Over the past decade, NFC East match-ups have consistently been some of the best in football. The Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants have been at the center of many of them. This game should be no different, with each team toting a 9-4 record and in search of a division title. The Redskins and Cowboys are out of the race, so the winner of this game will put itself in great position to win the NFC East and challenge for a first round playoff bye. Plus, Michael Vick will be there.
1. Can the Giants Contain Michael Vick on the Ground?
Teams have started figuring out ways to stop Michael Vick from running wild, and as a result the Eagles are finding it more challenging to pull out victories. Philadelphia beat the Giants in their week 11 match-up, but New York did an excellent job of keeping Vick contained on the ground. The Eagles’ quarterback ran the ball 11 times for only 34 yards. More importantly, the Giants avoided giving up big runs on 3rd down, which can really deflate a secondary if it has done its job in locking down Vick’s passing options. Vick has shown he can still beat teams through the air, but it will be important for the G-Men to force him to beat them that way and do their best to keep him inside the pocket.
2. Can Eli Manning Protect the Ball?
The Philadelphia Eagles are 2nd best in the NFL with 30 takeaways. Eli Manning has thrown 19 interceptions this season, which is more than any other quarterback in the league. That’s what we call a recipe for disaster. Asante Samuel’s status for Sunday’s game is still up in the air, but the Eagles defense has held up well without him. If the Giants are to win this game, Manning has to prevent turnovers. The fact that Manning leads the NFL in interceptions despite a 9-4 record is a huge testament to New York’s defense. If he keeps throwing picks and putting them in bad situations, it will eventually come back to haunt them. There’s no better time than week 15 for Manning to start making better decisions with the ball.
3. The Giants Two-Headed Running Monster
Brandon Jacobs began the year bellyaching about his role in the Giants’ offense, but now that he’s accepted it he’s become a huge factor in their recent success. Jacobs has rushed for over 300 yards through the last three games and scored three touchdowns. He and Ahmad Bradshaw have 545 yards combined over that span and have averaged 6.1 yards per carry. With a defense that ranks 11th in the NFL against the run, the Eagles can be had on the ground. Anyone who has followed football this season knows that Michael Vick is Philadelphia’s most dangerous weapon. LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson are no slouches, either. If the Giants can continue to run the ball effectively and keep those three off the field, they’ll give themselves a great chance to win at home.
DeSean Jackson has missed practice this week with a foot injury and is listed as day-to-day. If he’s unable to go, that would obviously be a huge hit to the Eagles’ big play ability. Asante Samuel was limited in practice Thursday but it looks like he could finally play again, which would be a nice boost for Philadelphia’s secondary. LeSean McCoy’s shoulder injury no longer seems to be an issue, but it’s something to keep an eye on against a Giants team that has banged up a lot of people this season.
New York is still hurting at wide receiver. Steve Smith was placed on injured reserve and will need surgery on his knee. Mario Manningham is battling a hip flexor injury but has vowed to play against the Eagles. It obviously helps that Hakeem Nicks is back. Linebackers Keith Bulluck and Michael Boley were limited in practice on Thursday, although they did not appear on the injury report. The Giants would certainly like to have all of their top linebackers healthy if they plan to contain Vick and McCoy.
Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy, and DeSean Jackson are all must-starts every week with the way they’ve been playing. Jackson is making 60-yard touchdown catches a regularity while Vick has become a fantasy monster because of his ability to run and throw. Aside from those three, I don’t like many other Eagles this week. Jeremy Maclin has fallen off a bit lately and the Giants rank 2nd in the NFL against the pass. Brent Celek has been a major disappointment after showing a lot of promise last season.
The Eagles are one of those bend but not break type defenses, which can create some decent fantasy numbers for the opposition. As we mentioned before, Manning has thrown a ton of picks but he also manages to find the end zone. He’s a decent option at home this week if you need him. With the way they’ve been running, both Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs are safe starts. Bradshaw normally racks up the yards and Jacobs punches it in, but they have each been doing both lately. Hakeem Nicks is the best Giants wide receiver to start and I’d probably stay away from Mario Mannigham even if he plays. A hip flexor injury can be a real nag, especially for a receiver. Kevin Boss scored a touchdown last week against the Vikings but has been extremely inconsistent and I wouldn’t recommend starting him if you have another option.
I’m tempted to go with the Giants at home, especially since the Eagles got the better of them earlier this year. However, I can’t get the thought of Eli Manning throwing interceptions and Michael Vick making huge plays out of my head. The game should be very close, but I think Philadelphia’s big play ability will allow them to come out on top. Vick, McCoy, and Jackson could be the best group of playmakers in the NFL and I think they’ll get it done once again with a division crown on the line.
