PHILADELPHIA — We interrupt the New York Giants’ one-game winning streak to bring you the following special presentation entitled “The Year That Wasn’t.’’
It has been a full calendar year — OK, 364 days if you want to be precise — since the Giants accomplished what used to be commonplace and expected of them. It’s been that long since the Giants won a game on the road, and that long since the Giants actually won two games in a row.
It was Oct. 28, 2012, when they narrowly held on (by the length of Dez Bryant’s finger touching down out of the end zone) to beat the Cowboys 29-24 in Arlington, Texas. That put the first-place Giants at 6-2 and riding high. What’s transpired since then can only be described as the decline of a franchise. They are 4-11, nearly a full season worth of inferior play, and they lug an eight-game road losing streak into Lincoln Financial Field.
Something has to give, though, as the Eagles, somewhat resurgent at 3-4 after winning just four games last season, have lost an unthinkable nine straight at home. The last team they beat at home, naturally, was the Giants. This is the first time in NFL history a team with a road losing streak of at least eight games plays on the road against a team with a home losing streak of at least eight games.
How do the Giants regain a hint of that long-lost Road Warrior mentality?
“Go win,’’ Tom Coughlin said.
A look inside the game:
BEST BATTLE
Eagles RB LeSean McCoy vs. Giants MLB Jon Beason
The Giants did a great job on McCoy (20-46, one TD) the first time around but Beason wasn’t in on the action — in his Giants debut he played just seven special teams snaps. He quickly will become a centerpiece on defense and will have to lead the charge against the ultra-shifty McCoy, who leads the NFL in rushing with 685 yards.
SECOND THE MOTION
The Giants are first to get the Eagles a second time, the first defense to get a rematch with the high-octane offense Chip Kelly imported from Oregon. In the first encounter, the Giants did not do a bad job dealing with the breakneck tempo.
“It’s always difficult to prepare against them because they’re a pretty dynamic offense,’’ Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said. “Having played them once helps you as far as tempo is concerned. You know what to expect with the fast-paced offense and how they operate a little bit. So, yes, having prior experience does help you some.’’
BE LIKE MIKE
It almost looks like a misprint. Michael Vick in the first half of the first game against the Giants had 79 rushing yards, an average of 11.3 yards on his seven scrambles or designed runs. That was a ton, even for him. All that running around took a toll, though, as he could not play in the second half because of a strained left hamstring and hasn’t played since, missing the past two games. He’s back, but no one is saying he is fully healed. The Eagles need him, with Nick Foles out of commission with a concussion and rookie Matt Barkley the only other option at quarterback.
“If Vick plays, he’ll be ready,’’ Antrel Rolle said. “If I know Mike like I know Mike, if he plays, he’s going to be ready.’’
WHAT’S THE RUSH?
Peyton Hillis was a nice story last week, but let’s face it, averaging two yards a carry is not going to cut it. Sure, Hillis was impressive picking up the system and making it through 48 snaps and caught the ball effectively out of the backfield, but the Giants are the 31st-ranked run offense for a reason. With Brandon Jacobs (hamstring) sidelined again, it’s the Hillis and rookie Michael Cox show once more against a Philly defense that has not allowed a 100-yard rusher all season. Gulp.
GO FOURTH
The Giants were within 22-21 of the Eagles three weeks ago after Eli Manning threw not one, but two third-quarter touchdown passes to Rueben Randle. What Manning giveth, he also taketh away, as his three interceptions on three consecutive fourth-quarter possessions doomed the Giants and turned a tight game into a 36-21 loss. Last week, for the first time all season, Manning did not have an interception —although he could have had three and definitely should have had one — in the 23-7 victory over the Vikings.
“Obviously we have to figure out a way to win the fourth quarters,’’ Manning said. “We have to find ways to hang in there, have a better start, finish some drives, and really pick up our game in the fourth quarter and find a way to win.’’
UNTOUCHABLE
It sure looked as if DeSean Jackson had his way in the first meeting with seven receptions for 132 yards, including a 56-yard catch-and-run and a 5-yard touchdown. Yet cornerback Terrell Thomas recalls, “In all fairness, I thought we did a great job on him. I thought our game plan against Jackson two weeks ago worked really well, and hopefully we can carry that through.”
Thomas may have a point. On the 56-yard reception, cornerback Trumaine McBride was step-for-step with Jackson and whiffed on what should have been an interception. The key against the speed-demon Jackson? Be physical with him.
“It definitely affects him. He’s a guy that doesn’t want to get touched, and when you let him get rolling he’s definitely a big-play wide receiver,’’ Thomas said.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
44
Plays of 20 yards of more by the Eagles, which leads the NFL. The next closest big-play offense is the Broncos at 37.
3
Punt-return touchdowns allowed by the Giants this season, the most since 1959 (4).
610
Receiving yards this season by Philadelphia’s DeSean Jackson, which leads NFC. He is second among active receivers with a 17.3 career average per catch (minimum 200 receptions).
PAUL’S PICK
Just because the Giants got off the schneid last week doesn’t mean they’ve solved many, or any of their problems. Their offense remains a grin-and-bear-it proposition and figures to be too reliant on Eli Manning and the passing game. Maybe Michael Vick won’t be his ultra-mobile self, which would help.
EAGLES 27, GIANTS 17