Today’s game between the Giants and Eagles will have as much intrigue on the sidelines as it does between the lines. The teams are so familiar with each other after playing twice already this season that it will be up to their respective coordinators to concoct a game plan if they want to advance in the playoffs.
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To break down the strategic chess match, The Post spoke with ESPN analyst and former Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski this week. We pried him out of the film room to give us some insight into what each team will try today. For more analysis of today’s game from Jaws, check out “NFL Matchup” on ESPN.
brian costello@nypost.com
EAGLES OFFENSE VS. GIANTS DEFENSE
The Eagles are going to come out throwing. Donovan McNabb had 300 yards passing last week, and he will try to continue that trend today.
“They’re a passing team,” Jaworski said. “No matter what anyone in Philly wants them to be, that’s what Andy (Reid) is. He comes from the LaVell Edwards school at BYU and they’re a passing team.”
To that end, Jaworski said he expects Marty Mornhinweg to use Brian Westbrook and Correll Buckhalter together in the same backfield. Against the Vikings, they used the duo together on 15 of 60 snaps.
“It gets them more athletic personnel on the field and a chance for the big play,” Jaworski said. “That’s the key to this game – who’s able to get the most explosive plays.”
The Giants also can expect a few gimmicks from the Eagles. They used DeSean Jackson in the Wildcat formation against them in their second meeting.
Spagnuolo will try to disrupt McNabb with blitzes, specifically by bringing Antonio Pierce through the A-gap. The Giants blitzed McNabb just 13 times in their previous two meetings. McNabb went 7-of-13 with one touchdown in those situations, according to Jaworski.
“They want to get Donovan off his launch point,” Jaworski said. “With Antonio, they can get pressure up the middle.”
KEY PLAY: FREEING UP WESTBROOK
In the teams’ second meeting, Brian Westbrook (above) burned the Giants for a 40-yard pass in the fourth quarter.
On the play, the Giants were in a man-under two-deep coverage. Westbrook lined up next to McNabb in the shotgun, and came around the left end, chipping Mathias Kiwanuka before releasing into the middle of the field where Pierce was left one-on-one with him, and Westbrook was off to the races. Wide receiver Jason Avant ran a pattern across the field that took the Giants’ coverage with him, clearing space for Westbrook.
“(Terrell) Thomas blew the coverage,” Jaworski said. “If Thomas didn’t run across the field with Avant and stayed home, they would have been fine. Antonio got beat, but he should have help there.”
GIANTS OFFENSE VS. EAGLES DEFENSE
This is all about the running game. In the Giants’ victory in November, they rushed for 219 yards. But in the rematch, they gained just 88 yards on the ground.
“The Giants ran well in the second game, just not enough,” Jaworski said. “The offensive line of the Giants handled the Eagles in the first game. [It wasn’t] as effective in the second game.”
The key matchup in Jaworski’s eyes comes on the end of the line, where tight end Kevin Boss handled defensive end Trent Cole in the first meeting, but not in the second.
Kevin Jaworski also said he believes Gilbride will try to capitalize on the Eagles’ aggressive nature and use play-action. In the second game, Eli Manning had Domenik Hixon wide open on a play-action pass, but Hixon dropped the ball.
“The linebackers played downhill in the second game,” Jaworski said. “The wind had an effect, but I thought they’d be susceptible to play-action. If I’m game-planning these guys, I’d say, ‘Golly, they’re flying downhill.’ “
The Giants also can use their two-tight-end, two-running-back formation to create a favorable matchup. When they do this, Johnson takes cornerback Asante Samuel off the field and brings in safety Quintin Demps, a three-safety look. Manning could find openings.
“They’re all very aggressive,” Jaworski said. “The Giants need to take advantage of that.”
From Johnson’s perspective, he will be blitzing when he gets off the bus.
In the first two games, the Eagles blitzed Manning 21 times. He went 7-of-21 for 82 yards with one touchdown, one interception and no sacks, according to Jaworski. For the season, Manning has completed 51 percent of his passes against the blitz with four touchdowns, six interceptions and he has been sacked 15 times.
“They want to create negative plays and not let you do what you want to do,” Jaworski said of the Eagles’ defense.
Jim Johnson will pressure Manning with linebacker Stewart Bradley up the middle and by bringing defensive backs off the edge. If the Giants line up in a slot formation, expect the person lined up on the slot to be coming. The Giants will counter with misdirection runs and quick passes to keep the Eagles from teeing off.
KEY PLAY: JACOBS MISDIRECTION
In the teams’ first meeting, Brandon Jacobs (above) rumbled for a 20-yard run that showed the Giants’ penchant for misdirection.
On the play, guards Rich Seubert and Chris Snee each took a false step right, along with Jacobs. The Eagles’ linebackers started running to their left, and Seubert and Snee pulled the opposite way, leading to a long gain by Jacobs.
“It was perfect,” Jaworski said. “It was like it was choreographed by a dance team. The linebackers got sucked in. It was perfect misdirection. They got the linebackers to flow one way, then went the other.”