If the New York Giants are going to win in Philadelphia on Sunday, they’re going to have to do these three things.
Winning in Philadelphia hasn’t been easy for the New York Giants. In the team’s last eight trips to Lincoln Financial Field, dating back to 2009, Big Blue has gone just 2-6. They’ve lost each of their last three visits by a combined score of 78-26.But all is not lost. Sure, the Giants are still looking for their first win of the 2017 season, but the Eagles (1-1) aren’t an unstoppable force. They can be beaten. Here’s how the GIants can do just that.
Get On The Board Early
If we didn’t know any better—and maybe we don’t—we’d think that the Giants’ offense was allergic to pigskin. Big Blue has an average time of possession of 4:14 in the first quarter. In a 15-minute first quarter, the Giants have the ball 27.6 percent of the time.
Speaking of the game’s first 15 minutes, the Giants are one of only seven teams without a first-quarter touchdown. That’s not surprising when the only thing you do consistently is to go three-and-out.
There’s a way the Giants could, potentially, get off to a fast start a Lincoln Financial Field…
Test Philadelphia’s Secondary Early and Often
We know the Eagles will be without cornerback Ronald Darby (ankle). Both safety Ronald McLeod and corner Jaylen Watkins have missed practice time as they deal with hamstring injuries. They’re questionable to play. Safety Corey Graham also missed practice Wednesday, leaving the Eagles with just six healthy defensive backs.
That sounds like the kind of secondary that could cure what ails the Giants’ offense—at least the passing game. If the O-Line can give Eli Manning some time, the receivers should be able to gain separation for some big plays downfield through the air.
With Odell Beckham Jr. (ankle) hellbent on playing more than he did a week ago, things are lining up for an explosive aerial attack.
Win The Sack Battle
Only one quarterback—Cleveland’s DeShone Kizer—has been sacked more in 2017 (nine times) than the two starting quarterbacks in this game, Eli and Carson Wentz, who, along with Cincinnati’s Andy Dalton, has been sacked eight times.
While the Giants’ offensive line woes have been well-documented, Philadelphia’s have flown somewhat under the radar. The Eagles allowed 22 quarterback pressures and five sacks against Kansas City last week, per Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ Advanced Media.
That should have Damon Harrison, Jason Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon drooling and dreaming of sack dances. We know that Erick Flowers and friends are going to struggle to stop Fletcher Cox and Philly’s explosive front four. That’s a given.
But if they can get to Wentz more often than the Eagles can get to Eli, the Giants will have a fighting chance in this one.