At 1pm eastern the Giants will face the Eagles in a battle for first place. Four hours later the Phillies will take on the Yankees in game 4 of the world series. This has to go down as one of the biggest days in Philadelphia sports history. Philly fans have long been known as some of the rowdiest (to put in nicely) fans in America. This is a fanbase that booed Santa Clause and pelted him with ice balls (the irony here is that the original Santa didn’t show up so they asked a fan to do it), the first every jail in a sports stadium was built in veterans stadium and they cheered as Michael Irvin left the field strapped down in a stretcher. If the Eagles lose at 1pm I would hate to be a Yankee fan in Citizens Bank Park.

Colin Cowherd had an interesting perspective on the Philly fanbase a couple weeks back. His premise was this, Philly has one of the lowest college graduation rates in all the major sports market. Therefore fans are working more hours for less money and put a much greater stock in their teams and are far more bitter when their teams lose. Remember this are Cowherd’s theories not mine. Slightly insulting, but perhaps slightly true?  An o for 2 on Sunday and we may get a glimpse of the truth.

Original post 2:46pm

Giants fans and analysts alike (including myself) have been clamoring for more Hakeem Nicks. Well this week we may just get our wishes. Tom Coughlin revealed that WR Mario Manningham is suffering through a shoulder injury and is  questionable for Sunday. Manningham did not practice today, which is not a good sign. Coughlin could go with the same receivers who were on the field in last years playoff loss instead (minus Toomer) , Steve Smith and Domenik Hixon, but even if Nicks doesn’t start he is likely to see more snaps then he has all year.

An injury is not exactly how you’d like your guy to get on the field, but someone has to be Wally Pip right? There will certainly be some angry fans if Hixon gets the start over Nicks, but I wouldn’t be surprised, just upset. Coughlin has always been slow to move youth into a major role, but it’s quite clear that Nicks’s performance has pushed Coughlin to the brink. Put him in Coach!

Good news for Nicks, he practiced with the first unit.

T Kareem McKenzie (groin) practiced fully today and RB Ahmad Bradshaw returned on a limited basis.

Updated Post 4pm

Mario Manningham had this to say about his injury:

“I’ll be out there,” he said. “No question. I’m going to be all right.”

Manningham said the injury is a “little bruise” suffered when he fell trying to catch a pass. The receiver added it’s “No big deal.”

Nicks’s start may have to wait, but we will find out Sunday.

Brian Westbrook has still not been cleared to play and while listed as questionable…it seems less and less likely he will play.

Some quick notes from the Eagles camp…..

The skinny…………

The opening line was Eagles -3, but bettors have jumped on New York the past few days, betting the line down to pick-em.  The possible absence of Philly RB Brian Westbrook (concussion), a notorious Giant-killer, has increased the Giants’ chances this Sunday.  After the hearings on Capitol Hill this week regarding the NFL’s treatment and prevention strategies on the subject, it is difficult to believe the Eagles will dress Westbrook.  They are calling it a game time decision, but it is very unlikely that he will play.

Down the turnpike………

Andy Reid’s crew has gone through quite a few changes since we have seen them last.  First off, the Eagles’ legendary defensive coordinator, Jim Johnson, left the team and eventually succumbed to cancer, passing away in late July.  He was replaced by longtime assistant, Sean McDermott.  The heart and soul of the Philly defense, safety Brian Dawkins, left via free-agency.

Then the Eagles reached into the fire and signed Michael Vick, upping the ante in the NFC.  Many pundits penciled them in as the favorites to win the conference.

That perception has changed somewhat in the past several weeks.  The Eagles may have won four of their first six games, but it’s their two losses that have defined them.  Their over-aggressive, blitzing defense was blown up at home by this year’s juggernaut, New Orleans, yielding 41 points in a shocking defeat.  Then came the indignity of losing to the clueless Raiders in Oakland two weeks ago.  No one has provided any answers for that one.

To be fair, the Eagles have had some issues, especially injuries.  Two starting linebackers – Stewart Bradley and Omar Gaither – are out for the season.  Also out for the season are T Shawn Andrews and rookie TE Cornelius Griffin, who the Eagles had planned to use extensively.  Donovan McNabb also missed two games with a broken rib.

The other issues are all technical. What’s going on at QB?  We know McNabb is the man, but the Eagles have sent out multiple signals that they would like it to be someone else.

It can’t be Vick. That signing has yet to pay off.  The Eagles have the wildest of wildcats in Vick, but there has been no spark when he enters the lineup.  One reason is the limited scope in which he is used.  The Eagles apparently don’t have a clue of what Vick is all about.  They don’t have a comprehensive package of plays designed for him.  It’s too late to trade him and it may be too late to salvage him for this year. Go figure.

The passing game also seems to click better with Kevin Kolb, than it does with McNabb.  Go figure on that one, too.  Kolb thrived during McNabb’s absence, which will only create controversy should Donovan go into one of his patented swoons.

The loss of Dawkins has hurt more than the Eagles had imagined.  He was their leader, their Ray Lewis.  One would be hard-pressed to think that the Eagles could get back to the Super Bowl without him especially now that no one has stepped up as a leader.

Some good things are happening, too……

Kolb has proved that he can play at the NFL level, quelling the fears of management. He threw for 716 yards and 4 TDs in the two games he filled in for McNabb.

Rookie RB LeSean McCoy has shown that he may be able to fill Westbrook’s shoes.  We’ll find out.

WR DeSean Jackson has become one of the league’s most explosive all-around threats.  Rookie WR Jeremy Maclin has also chipped in with some big plays.

DE Trent Cole has 6.5 sacks and is playing at a Pro Bowl level.

I missed this in Monday’s press conference but just saw it today. Go to the 5 minute mark and you will hear this exchange:

Q. When you let the play clock wind down to one second doesn’t that give the defensive linemen a jump on the ball?

A – Coughlin. How do they know there is only one second?

Q. Because they can see the clock.

A. (Coughlin gets down in a three-point stance as if a defensive linemen) You must be one of those guys who has a great neck.

More Practice Notes

CB/ Nickel Kevin Dockery did not practice  Weds due to personal matters, but was back today. LBAntonio Pierce (ankle) was back in pads today but was limited. T Kareem McKenzie (groin) practiced fully.

On the Eagles side – WR DeSean Jackson (foot) practiced fully after missing practice on Weds as did DE Darren Howard (ankle/calf). Brian Westbrook did not practice, but coach Reid claims he is getting better and will be a gametime decision.

Even if Westbrook were out it is unlikely the Eagles would want the information to get out allowing the Giants to game plan for it. Although the Giants may treat rookie RB LeSean McCoy the same way they would Westbrook.

1. Pressure McNabb

Yep, for probably the fortieth time in a row, the #1 key is blitzing the QB. As Mr. Jacks kindly pointed out, Donovan McNabb has been one of the worst QBs this season when being blitzed, with a minuscule 39.6 passer rating.

With the Giants hurting in the secondary, it is more important than ever to have an effective front four. The front four has been a disappointment given the amount of talent they have, but they will eventually find their stride. This defense is built on pressuring the QB, and until they do so effectively, they will not be the dominant unit we were all expecting.

2. Pretend McCoy is Westbrook

Although all-pro and Giants killer Brian Westbrook is not likely to play, that doesn’t mean that the Giants’ defense is off the hook. Rookie LeSean McCoy is a more-than-capable running back who was compared to Westbrook during the NFL draft. If the Giants take the Eagles’ running game for granted solely because Westbrook will not be there, they may get severely burned.

3. Figure Out The Secondary

After a terrible performance against the Saints, the Giants did a better job defending the Cardinals’ passing attack. But the Giants’ secondary is still not where it needs to be if the Giants’ defense is going to be great.

This week, Terrell Thomas, Corey Webster and co. will have to deal with one of the best deep threats in the league in DeSean Jackson. The Eagles also rely heavily on tight end Brent “Magnum” Celek, who leads the team with 33 receptions.

Receiver Jeremy Maclin is also putting together a strong rookie campaign and whichever running back plays will be used as a receiver out of the backfield.

Thomas and Webster should be up for the challenge, but CC Brown is going to have to step up or else the secondary will continue to be a liability.

4. More Nicks

Hakeem Nicks is so good that even when Eli Manning decides to throw to another receiver, Nicks ends up scoring a touchdown.

Yes, he’s a rookie and its tough for a rookie wide receiver to make the transitions and understand the intricacies of the NFL and yadda yadda yadda. Nicks is this team’s best receiver. Period. Get your playmakers the ball.

5. Hold On To The Ball

Drops, Fumbles and Interceptions did the Giants in last weekend.

Last week, Eli Manning threw three interceptions to a team that came in with four on the year. This week, the Eagles come in having intercepted 12 passes. Needless to say, Eli must be careful with the ball.

The Eagles have also recovered six fumbles, so Ahmad Bradshaw and the rest of the Giants’ must to a better job securing the football.

Steve Smith and Kevin Boss did good jobs making tough catches in traffic, but Mario Manningham again had a huge drop. It also seemed like Domenik Hixon and Smith could have done a better job battling for the ball on Eli’s first and third interceptions, respectively.

And while we’re on the subject of Manningham…why not use him more like the Vikings use Percy Harvin. Manningham is great after the catch thanks to his ridiculous shiftiness. Get him involved in more situations where his suspect hands are less likely to fail him. More slants and quick hitters, more screens and maybe even an end around. If they are feeling extra sneaky, they can even line him up in the backfield. The point is, with the ball in his hand, he is one of the most dangerous weapons on the team, and you have to find ways to get your playmakers the ball.

Original post 2pm

Just for Halloween, surprise surprise,  DT Chris Canty was in pads practicing at defensive tackle with the second unit. Another surprise was LB Michael Boley, who was also in pads for the media portion of practice. To what extent they practiced and how ready they will be for Sunday is not yet known, but great news that the two were in full pads. Generally the next day’s reaction  is the main concern for a player coming back from a long term injury. If Canty’s calf  and Boley ’s knee react well tomorrow, at the very least there would be a great chance they would play the following week, and an outside chance at this week. The Giants want to ease both players back in slowly so it’s most likely the 2 will be held out of Sunday’s game. Aaron Ross was not practicing,

And here is the “sort of” portion of the injury update. RB Ahmad Bradshaw flew to South Carolina yesterday to meet with noted orthopedist Robert Anderson. Bradshaw, who was on the bikes at practice, says he has a crack in his fifth metatarsal, but will try an play through the injury. If the bone breaks all the way Bradshaw will require surgery, but if not the Giants and Bradshaw have been given the OK to play through and have the surgery in the offseason. Dr. Anderson agreed with the Giants plan of resting during the week and playing on Sunday’s. Every Giant fan cross your fingers and pray that his 5th metatarsal stays cracked and does not break, get the man some Dr. Scholls dammit.

Update 6pm

Both Chris Canty and Michael Boley were limited in practice, but it’s still a step in the right direction for the two. Most likely they will have a shot at playing next week against the Chargers.

Even if the Eagles were 0-6, the Giants and their fans would enter Sunday’s game with much trepidation.

The Eagles are not 0-6, but rather 4-2 and just a half-game behind the 5-2 Giants in the NFC East. In this series, however, records do not have much of a bearing.

On the surface, both teams seem to be headed for the postseason again.  Dig deeper and you will find that these teams have some troubling issues.

Like the Giants, the Eagles have also drawn many questions surrounding their competence.  The experts, many who picked either the Giants or Eagles to win the NFC Championship, have now soured on both teams’ chances.

The recent performances of both clubs leaves much to be desired.  Both teams are battling personnel losses on the defensive side of the ball and have been inefficient at times on offense.

Two weeks ago, Philadelphia lost to the Oakland Raiders, who are a shell of an NFL team.  Last Monday, they defeated the fractured Washington Redskins, but looked off-kilter in the process.

We know what the Giants have been up to.  They have wins against those Raiders and Redskins to go with their wins over Tampa and Kansas City, who the Eagles have also beaten.  Both New York and Philly were blown out by New Orleans.

The only thing that separates the Giants from the Eagles is the Giants’ victory in Dallas in Week 2.

Now they will face each other Sunday in a game that may just decide the NFC East.   Neither are prepared.

Tomorrow: Eagles vs Giants Analysis

The NFL has named Giants WR Hakeem Nicks the Offensive Rookie of the Month for October. Nicks caught 14 passes for 297 yards and four touchdowns (one in each game).

So far, it’s been a New York sweep, as September’s Offensive Rookie of the Month was Jets QB Mark Sanchez

WR Steve Smith walked the line between fact and trash talk today. While he certainly wasn’t  trying to rile anyone up, he did give the Eagles secondary a bit of extra motivation (as if they need it in this rivalry). This is what he had to say about the unit.

“I think sometimes they get caught with their eyes in the backfield,” Smith said. “You can run right by them sometimes. We’re not going to be surprised if we’re wide open down the field on a play.

“(The big plays) are going to be there. There are going to be a few plays where we’re wide open. We’ve just got to make a play.”

The Giants have some of their own fodder going into the game. In last years playoff defeat (probably fodder enough) Donovan McNabb ran out of bounds on the Giants sideline and then mocked the team by picking up one of the coaches phones. LB  Danny Clark on the incident:

“We kept the picture up all offseason. It sits pretty heavy on us.”

Bottom line the Eagles and Giants need no extra motivation when they play each other, but you never know what lights an extra fire under specific players.

Matt Mosley, who runs the ESPN NFC East blog, takes a look at how the East’s Quarterbacks rank against the blitz. Heres how they stack up.

Tony Romo 10th in the league with a 98.9 passer rating.

Eli Manning 19th in the league with a 85.1 passer rating.

Jason Campbell 23rd in the league with a 77.9 passer rating

Donovan McNabb 30th in the league with a 39.6 passer rating

As Mosely points out if it weren’t for Derek Anderson and Jake Delhomme, McNabb would be dead last. Still, a 39.6 rating is putrid and should give defensive coordinator all he needs to know for this week, blitz and blitz often. Sheridan promised to ramp up the pressure last week against the Cardinals, and while the Giants had only two sacks they held Warner to 231 yards passing and a mere 72.8 passer rating. The Giants are doing there best to protect a depleted secondary but after watching the Saints and Cardinals game it seems the only way to cover for the unit is by sticking to the Giant philosophy of getting home. While it leaves the secondary in precarious situations it is clear adding extra db’s, dropping linebackers into coverage and running zones is not the answer.

Another interesting note in Mosley’s article is the fact that Eli has been blitzed more then any other Quarterback in the league, 96 times, except for Tom Brady (98 times). Manning has thrown more TD’s against the blitz then any Quarterback  in the league with 7, although without the numbers in front of me I do not know the percentages, so the stat may be meaningless. Two things strike me about Brady and Eli being blitzed more then any Qb’s in the league: 1) The Giants gave the league a blueprint for trying to stop the Patriots in 07  and the copycat league has responded. 2) The Eagles gave the copycat league a blueprint for beating the Giants, 8 in the box and stuff the run, send safeties up as much as possible. The Giants have lost 2 in a row, but still sit both the Pats and the Giants are 5-2, so the blueprint hasn’t been all that effective. This week the Giants host the makers of their defensive blueprint, you can bet they will be prepared for the blitz.