NFL Divisional Round Preview: Giants vs. Eagles
After knocking off the No. 3 seed Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday afternoon, the New York Giants are proof that anything can happen in the NFL Playoffs.
Was it the magic of the NFL Playoffs, or was it the exposing of the Vikings, a team that has been criticized for being fraudulent all season long?
After an almost improbable playoff run, both Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley rose to the occasion and shocked Kevin O’Connell and company in the Wild Card round, 31-24.
The Giants will now head to Lincoln Financial Field for a date with a familiar foe and fellow NFC East rival, the Philadelphia Eagles.
This is exactly the matchup the Giants want, after momentum has shifted in their favor and a first-round bye isn’t always beneficial to a No. 1 seed like the Eagles.
Philadelphia is going to have to step it up following a subpar performance from Jalen Hurts in the week 18 finale against who else but the Giants.
It was only a six-point victory, so the Eagles will have to strategize better knowing that beating a team three times in the same season is not an easy task. A divisional matchup, especially in the playoffs, could swing either way.
Daniel Jones played at a level well above his experience and shined in his playoff debut, out-dueling his counterpart Kirk Cousins. Jones completed 24 passes on 35 attempts for 301 yards and two touchdowns, while also picking up 78 yards on the ground.
Not to mention Saquon Barkley, a highly respected running back who has been waiting for his time to impress on the national stage like the playoffs.
Barkley also didn’t disappoint in his postseason debut, and was a huge difference maker in helping the Giants and first-year head coach Brian Daboll earn a road playoff win in one of the most intimidating, hostile environments.
When it was all said and done, Barkley rattled off 53 yards on nine carries, recording two rushing touchdowns including the tiebreaker midway through the final quarter.
With a few of the games being close, it would have been nice to see the Vikings tie the game so fans would get a glimpse at the new postseason overtime format — but Cousins had other plans.
On 4th-and-8 with the game on the line, Cousins threw a checkdown pass to tight end T.J. Hockenson which resulted in him being tackled well short of the line to gain.
The Giants defense was up to the challenge nearly all game, holding star receiver Justin Jefferson to just 47 receiving yards on seven catches.
The Eagles also bring in both a potent offense and daunting defense, and with Barkley coming to town, the run defense will be on full display.
Due to the Giants resting their starters in week 18, the Eagles held Barkley to just 28 rushing yards in the first meeting between the two on December 11.
The Eagles defense allows 121.6 rushing yards per game, but the extra week will allow the defensive front to prepare for Barkley’s uncanny abilities.
It was just a short year ago that Jalen Hurts saw his first playoff appearance in a 31-15 thumping against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card round, but with Hurts now playing at an MVP level and an offense that averages a third-best 28.1 points per game, it will all come down to who wins the turnover battle.
It was a huge offseason for the Eagles as they strengthened both the offense and defense with key acquisitions like wide receiver A.J. Brown and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
To say they’re more prepared for the postseason this year would be an understatement. The Eagles undoubtedly have the talent to bring in their second Super Bowl in five years.
Keeping an eye on the key matchup in the Bay Area, if the Cowboys manage to escape third-string quarterback Brock Purdy and the menacing 49ers defense, all with the Eagles taking care of business at home versus the Giants, it would set up an NFC Championship matchup for the ages.
Kickoff for Giants-Eagles is set for this Saturday night at 8:15 p.m. on FOX.
Connor Fenix is a senior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email cjf5726@psu.edu.
