Eagles Host Giants Sunday
Reports suggest Michael Vick will start for Philadelphia on Sunday.
The Philadelphia Eagles host the New York Giants in a crucial NFC East showdown Sunday, with both teams in need of the victory.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia.
As well as looking to bounce back from a 17-3 loss to the Dallas Cowboys last weekend, Philadelphia (3-4, 0-3 home) is also looking to pick up its first home win of the season, snapping a nine-game losing streak at The Linc in the process.
A loss would leave the Eagles winless halfway through its home schedule. It would also see the team move to 2-2 within the NFC East. With no team really taking the division by the horns this season, divisional records could prove vital come December.
The Giants (1-6, 0-4 road) meanwhile are looking to build some momentum after picking up a first win of the season this past Monday night. They’ll also be looking to pick up a first road win of the year.
Possibly the streakiest side in recent years, a win could propel the Giants onwards and upwards. A loss – leaving the team 0-3 within the division – effectively ends the Giants’ season at the halfway marker.
Philadelphia will be hoping for the return of quarterback Michael Vick as the team takes to the field Sunday. Vick has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury.
Backup Nick Foles stepped in for the injured Vick and made a very good showing for himself against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6 but suffered a concussion against Dallas in the third quarter of last weekend’s game. He’ll miss Sunday’s game against the Giants.
Rookie Matt Barkley took over for Foles against the Cowboys, but three interceptions proved the former USC triggerman isn’t ready for the big time just yet.
Vick told the media Tuesday that he is “optimistic†he’ll start on Sunday.
The Giants aren’t without their own share of injuries. Tom Coughlin’s side has been decimated at running back, losing Brandon Jacobs (hamstring), Andre Brown (leg), and David Wilson (neck). Wilson is expected to be out at least 3-4 weeks. Brown will be back in Week 10 at the absolute earliest. No timeframe has been placed on Jacobs’ return.
The Giants signed Peyton Hillis ahead of Monday night’s showdown with the Minnesota Vikings. Hillis had 36 yards rushing and a touchdown in his debut, while Michael Cox had 23 yards. Don’t expect either to put up big numbers this weekend either, as Philadelphia looks to return to its high-scoring offense with Vick at the helm.
That means Eli Manning will need some support from his receiver if the Giants are to avoid a second loss against the Eagles this season. Manning compiled 334 yards through the air against the Eagles on October 6, but only managed to complete 24 of 52 passes, a completion rate of just 46 percent. He connected twice for scores with second-year receiver Reuben Randle in that game, but three interceptions proved costly.
Vick compiled 105 yards through the air and 79 yards on the ground in that game, before leaving injured. Foles passed for 197 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Eagles left MetLife Stadium with a 36-21 victory.
Get New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles odds and trends now.
Philadelphia (-245) opened as the favorite over New York (+205) on the moneyline, but things have become a little tighter as game day approaches.
The spread opened at 6.5 and has subsequently dropped as low as 5 with about 72 hours until the two teams take the field. Neither the Eagles (3-4-0 ATS) nor the Giants (2-5-0 ATS) have fared all that well against the spread this season, although both have been a bit better in recent weeks; the Giants have covered in their last two while the Eagles have covered in two of the last three.
The Week 5 meeting between the two teams saw Philadelphia cover a spread that favored each team depending on where you chose to bet.
The Eagles have covered the spread in nine of their last 11 meeting with the Giants, but have yet to cover at home this season.
The over/under opened at 54.5 and has slipped to 51.5 since, most likely a result of the Eagles’ disappointing three-point performance against the Cowboys last week.
Both Philadelphia (5-2-0) and the Giants (4-3-0) have favored the over this season. That being said, both teams saw the total go under in Week 7. The total has also gone under in five of the last seven meetings between the sides when playing at The Linc.
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