Giants at Eagles: News and Notes

This is a big game that will likely shape the course of the NFC East.

If the Giants win they'll move to 8-1 with a big lead in the division. If the Eagles win they'll move to 6-3, tied with the Redskins for 2nd place and the division will still be wide open.

Either way, the Cowboys are stuck in the NFC East basement, where they'll stay (hopefully).

(All time are West Coast time):

5:26: Beautiful tip-and-pick by Mike Patterson! And then he gets a great return considering his *ahem* physique. Reminds me of the fumble return against the 9ers a few years ago.

5:28: FLY EAGLES, FLY! Good play call, great run. Jackson with an early touchdown. The Eagles have started on fire, but I've seen them fade down the stretch before.

5:38: Manning to Burress for a TD. The Eagles defense looked porous as the Giants had an almost-flawless drive.

5:41: Demps fumbles the kickoff, almost ensuring points for the Giants as they recover. The Eagles seem to be starting their implosion early.

The Giants convert the turnover into a field goal. 10-7 Giants.

5:50: McNabb goes 0-for-2. Eagles bring out their MVP, Punter Sav Rocca.

5:56: The Giants are moving the ball effortlessly. Asante Samual is getting beat all over the field so far in the game. It's tough to stop a team when they're running for seven and eight yards on every first down.

6:00: End of the first quarter. The Giants are off to an outstanding start. They've been flawless aside from the Manning interception on the first drive. This is going to be a beat down if the Eagles don't step it up on offense, defense and special teams.

6:02: Giants with another TD. The Eagles pressure isn't getting to Manning in time. The Giants are going a good job of managing the rush. The game may hinge on this next Eagle drive.

6:04: Demps making up for an early fumble bringing the ball out near the 50. The Eagles need points here. A field goal keeps them alive, a touchdown keeps it competitive. McNabb can't afford to go 0-for on this drive.

6:09: The Eagles go three-and-out again. This game is all but over. Only a heads-up play by Curtis swatting an almost guaranteed INT to the ground even allowed the Eagles to punt. This O-line is getting outclassed.

It's up to the Philly coaches to make adjustments to give McNabb better protection.

6:16: Philly's rush finally hits home as Cole and Patterson swarm Manning for a sack. Cole has been a split-second late all game, but he finally gets there. This is the second positive defensive play for the Eagles in the game.

Now someone can step up on the offensive side. (Maybe Jackson should play QB all game.)

COOL STAT: The Cowboys are 5-3 and in last place in the division. The first time a team has had a winning record and been last in their division since 1935.

6:26: Philly can't afford a slow start, these aren't the Seahawks.

Eagles force a fumble, recovered by Patterson. If the Eagles win Patterson deserves MVP
honors for the game.

6:30: Jackson gets hit about 5-yards out of bounds. I didn't see the flags on TV at first, so I was scratching my head

McNabb gets drilled into the ground again. When are the coaches going to address the protection issues?

Jason Avant with a solid reception, running hard for the Touchdown. McNabb is finally starting to warm up. The Eagles now have 14 points on 2 turnovers. They're back in the game, but the defense needs to keep them there.

6:38: Eli Manning throws the ball into the ground at his feet to avoid the sack. Isn't that intentional grounding. He was in the tackle box, didn't get the ball past the line of scrimmage and it didn't look like there was a receiver in the area.

Great hit by Joselio Hanson, knocking the ball loose and forcing a punt.

The Giants punt away from Jackson again. They're content forcing the Eagles to win it on offense. So far the Eagles aren't responding.

6:41: McNabb underthrows Jackson and it's picked by Sam Madison. The Giants are headed towards sure points again. The Eagles are praying to hold them to another field goal.

6:54: Ross's coverage on Curtis at the end of the half was suspect. There could have been a flag for defensive holding or even interference, but the refs didn't see it that way. I don't really mind how refs call the game as long as it's consistent. If they start flagging coverage like that later then it gets frustrating.

Ultimately, though, I think McNabb threw it out of reach to stop the clock and let the kicking team get on the field for the easy three. The Giants have a three point lead at the half.

2nd Half:

7:08: Demps with another good return. He lets the ball go at the end but scoops it up quickly. He may have been down anyway.

The Eagles need to block better. Block for the run and the pass. Right now the O-line is getting overwhelmed.

McNabb gets drilled AGAIN, but manages to complete a nice pass to DeSean Jackson.

7:12: Giants bring a blitz, McNabb lobs it to the corner for Baskett, catch, Touchdown! I think Andy might be Reid-ing my blog. (badump-ch!) The blocking was much better on that drive, Buckhalter and Westbrook had room to run and produced some good gains and McNabb had time to throw (barely). It all culminates in a score.

7:23: The Eagles are still giving up big yards on the ground and through the air. They should at least concentrate on shutting one aspect down. Asante Samuel goes down with an injury. Lito Shepperd was nursing a groin injury and to my knowledge hasn't played in this game. The Eagles can't afford to lose corners.

7:30: Manning is flagged for illegal forward pass. I thought it was a good call, Al Michaels and John Madden thought it was a good call, but Tom Caughlin challenged.

The rule is the Quarterback's entire body has to be past the line of scrimmage, but I don't think it counts unless you have a foot planted behind the line. I think this call is going to stand.

7:34: I was wrong. I don't necessarily agree that there was enough on the replay to prove it, but my opinion doesn't matter.

7:36: Jacobs pounds the ball in. Logic would dictate the Eagles wouldn't be able to stop him, and they didn't. Good challenge by Coughlin. Taking another look at the illegal forward pass call. I still don't see what the refs did. I don't think that play should have been overturned.

I don't think there was irrefutable evidence that it was a legal pass.

7:42: The Eagles are up to their old, ineffective tricks. I'm predicting a Giants win unless the defense can hold.

Greg Lewis runs into the punt returner before the ball gets there. He gets flagged for 15-yards for fair catch interference. Stupid penalties like that never help your team.

7:45: Facemask. Another 15 yards. It seemed like Bradley got the shoulder pad on the replay, but Jacob's head did swing around.

The Eagles are still playing terribly against the run. Have they stopped a back in the backfield yet? Not likely.

The Giants running backs are having their way with the defense. The Eagles have fallen a long way from their top-ranked run defense.

8:02: Omar Gaither forces a fumble, but the ball bounces out of bounds. Giants retain possession.

Jacobs hurdles another defender. You wonder why he's laying himself out there so often. He's already fumbled once of a big midair hit.

The Eagles are finally cramming up to stop the run. The Giants should be in clock-kill mode now. They're already in field goal range and have the chance to take as much time off the clock as possible.

More Eagles penalties are only helping keep the Giants' drive alive.

8:05: Manning takes the Giants' second timeout of the half. Let's hope that doesn't come back to bite them later in the game. It doesn't look as though it's going to at this point, though.

8:08: Jacobs loses the ball, but he's clearly down. Andy Reid challenges the play. Stupid move. The play is going to stand and the Eagles are going to lose a timeout. At the rate they're going they're going to need all their timeouts. This is far more foolish than Manning burning two TOs early.

Everyone in the country saw a Jacobs run up the middle and the Eagles still couldn't stop it. Barring a miracle this game is over. The Eagles are dying a slow and painful death.

8:12: Unfortunately Reid is going to lose another challenge and another TO. Jacobs fumbled the ball again, but I think he was across the goal line and in for a touchdown. This was worthy of a challenge, even though I think the Eagles are going to lose again. ANDY, You shouldn't have challenged the last one! FOOL!

8:19: DeSean Jackson is a natural receiver, catching a big pass downfield. The Eagles need to move this ball quickly if they want to win this game. They have 1 timeout left and the clock is approaching 7:30 minutes.

Encroachment penalties can only help them though.

8:21: McNabb and DeSean Jackson are the only two offensive players who have any interest in winning this game. Or even showing up.

And on the flip side, Mike Patterson's the only defender who decided to show up tonight.

8:25: The Eagles go for it on 4th down - that's really the only option they have. Now there's a choice, with 4:00 minutes left and only 1 TO do you kick it deep and hope the defense steps up or do you go for the onside kick?

Usually you'd go deep, but the Eagles haven't been able to even slow the Giants running backs tonight - let alone stop, so an onside kick is very likely at this point.

Ultimately, though, if you miss an onside kick then the game is - for all intents and purposes - over. I think you kick it deep and pray.

8:28: The Eagles choose to kick it deep. Now the defense needs to channel their performances from weeks 1-4.

Not going to happen when you're allowing 8 yards every first down.

Ward stopped for a gain of 0ne, bringing up third and one. The Eagles need to stop it here.

TEY DO IT! AND THE BALL IS LOOSE! Giants maintain possession, but they have to punt. Money says they punt away from Jackson.

8:32: The Eagles are giving me indigestion. Offsides on a punt. Almost giving the Giants another chance.

Now's the chance for Donovan McNabb to prove that he's still a top-3 quarterback in this league.

8:37: With 2:10+ seconds the Eagles elect to wait for the 2-minute warning. Not a bad choice, the difference is a matter of 1 play, and it's smarter to wait and get the right 3rd down play than just chucking it up.

The Eagles have the chance to win this. A thrilling game, worthy of primetime.

GAME OVER!

I am through defending Andy Reid. 3rd and 2 and he dials up 2 unsuccesful runs. MORON!

It's going to take a miracle now.

Andy Reid's seat wasn't hot before, but it is now.