Philadelphia Eagles (8-7) and New York Giants (4-11) are set to meet in a game that will help determine the NFC East champion.
The Eagles opened as 4.5-point favorites and that line has remained the same, even with the news that Zach Ertz could miss the playoffs with a lacerated kidney.
With Eli Manning set to play his final game at Met Life Stadium, with sat down with Dan Benton of The Giants Wire to discuss today’s game.
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1. The Giants can ruin the Eagles season and help the Cowboys win the division and gain a playoff birth. How does that scenario play out in regards to being able to have such a massive effect on your two most hated rivals?
It’s really a bittersweet opportunity in many ways. Of course, there would be some joy in ending the playoff hopes in Philadelphia, but who really wants to see the Cowboys win the NFC East and get into the playoffs? Either way, the Giants cost one and save one, so the issue is trying to determine who you dislike more. As an 80s baby, I began to understand the game more in the 90s and as a result, I have a serious disdain for Dallas. Still, I’d like to see the Giants go out with a win in what may be Eli Manning’s final game in uniform — and I think that’s exactly what the Giants will be focused on more so than spoiling things for Philly.
2. What are your thoughts on Daniel Jones as the Giants QB of the future? Name some strengths and weaknesses that he’ll likely enhance or address heading into his second season?
Believe it or not, my mother bought me a Blue Devils jersey when I was a young child and I became a fan of the program by association. As such, I’ve actually watched Daniel Jones every week of his college career and I had high expectations for him the moment he was drafted. He has not disappointed. Jones has a much stronger and accurate arm than anyone was initially willing to admit, and his willingness to take shots down the field reminds me of the gunslingers of old. He’s also deceptively fast and can change the game with his legs. Maybe not in the way Lamar Jackson does, but it’s an aspect of his game that must be accounted for. His biggest flaw is obvious: ball security. While his interception numbers are in an acceptable range, his fumbles are not. I think there will be a significant emphasis placed on cleaning that up this offseason.
3. Saquon Barkley finally found his stride last week. What do the Giants and offensive coordinator Mike Shula need to do to ensure that Barkley is a major factor in this contest and he looks to finish his second season off with some momentum?
With Barkley the formula is simple: Just give him the dang ball. He’s had back-to-back monster games and it’s no fluke that those were the first two games this season in which he’s amassed 20 or more carries. And I’m sure your jaw drops a little reading that and you may doubt me, so we’ll pause here for you and your readers to go fact check… … … Back? Yeah, it’s crazy, right? Give. Barkley. The. Ball. It really is that simple. He’ll do the rest.
4. Will the Giants retain Pat Shurmur? What are the pros and cons of such a major decision?
Flip a coin because I genuinely feel that’s where we’re at. This game could very much sway that decision in one direction or another. For me, I feel like the constant upheaval is a bad idea and throughout the history of the NFL, changing things every year and a half rarely yield success. The players haven’t quit on Shurmur and that speaks volumes when you consider both the youth and misery this season has brought — most coaches would have lost the locker room. On the other hand, Shurmur is one of the all-time losingest coaches in the NFL history and you are what your record says you are. I wasn’t a fan of the hire in the first place and now we’re seeing why. Shurmur is terrible with his challenges, terrible with his timeout use, terrible with clock management… Can’t succeed that way, so if the Giants do retain him, he needs to fix that mess immediately.
5. What will Eli Manning’s ultimate legacy be with the New York Giants when this is all said and done?
That is such a loaded question because there are two distinct sides to Eli Manning. There is the player, who has won two Super Bowl titles, two Super Bowl MVPs, gone to four Pro Bowls and won more awards and set more franchise/NFL records than I even care to recount. He will likely retire in the top 7 of all major historical passing categories and will eventually land in the Hall of Fame. Then there’s the other side to Eli Manning… The genuine, humble, caring teammate and friend. The man who demands no cameras or media when he visits children’s hospital or goes to events for families of sick children. The man who makes it a point to know everyone in the building on a first-name basis, who treats everyone exactly the same as everyone else and the man who deservedly won the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. I think time will highlight both aspects of Manning’s persona, but when the dust settles, Eli will forever be defined by how he treated people and all the wonderful things he’s done in this world. There aren’t many people
out there like Eli.
6. Giants-Eagles on Sunday in a huge matchup. Who wins and why?
I initially picked the Eagles to win, but the closer we get to the game, the more I find myself thinking the Giants might actually pull the upset, send Eli off with a win and, quite possibly, save Dave Gettleman and Pat Shurmur’s jobs. But in attempting to keep emotion out of it, I’ll stick with Philly winning the NFC East at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
