage. Not only that, but Nabers and Tracy also rank third and fourth, respectively, among all rookies in Giants history, trailing only Saquon Barkley (2,028 in 2018) and Beckham (1,340 in 2014).
With only one game remaining, Nabers has the chance to make even more history on Sunday, both in terms of franchise and NFL records. With his seven receptions against the Colts, the 21-year-old is up to 104 receptions on the season. This is the second-highest total in Giants history and only three shy of Steve Smith, who had 107 in 2009, for the all-time franchise record. Nabers already set the Giants rookie record a few weeks ago when he topped Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquon Barkley's mark of 91 receptions.
Heading into the regular-season finale, Nabers also sits four receptions shy of the new NFL rookie record, which Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers currently owns with 108. The 21-year-old receiver is tied with Miami's Jaylen Waddle for the third-highest rookie receptions total in history, and is only one catch behind Los Angeles' Puka Nacua for the second-most. The first-year wideout can set a new rookie record against the Eagles this Sunday, but will start the day four catches behind Bowers, who has played in two more games than Nabers.
Nabers also heads into Week 18 ranking fourth in the NFL in receptions with 104, tied with Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride, while his 1,140 receiving yards rank eighth.
BURNS' STRONG SEASON CONTINUES
Despite dealing with various injuries for most of the year, outside linebacker Brian Burns has started every single game and has continued to perform at a high level, even after the Giants were eliminated from playoff contention.
Burns recorded six tackles (four solo) in Sunday's win over the Colts, including a season-high three tackles for loss. He also added a quarterback hit and finished the game with six pressures on just 28 pass rushes (21.4 percent pressure rate), including four pressures in under 2.5 seconds, according to Next Gen Stats. He has now generated the ninth-most pressures (63) and the fifth-most quick pressures (31) in the league this season.
Over the last four games, the veteran edge rusher has registered at least one tackle for loss every week, with a total of seven during that span while also adding two sacks, four quarterback hits and a forced fumble. Going back to Week 12 when fellow outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux returned from injured reserve, Burns has totaled 21 pressures while Thibodeaux has 20. They are one of just four sets of teammates with 20+ pressures during that stretch, and the only such duo who have each forced a turnover on their pressures.
YOUNG DEFENDERS STEPPING UP
Burns was far from the only Giants defender to step up in the Week 17 win. The unit saw several young players make key contributions in the victory, starting with Dane Belton. In the three games since rookie Tyler Nubin was placed on injured reserve, Belton has played no fewer than 90 percent of the team's defensive snaps in each game. The third-year safety has racked up 29 total tackles in those three contests along with a sack and four passes defensed, including the interception of Colts quarterback Joe Flacco. The interception came deep in Giants territory and prevented the Colts from scoring on the opening drive of the game.
The defense's second takeaway against the Colts came late in the game, when cornerback Dru Phillips intercepted another one of Flacco's passes, which marked the first interception of the rookie slot corner's NFL career. Phillips missed a few games due to injury, but when on the field, the 23-year-old has been a difference-maker. According to Pro Football Focus, Phillips ranks as the league's seventh-best cornerback among players that have been on the field for at least 50 percent of snaps this season. Heading into the regular-season finale, the analytics site also has Phillips ranked as the 12th-best rookie overall.
Similar to Belton, linebacker Darius Muasau has also gotten an extended opportunity in recent weeks. Veteran Bobby Okereke has not seen the field since Week 13, and in the four games since, the rookie has totaled 33 tackles. Fellow starting inside linebacker Micah McFadden also missed the Week 17 win, which caused the defense to lean even more on the 23-year-old rookie from Hawaii. Muasau responded with eight total tackles while playing every defensive snap. In fact, over the last three games, Muasau has been on the field for all but one defensive snap.
View photos of the Giants on the practice field at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
LOCK COMING OFF CAREER DAY
Drew Lock has started 27 games since entering the NFL in 2019, and his performance in last week's win over the Colts was his best outing yet. The 28-year-old completed 17 of 23 passes (73.9 percent) for 309 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions, while adding an additional score on the ground. Lock's 155.3 passer rating and five total touchdowns were both the highest single-game marks of his NFL career.
Lock's passer rating was the highest by a Giants quarterback since the 2018 season, while his four passing touchdowns were the most since 2019. He completed seven of eight passes for 153 yards and three touchdowns in the first half alone, which led to a perfect passer rating of 158.3. It was the first time a Giants quarterback had a perfect passer rating in the first half since Eli Manning in 2009.
While it remains to be seen which players will suit up for Sunday's game, the Eagles have had one of the league's best passing defenses this season. The unit ranks No. 1 in the league in passing yards allowed. In the 12 games since their Week 5 bye, the Eagles have allowed more than 250 passing yards only once, and over 200 passing yards a total of three times. Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush completed 15 of 28 passes for 147 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions against the Eagles last week, which earned him just a 50.7 passer rating.
TRACY TOPS 1,000 YARDS
Nabers wasn't the only Giant rookie to etch his name in the NFL record books last week. Tyrone Tracy Jr. totaled 73 yards of offense against the Colts (59 rushing, 14 receiving), which brought his total to 1,057 yards on the season. Nabers and Tracy became the third rookie duo in NFL history, and only the second since the 1970 merger, to each have 1,000 yards from scrimmage. In 1960, the American Football League's Dallas Texans – who later became the Kansas City Chiefs – had Abner Haynes (1,451 yards) and Johnny Robinson (1,069) reach the 1K mark, while the 2006 New Orleans Saints had Reggie Bush (1,307) and Marques Colston (1,038) top 1,000 yards, as well.
Nabers and Tracy rank third and fourth, respectively, in yards of offense among all rookies in Giants history, trailing only Saquon Barkley (2,028 in 2018) and Beckham (1,340 in 2014). Heading into Week 18, Tracy ranks third among all rookies in rushing yards (780) and fifth in yards from scrimmage. The Eagles currently rank inside the top 10 rushing yards, rushing yards per attempt, and rushing touchdowns allowed on the year. However, the unit has allowed four of their last five opponents to run for more than 110 yards against them.
EAGLES TO REST SOME STARTERS
With their Week 17 win over the Cowboys, the Eagles locked themselves into the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. With nothing at stake in this weekend's game against the Giants, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni announced that they will rest some starters in the regular-season finale to get as healthy as possible before the start of the playoffs.
"We're going to rest some guys," Sirianni said on Wednesday. "There are going to be some guys that are resting. There are going to be some guys that are in reserve roles. You can't obviously rest everybody with the roster. That's our plan moving forward."
With starting quarterback Jalen Hurts still in concussion protocol and backup Kenny Pickett dealing with a rib injury, the Eagles are likely to start second-year quarterback Tanner McKee against the Giants. McKee made his NFL debut against the Cowboys last week and completed just three of four passes for 54 yards, but two of those passes went for touchdowns.
DEX MAKES 3RD STRAIGHT PRO BOWL
Dexter Lawrence's season ended on Thanksgiving Day, but the respect and admiration he's earned from his peers and fans has remained strong through the end of the season. The NFL announced Thursday that Lawrence, arguably the Giants' best player and most visible leader, was selected as a starting interior lineman to the 2025 NFL Pro Bowl Games.
This is Lawrence's third consecutive Pro Bowl selection. He is the first Giants player to be voted to three straight Pro Bowls since safety Landon Collins from 2016-18 and the first defensive lineman since Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan from 2001-03. Strahan was chosen for his seventh and final Pro Bowl in 2005. Lawrence is the franchise's first interior defensive lineman to earn three Pro Bowl selections since Rosie Grier in 1953, 1956 and 1960.
Despite missing the last four games, Lawrence remains the Giants' sacks leader entering their season finale Sunday in Philadelphia. Brian Burns is second on the team with 8.0 sacks and has tied Lawrence for the quarterback hits lead with 16. Lawrence was credited with 44 tackles (23 solo), eight tackles for loss and one forced fumble. He was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 2.
Burns was selected as a first alternate at outside linebacker, while rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers was chosen as a second alternate.
View rare photos of the historic rivalry between the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles.
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