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The Giants bit their lips back in the summer when the Eagles, after their free-agent feeding frenzy, were anointed as no less than the kings of the NFC East. Heck, they even anointed themselves with a Dream Team designation that now sounds comical around these parts, and just plain sad down in Philadelphia.
“That’s why you don’t label a team that early in the season,’’ Giants linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka said. “There’s so many things that can happen. They can still come back and have a good strong finish, but as of right now people are looking at them kind of sideways for saying that.’’
Looking at them sideways will become looking at the remains of a dead Eagles season if the Giants tonight attend to business. Back in Week 3, the Giants showed what they can be and took great delight in disposing of the Eagles, 29-16, at Lincoln Financial Field.
The main concern for the first-place Giants (6-3) is staying ahead of the Cowboys in the division, but an added benefit this weekend is thrusting the dagger into the hearts of the season for the Eagles, who are 3-6 and one loss away from irrelevance.
The Eagles will go without Michael Vick (two cracked ribs), and Vince Young will get the start at quarterback.
“They don’t like us, we don’t like them,’’ tight end Jake Ballard said. “It’s a huge game for them to turn their season.’’
A look inside the game:
BEST BATTLE
Eagles CBs Nnamdi Asomugha and Asante Samuel vs. Giants WRs Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham: This talented corner duo comes at it from different angles. Asomugha is up in press coverage, interception-happy Samuel sits back and reads the quarterback. Nicks rarely sees single-coverage any more, but the Eagles may be confident enough in their corners to dare to try it, which will open lanes for Eli Manning to find Victor Cruz and Ballard.
GROUNDED WINGS
It wasn’t long ago when critics of Eagles coach Andy Reid pointed to his pass-reliant offense that didn’t care much for pounding away on the ground. Well, the Eagles lead the league in rushing at 171.6 yards per game, although that production is inflated by Vick’s 535 rushing yards, which would lead the Giants but is far short of LeSean McCoy’s NFC-best 906 rushing yards.
McCoy has the best assortment of jukes and spins in the NFL and is a missed tackle waiting to happen. He gained 128 yards against the Giants back in late September, and now the Giants don’t have their best linebacker, Michael Boley, who is out with a hamstring injury.
“McCoy is one of those guys, which his shiftiness, with his speed, his acceleration he creates space,’’ defensive tackle Chris Canty said. “And he uses it very well. You see the number of missed tackles, you can count ’em. You break seven, eight tackles, there’s only 11 guys on the field. It’s just amazing how many tackles he consistently breaks and his consistent production, particularly against NFC East teams.’’
STRANGE BUT TRUE
The Giants are 6-3 and have outscored opponents this season by a total of just seven points. The Eagles are 3-6 and have outscored their opponents by 17 points.
COME EAST, YOUNG MAN
Young has thrown one pass this season and it was intercepted. He’s next in line behind Vick and it should be fascinating to see if he can dust off the rust on his arm and legs and inflict damage. Young hasn’t started a game in exactly one year.
“I see a guy that wins games,’’ defensive end Dave Tollefson said of Young. “You look at his win-loss record, it’s pretty good. Is he the most prototypical quarterback? No. But he’s a winner and he’s been that since college.’’
REVENGE ON THE BIRDS
Is payback on the minds of the Giants after last season’s epic and historic collapse? No one can forget the 31-10 lead that became an unfathomable 38-31 loss after the Eagles scored 28 points in the last 7:28, punctuated by DeSean Jackson’s punt return touchdown as time expired. That loss ruined the Giants’ season, and now they have a chance to do unto the Eagles what did the Eagles did unto them.
“I’m sure I’ve said this before, that it will stick with me for the rest of my life,’’ Justin Tuck said.
“That is always going to be a sad part in my heart, no question,’’ Brandon Jacobs added. “You have to move on. We should have beaten them then but things didn’t work out that way for us, as everyone knows.’’
TARGET PRACTICE
Vick’s absence has overshadowed a huge loss for the Eagles, as their top receiver, Jeremy Maclin (46-612, four TDs) has a shoulder injury and won’t play. That means old friend Steve Smith gets increased time, and you know he wants to prove that, despite his meager output (10 catches for 110 yards), the Giants made a mistake by trying to re-sign him on the cheap. It also means that Jackson, back after sitting a one-game benching for missing a team meeting, gets more footballs his way.
PAUL’S PREDICTION
The Giants have relied on comeback fourth-quarter wins. Conversely, the Eagles have blown five fourth-quarter leads. Think this might be a tight game? Eagles are wounded and reeling, but they are never easy to beat. The Giants have to make sure the better quarterback comes out ahead.
GIANTS 21, EAGLES 17
paul.schwartz@nypost.com