The Giants passed the first of two critical late season tests by beating the Cowboys. However, even with that, a setback at home on Sunday Night’s NBC feature game vs. Philadelphia could be devastating to their hopes of returning to the postseason. They w

2009-12-11

The Giants passed the first of two critical late season tests by beating the Cowboys. However, even with that, a setback at home on Sunday Night’s NBC feature game vs. Philadelphia could be devastating to their hopes of returning to the postseason. They will play as a 1-point favorite according to Sportsbook.com, but at last check, more bettors (71%) were turning to the underdog Eagles with their wagers.

As it stands now, New York must win out to finish 11-5, and with losses in five of their L7 games and a season ending trip to Minnesota looming, that seems highly improbable. Philly is 8-4 after winning in Atlanta, 34-7, advancing its road mark to 4-2 SU & ATS. The Eagles already beat the Giants 40-19 at home in Week 8 and are 5-2 SU & ATS in their L7 trips to New York, including last year’s divisional playoff upset. The G-Men are 17-8 ATS in revenge under Tom Coughlin. The UNDER is 13-3 in the L16 games between these teams in the Big Apple.

Giants Stadium has served as a home away from home for the Eagles in recent years, and this marks their last appearance in the building with the Giants and Jets set to a call a new venue home in 2010. Philadelphia has won four of its last five at the Meadowlands, including a 23-11 upset of the Giants in an NFC divisional playoff game.

The Eagles even enjoyed a laugher over the Giants at Lincoln Financial Field in Week 9, with the offense rolling up 30 points in the first half of a 40-17 victory. Donovan McNabb threw three touchdown passes and saw his defensive buddies force three turnovers. With the game out of reach in the fourth quarter, Philadelphia fans turned their attention to baseball but their chants of “Let’s go Phillies” didn’t help later that night when the Yankees evened the score for New York teams with a win in Game 5 of the World Series.

The Giants started off 2009 playing like champions but as soon as the going got tough they crumbled. The aforementioned loss to the Eagles was the third of a four-game slide, and Big Blue is 2-1 since a Week 10 bye allowed it to regroup. Last Sunday’s 31-24 victory over Dallas began a crucial three-week stretch against division rivals likely to determine its playoff fate.

Quarterback Eli Manning, who days before the game denied his foot injury is as serious as reported, completed 11 of 25 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns with one interception as the Giants swept Dallas for the first time since 2004. Manning has had his share of problems with Philadelphia’s defense with four interceptions and two touchdowns over the last three meetings.

Philadelphia’s defense was lights out in a 34-7 win in Atlanta, forcing three turnovers and scoring on a Sheldon Brown interception. The offense saw Michael Vick get rushing and passing touchdowns.

Defensively, the Giants rank among the league’s top five in yards allowed (301.6 per game) but took a hit a few weeks ago when linebacker Antonio Pierce suffered a season-ending neck injury in practice. The unit’s captain made 55 tackles in nine games, and the defense has given up three rushing touchdowns in as many outings without him.

PREDICTION: There’s no reason to believe the Eagles can’t continue their success at the Meadowlands and take a large step toward the playoffs. McNabb always seems to bring his ‘A’ game down the turnpike and this week should be no different. PHILADELPHIA 27, N.Y. GIANTS 20

Click here to read latest NFL news