Friday, December 15, 2006

Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants Game Preview


From Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the New York Giants (7-6) host the Philadelphia Eagles (7-6). This battle for the playoffs will be broadcast on FOX at 4:00 PM, with Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver making the call.

Three keys for the Eagles to upend the Giants and continue the fight for playoff position:

1) STOP TIKI BARBER AND BRANDON JACOBS. I don’t mean to state the obvious here, but come on. The Eagles run stopping problems have been well documented here and everywhere else, and it’s pretty clear what the Giants’ offensive focus should be this week. Tiki Barber and Brandon Jacobs need to get at least 40 carries this game. There’s no reason for the Giants to do anything but run, and the Eagles have to be ready to stop it. With the exception of the week two meeting of these teams, Barber has always been a guy that kills the Eagles. No matter the offense around Tiki, the players on defense, the weather, stadium, importance of game, whatever, this guy just runs, and catches, all over the Eagles every time. If the Eagles are prepared to stop him (either through run blitzes or innovative personnel packages,) then they lose this game, plain and simple. Tiki is a better back than Ladell Betts. He’s better than Travis Henry. He’s better than Fred Taylor. He’s better than Joseph Addai. If the Eagles allow him to run over them like they did with those guys, this game will be over before the team bus arrives at the stadium.

2) PRESSURE ELI MANNING. Although he’s played better the last two games, it remains true that Eli crumbles under pressure. He’s easily rattled, with or without pressure. He’s prone to making mistakes. The Eagles need to do everything they can to disrupt his timing, make him uncomfortable in the pocket and make him throw the ball inaccurately. It’s become pretty clear that the Eagles can’t create pressure with just four guys now, even though the Giants’ pass protection is less than outstanding. Why Jim Johnson got away from blitzing I don’t know, but he has to dial up the pressure packages some more this week. Eli needs to be hit, Eli needs to be on the ground, and we have to make him lose his composure. If he has all day to stand in the pocket, he can find Plaxico, Shockey, Tiki out the backfield, anyone, just as easily as any other QB in the league. He can’t have an easy time finding his other playmakers, or its going to be a long day for the secondary.

3) NO WASTED OPPORTUNITIES. This starts with simple things on play to play basis, like having a chance to knock Barry Cofield down, tackle Tiki in the backfield, hit Eli, catch a pass downfield, etc. to big things like not wasting offensive drives and settling for field goals and not blowing a 21 point lead in the 4th quarter. The Giants are a better team than the Eagles, and a team can’t pull off an upset by squandering chances to make big plays. The Eagles need to take advantage of every chance they get, and that includes scoring points off of turnovers, making stops on third and fourth downs, etc. Maybe use Westbrook on punt returns. All the stops have to be pulled out to get a win and remain in great position for the playoffs.

Three key matchups that could determine the outcome:

1) BOB WHITFIELD VS. DARREN HOWARD. The Eagles pass rush has been invisible as of late, particularly Howard, but against Bob Whitfield, anything can happen. In just five starts, he’s given up three sacks, had countless penalties, and has allowed Eli to be pressured consistently. Howard has to have a big game here. He’s going against a guy that can’t pass block at a position where protection is a premium ability. We paid him the big bucks, now it’s time for him to finally make the big plays for us. He has a favorable matchup, and he needs to step up and take advantage of that.

2) LITO SHEPPARD VS. PLAXICO BURRESS. Last meeting, Sheppard was out with his ankle injury, and we were left with Joselio Hanson playing a lot of minutes. Now with Sheppard back in the lineup and William Peterson in the fold, I expect better coverage across the board. I expect our best corner on their best receiver. Burress absolutely torched the Eagles’ secondary in week two, and Sheppard can’t let him and the passing game going again. With Toomer out, Burress will be relied on even more to make plays and help out Eli. Sheppard has to make sure to play a fundamentally sound game. Don’t let him beat you over the top, and time leaps well. Burress has an enormous size advantage, and Lito has to use his leaping ability and athleticism to compensate.

3) TOM COUGHLIN VS. COMPETENCE. The Giants are clearly one of the best teams in the league on paper, particularly at the skill positions. However, for whatever reason, their entire offense is misused. I don’t get it. I’m not going to research the Giants and figure out who does playcalling and what not, but there’s serious issues with the way the Giants are handled. Besides the stupid and frequent penalties, which come down from the coaching, the Giants never gameplan well. If the Giants want to win, Coughlin has to coach a good game. Tiki and Jacobs need to touch the ball and touch it often. Shockey needs to be used in the receiving game against the poor Eagle LBs. Eli can’t come out throwing 40 times. The players have to be used in ways best suited to their abilities. Eli can’t handle a game like that with that many passes. Shockey is a much better receiver than blocker. The skill players’ strengths need to be showcased, not hidden.

Three players for each team that need to play well:

PHI:

1) Jeremiah Trotter

2) Mike Patterson

3) Tra Thomas

NYG:

1) Osi Umenyiora

2) Tim Carter

3) Antonio Pierce

Number to remember:

  1. It’s the number of times FOX will show the Plaxico OT TD catch from week two during the broadcast.

Final score:

31-27 Eagles.

Garcia- 250 yards passing, 3 TD, 1 INT.

Westbrook- 150 total yards, 2 TD.

Stallworth- 100 receiving yards, 1 TD.

Manning- 250 yards passing, 1 TD, 2 INT.

Barber- 200 total yards, 2 TD.

Burress- 90 receiving yards, 1 TD.

And my NFL picks. Let’s forget the bad week I had last week, okay (6-11)?

Dallas (-4) over Atlanta- Parcells will get his team to bounce back after an ugly loss against the up and down Falcons.

New York Jets (+3.5) over Minnesota- Minnesota can’t string two good games in a row, and the Jets are fighting for their lives right now.

Cleveland (+11) over Baltimore- Neither team really has an explosive offense, and the rivals will play it close.

Houston (+11) over New England- The Patriots only do enough to win, they don’t blow teams out. Sometimes they don’t do enough to win either.

Buffalo (-1) over Miami- I still don’t trust Joey Harrington, and I guess I never will again.

Carolina over Pittsburgh- Thank God for flex scheduling. Otherwise this would’ve probably been a primetime game.

New Orleans (-10) over Washington- Brees will eat their struggling secondary alive. And those McAllister and Bush guys aren’t bad either.

Jacksonville (-3.5) over Tennessee- The Jaguars have the most disciplined, tough defense Vince Young has faced so far.

Tampa Bay (+14) over Chicago- I shouldn’t take the Bucs ever again, but I hate spreads this big.

Green Bay (-5.5) over Detroit- Kitna will be able to put up big numbers, but without a running game or defense, they’re toast.

Denver (-3) over Arizona- The Broncos are struggling, but not this much.

Philadelphia (+6) over New York Giants- Even if I didn’t think they were going to win, 6 points is a lot.

St. Louis (+2.5) over Oakland- How is it possible for these guys to be favored?

Kansas City (+9) over San Diego- The Chiefs have the offense to run step for step with the Chargers, but can they slow down LT at all?

Indianapolis (-3.5) over Cincinnati- It’s suicide to pick these guys after the last two weeks, but whatever. This will be an exciting game probably ruined by a lame celebrity guest.

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