When the New York Giants take on the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, they will look to take advantage of an Eagles secondary that has been ravaged by injuries.
Playing in Philadelphia has been a house of horrors for the New York Giants, as they haven’t won there since 2013. In the last four games in Philly, the Giants have been outscored 50-105.
But heading into Sunday’s matchup at Lincoln Financial Field, there are reasons to be optimistic that the Giants will end their losing streak in Philadelphia. One reason is that the Giants are riding a two-game winning streak, and the Eagles are free falling, having lost two contests in a row.
The other reason is the Eagles will be without four of their cornerbacks. Jalen Mills (foot), Sidney Jones (hamstring), and Avonte Maddox (knee/ankle) have all been ruled out of Sunday’s game, and Ronald Darby has been put on IR with a torn ACL.
Eagles ruled out this group for Sunday’s game vs Giants: LB Jordan Hicks (calf), CB Sidney Jones (hamstring), CB Avonte Maddox (knee, ankle), CB Jalen Mills (foot), RB Darren Sproles (hamstring). Secondary significantly shorthanded.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 23, 2018
The Eagles secondary has been vulnerable all year. Philadelphia ranks 24th in pass defense, and last week against the New Orleans Saints, they gave up 363 passing yards and four touchdowns to Drew Brees.
You can bet any amount of money that the Giants game plan will be for Eli Manning to attack the Eagles’ depleted and vulnerable secondary. Manning’s primary receiving target Odell Beckham Jr. is poised to have a huge game.
On Friday, Beckham answered questions about what the Giants game plan will be against the Eagles.
“To be honest, it’s hard to do a scouting report on them right now, because of the amount of injuries that they have. Jalen Mills with the foot and Ronald Darby with the ACL. It’s a lot going on right now. That’s kind of more up to the coaches, and what they game plan, and how they’re going to attack DBs, if they’re going to attack the DBs, whatever we’re going to do. Just find a way to win.”
Facing a team that’s reeling and without key players on defense gives the Giants a golden opportunity to end their four-game losing streak in Philadelphia, and to pull within two games of first place.
Beckham was cautiously optimistic.
“We got a good opportunity here to win, even though we watched the Saints beat the Eagles like that, you can’t really ever take this team lightly. This is Philly, and they always play their best against us, I feel like.”
If the Giants don’t win on Sunday, not only will it end any slim chance they have of winning the division, but you would also have to wonder what it is going to take for them to win in Philly.