Records: Giants 2-1; Eagles 2-1
Line: Eagles by 2 points
TV announcers: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya (NBC)
Radio: 97.3, 94.1 FM, 610 AM
Forecast: Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers. High of 66 degrees (weather.com)
David Weinberg's pick: Eagles bounce back with a strong performance. Eagles 24, Giants 21 (season record: 1-2)
Last time met: Eagles backup quarterback Vince Young threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Riley Cooper with 2 minutes, 45 seconds left in regulation to give the Eagles a 17-10 victory over the Giants at MetLife Stadium on Nov. 20, 2011. Young started in place of Michael Vick, who missed the game with broken ribs. Young threw for 258 yards with two TD passes and three interceptions.
Eagles' best-case scenario: They rebound from a terrible performance in Arizona to beat one of their biggest rivals. Former safety Brian Dawkins delivers a stirring pregame speech to the team. The offensive line allows Vick time to throw three TD passes and no interceptions. Running back LeSean McCoy rushes for 100 yards and a TD. Cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie each intercept Giants quarterback Eli Manning.
Eagles' worst-case scenario: They continue to struggle and suffer a second straight loss. The Giants defense punishes Vick with five sacks before he has to leave with a rib injury. Rookie Nick Foles throws two interceptions. Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw rushes for 100 yards. Manning burns the Eagles for three TD passes and is not sacked. Place-kicker Alex Henery misses two field goals.
Keep an eye on: Giants tight end Martellus Bennett (No. 85). He has emerged as one of Manning's favorite targets with 15 catches for 185 yards and a team-high three receiving touchdowns.
Notable numbers: Giants lead series 83-75-2, but Eagles have won 7 of last 8 meetings. ... Vick is 3-2 all-time against the Giants, 2-1 with the Eagles. ... McCoy has rushed for more than 100 yards three times in the last four meetings. ... Eagles coach Andy Reid is 16-13 against the Giants. ... Giants coach Tom Coughlin is 9-9 against the Eagles. ... Eagles are 30-21 in prime-time games under Reid. ... Giants are 5-5 at Lincoln Financial Field.
Assessing the offense
Eagles: They rank fifth in total offense but also lead the league with 12 turnovers. Vick's troubles continued against the Cardinals. He lost two fumbles and suffered five sacks. McCoy was a nonfactor against the Cards. Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin is expected to play after missing last week's game with a hip contusion. Demetress Bell will start at left tackle again in place of injured King Dunlap. Dallas Reynolds will remain the starting center. Tight end Brent Celek and wide receiver DeSean Jackson have 14 receptions apiece. Mat McBriar has replaced Chas Henry as the punter and holder.
Giants: They played their best game of the season in a 36-7 victory at Carolina last week. They rank third in total offense behind a balanced attack. Manning has been especially impressive in the fourth quarters of games. Running back Ahmad Bradshaw will play this week and will team with surprise Andre Brown. Wide receiver Ramses Barden came up big while replacing injured Hakeem Nicks against the Panthers. Place-kicker Lawrence Tynes is 10-for-10 on field goals.
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Assessing the defenses
Eagles: They had a respectable effort against the Cards, allowing two touchdowns. If weakside linebacker Akeem Jordan is forced to miss the game, Jamar Chaney and Brian Rolle will split time. Middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans is their leader. End Jason Babin leads the team with 21/2 sacks. Rodgers-Cromartie has been solid while Asomugha has yet to make an impact.
Giants: They shut down Cam Newton and Carolina after struggling against Tampa Bay a week earlier. They have a deep and talented line led by ends Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora. Linebacker Michael Boley is tied for second in the NFL with three interceptions. If they have a weakness, it is in their secondary. They are ranked tied for 22nd in pass defense.
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Assessing the coaches
Eagles: Reid has yet to find a way to stop turnovers
Giants: Coughlin got the most out of some backups last week
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Intangibles
Eagles: Dawkins' ceremonies should have the team and fans fired up
Giants: Playing Sept. 20 gave them extra rest
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Other views
Paul Schwartz, New York Post
"There is no signage or plaque marking the significance of the site but Victor Cruz knows where and when it happened. Lincoln Financial Field is the home of the Eagles but it was where Cruz was born, in an NFL sense."
Key matchup
McCoy (25) vs. Umenyiora (72). The two have been waging a Twitter feud for the last two years. Mostly recently, McCoy labeled Umenyiora a "ballerina" during an ESPN episode of "E: 60" that aired Tuesday night. Last May, Umenyiora wished McCoy a "Happy Mother's Day."
Contact David Weinberg:
609-272-7186
