PHILADELPHIA — Eli Manning recalls whenever the Giants meet up with the Eagles “it always seems like it’s a tight game.’’ Justin Tuck says the mark of a “true rivalry’’ is based on the significance of the games to the rise and fall of a season.
“Going forward, I see it the same way,’’ Tuck said.
Going forward arrives tonight at Lincoln Financial Field, as the Giants and Eagles, both owning 2-1 records attained in very different manners, renew what recently has been a one-sided duel in the Eagles’ favor, in what usually is a battle for NFC East supremacy. The Eagles got blown out last week in Arizona, and the Giants overwhelmed the Panthers in Carolina, so the perception pendulum has swung to the Giants heading into this affair, with the Eagles eager to swing it back around.
Manning, who is on a major roll, described the atmosphere as “tough’’ and “loud’’ and called the Philadelphia fans “unique.’’ But, Manning added, “It can be a fun place to play.’’
Or a house of horrors.
“Obviously, there’s a lot of animosity between the two teams because of the way some of the games have turned out,’’ Osi Umenyiora said. “They’re desperate for a win right now, obviously we’re more desperate for a win ourselves, so it’s going to be a great game.’’
Once again, the Giants are missing key players. Receiver Hakeem Nicks (foot/knee) will miss his second straight game, putting the onus on Domenik Hixon and last week’s revelation, Ramses Barden, to make plays down the field. Valuable rookie cornerback Jayron Hosley (hamstring) is also out, and as a result, Prince Amukamara makes his first NFL start. The Giants have to deal with Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy and a whole bunch of Eagles weapons thus far derailed only by their own mistakes.
A look inside the game:
BEST BATTLE
Eagles DE Jason Babin vs. Giants RT Sean Locklear: Babin wrecked a Giants comeback last season with a late sack, one of the
18 sacks he amassed. He’s relentless in his pursuit of the quarterback and already has 21⁄2 sacks this season. Locklear, a veteran addition, is back on his natural side and has been solid in pass protection, but this is his greatest challenge yet with his new team.
GOT THEIR NUMBER
This heated and hated rivalry has been intensely close and strangely streaky, with the Eagles enjoying the most recent domination. The Giants have lost seven of the past eight to their neighbors to the south, as the Eagles since 2008 have piled points and heartache on the Giants.
DON’T HOLD BACK, ATTACK
Don’t send pressure at Vick, because he will burn the blitz with his legs or his arm. That was the conventional thinking, as for years “contain’’ was the accepted way to deal with Vick’s unique skill-set. That is not the case any longer, as defenses are coming hard at Vick, consequences be damned. Last season, the Giants sent safety Antrel Rolle on blitzes to go after Vick, forcing him to make quick decisions and get the ball out of his hands. That’s why Rolle’s health — he has a sore left knee — is a key element tonight.
“I think more teams are just attacking him or just blitzing, blitzing, blitzing and just trying to get to him as often as possible and that seems to be the game plan,’’ Umenyiora said.
TIGHT END GAME
A tight end tied for the team lead in receptions? Brent Celek and DeSean Jackson both have 14 catches and Celek actually leads the Eagles with 258 receiving yards. He will attract a ton of attention from linebackers Michael Boley and Jacquian Williams. Both have the speed to deal with deep coverage. The Eagles don’t want to have to use Celek as an added blocker to help protect Vick from the on-rushing Giants defensive line, as that takes away a key cog in the passing game.
BIRDS CHANGE THEIR STRIPES:
There was a dramatic shift in the way the Eagles defense last season came at the Giants from one game to the next. Firing away against heavy pressure, Eli Manning in a 29-16 victory at the Linc created huge pass plays, hitting Brandon Jacobs for 40 yards and Victor Cruz for 78 yards for a quick 14-0 lead. Two months later, having learned their lesson, the Eagles quit on the blitz and went with the muscle and left MetLife Stadium 17-10 winners.
“They blitzed us once in the second game and we hit Victor for 47 yards. … That was the only blitz we got the entire second game,’’ offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said. “It’s amazing the difference in approach that they had. It was as different as you’d get. The success they had you’d anticipate that would be their general feeling going into it.’’
THE REPLACEMENTS:
Last time out it was Barden and Andre Brown coming up with career performances against the Panthers. Both will be used again, and it will be interesting to see how effective Ahmad Bradshaw is coming off a disc problem in his neck and how the carries are distributed, because Brown is averaging 5.6 yards per carry.
paul.schwartz@nypost.com