Giants-Eagles: Round One Today
The 5-2 Giants travel to hostile Philadelphia this afternoon to take on the 4-2 Eagles.
What’s at stake…….first place in the NFC East and some piece of mind should the Giants win.
Weather: Rain early, turning to sunshine in the afternoon, high 57 degrees. Wind 5-10 mph.
The line………….Pick ‘em……. O/U 44
TV: FOX 1pm. (Ch 5 in New York) Announcers: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston and Tony Siragusa
Radio: WFAN 660-AM Announcers: Bob Papa and Carl Banks
Key stat..……..Eli Manning is 4-0 in his four regular season starts at Philadelphia
What to watch for……..Philadelphia has league’s top-ranked passing game and the 30th ranked running game. They won’t be able to run the ball against New York, especially if Brian Westbrook (concussion) is held out, so Donovan McNabb will be doing a lot of the heavy lifting today.
Eagle quarterbacks have been sacked 15 times by subpar opponents and this game features the rematch of OT Winston Justice with Osi Umenyiora. Osi blew by Justice for six sacks in a game two years ago.
The Giants will try to re-establish their running game, but they may find that difficult to do with Ahmad Bradshaw still hobbled with a bad foot. WR Mario Manningham (shoulder) may be replaced in the lineup by explosive rookie Hakeem Nicks.
The New York defense and special teams will have their hands full with WR DeSean Jackson, who has a propensity for big plays. No need to elaborate on how the Giants have getting blown up in the secondary lately…….
Giants Injuries:
Michael Boley, LB (out – knee), Chris Canty, DT (out – calf), Aaron Ross, CB (out-hamstring), Mario Manningham, WR (questionable – shoulder), Ahmad Bradshaw, RB (probable-foot), Kareem McKenzie, T (probable-groin), Antonio Pierce, LB (probable-ankle)
Eagles Injuries:
Victor Abiamiri, DE Out (knee), Kevin Curtis, WR Out (knee), Dimitri Patterson, CB Out (quadricep, hand), Macho Harris, CB questionable – (ankle), Brian Westbrook, RB questionable – (concussion, knee), Nick Cole, C Probable – (knee), Todd Herremans, G (foot), Darren Howard, DE Probable – (ankle, calf), DeSean Jackson, WR Probable – (foot), Max Jean-Gilles, G Probable – (shoulder), Jeremy Maclin, WR Probable – (foot), Jason Peters, T Probable – (ankle, knee), Sav Rocca, P Probable back), Omar Gaither, LB IR (left foot)
