The New York Giants (4-11) and Philadelphia Eagles (8-7) will square off on Sunday afternoon in Week 17.
The Giants opened the week as 4.5-point home underdogs, and the spread hasn’t changed at all as of Saturday morning, with Big Blue now at +4.5
With this matchup on tap, Giants Wire took the opportunity to hold a Q&A with Eagles Wire managing editor Glenn Erby.
Giants Wire: It’s only been a few short weeks since the last time we were here examining a matchup between these two teams, but a lot has changed on each side. How optimistic are the roller-coaster Eagles going into a game in which they can win the NFC East?
Glenn Erby: They are an extremely resilient and optimistic group, and that confidence as a group is no act. The Eagles generally feel that their best football is yet to come, and the confidence gained in surviving the early injuries and figuring out ways to pull out games late has only helped this group mature even more. They are extremely optimistic and having fate in their own hands only adds to the confidence going into Sunday afternoon.
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Have the Eagles switched things up in terms or preparation and practice this week as they prepare for Daniel Jones, who is substantially more mobile than Eli Manning and more prone to take shots downfield?
Honestly, they’re too banged up to alter anything for Daniel Jones, who’s an amazing talent. They’ve held light practices to help keep guys fresh and with Ronald Darby out for the season with a hip flexor injury, Jim Schwartz and company are just trying to figure out whether Sidney Jones or Rasul Douglas will start at cornerback. I think you’ll see the Eagles dial up the blitz more than they have in the last three weeks, forcing Jones to make throws early on.
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Although Eagles fans won’t see Eli Manning on Sunday, do you think they will take a moment to appreciate what he’s done throughout his career or is the rivalry so heated that it’s sort of a, “forget you, Eli. Glad you’re done” kind of situation?
Eagles fans get a bad wrap, but they’re solid hard-working people who recognize other solid hard-working people, regardless of rivalry. It’s an away game right up the NJ Turnpike, so you’ll see Eagles fans show up in full force. I also think they’ll be super classy when dealing with Eli and I wouldn’t be surprised to see plenty of signs and memorabilia praising Manning for all the class and great quarterback play he exhibited over the years.
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Doug Pederson is honestly one of the most humble and respectful head coaches in football, but I only have the opportunity to hear from him twice per season. Is that a staple of who he is as a person or are we in the New York media just lucky to get him in a good mood every time?
Doug Pederson is one of the most genuine and down-to-earth coaches and men you’ll ever have the chance to be around. He’s a former player and I believe that helps in his ability to relate to other players and the media so well. He’s also a guy who before joining Andy Reid’s staff in Philadelphia, was coaching at a Christian high school in Shreveport. He was a guy who played on six NFL teams, one World League of America team and one NFL Europe team. That experience and lack of stardom helped shape who Pederson is now, which is why you see his players running through a wall for him.
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The Giants have absolutely nothing to lose on any level on Sunday. Does that scare you and how do you think the game shakes out?
It absolutely scares me and I think that myth about players on losing teams planning a vacation is a farce. The Giants will be motivated and the closest thing to a Super Bowl this season is preventing the Eagles from making the playoffs in the season finale, during a game that may indeed be Eli Manning’s final contest as a player.
I think the Eagles need to start off fast, absorb the Giants’ early haymakers and not allow Daniel Jones to secure huge plays downfield. It’ll be a high scoring game, but one the Eagles pull out late 38-28.
Make sure you check out Glenn Erby for all of your Eagles needs over at Eagles Wire.
