The top-seeded Eagles will square off with the sixth-seeded Giants for the third time this season. Philadelphia, who clinched the number one overall seed in the NFC with a win over the Giants in week 18, have their eyes set on the NFC championship game. Meanwhile, the Giants are hoping to ride a resurgent Daniel Jones to yet another surprise deep playoff run. This NFC divisional game provides one of the more intriguing matchups of the weekend, pitting two conference foes against each other with a trip to the NFC title game on the line.
The biggest question for the Eagles is of course the health of starting quarterback Jalen Hurts. The MVP candidate suffered a shoulder injury late in the year, and after missing some time, Hurts did not exactly look like himself in week 18. While Philadelphia has established a strong run game and has a stable of talented receivers, The Eagles need Hurts to be as close to one hundred percent as possible if they hope to advance to the NFC title game.
On the other side, Giants QB Daniel Jones had one of the best games of his career in the Wild Card round as New York downed the Minnesota Vikings in upset fashion. For the first time in a long time, both Jones and star running back Saquon Barkley appear to be playing at a high level simultaneously. Of course, the Giants will need a better performance from the defense. In the first regular-season meeting, the Giants’ defense surrendered 48 points as Miles Sanders ran right through them for 144 yards and two touchdowns on just 17 carries.
The Eagles are well rested and should be ready for any type of game come Saturday night. The Giants have been feisty all year, and have proven they should never be counted out of any game, but face a fairly large talent gap as they visit the top-seeded Eagles. Jalen Hurts has been dynamic when healthy, and the dynamic duo of A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith create scoring opportunities on a consistent basis. The Giants will need to rely on their defensive front to not only stop the run but create pressure. If they can force a potentially still injured Hurts into scrambling situations, they may be able to exploit some lingering limitations the star QB still has.
Meanwhile, the Eagles’ defense will be focusing on bottling up Barkley and his big play potential. The Giants are heavily reliant on the run, both from Barkley and Jones. While Jones had a great game throwing the ball last weekend, New York’s receiving core is still lacking multiple explosive targets. Philadelphia’s best chance is to force Jones to beat him with his arm and force the Giants to go on long, sustained drives to earn their points.
At the end of the day, the Eagles are the number-one seed for a reason. They have a dynamic run game, an MVP candidate at quarterback, and a stout defense. While the Giants certainly have a chance, especially if Hurts is more injured than he has let on, expect the Eagles to roll at home.
Final Score: 34-20 Eagles
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