Giant Game for the Birds

By MATTHEW NADU and ATTIYAH BUFORD

Updated 3:49 PM EDT, Sun, Nov 9, 2008

Print Email Share TWITTER FACEBOOK

Getty Images

It’s week 10 of the NFL and Philadelphia can finally focus on the Birds.

What better way to “unofficially” kick off the season than with a monster showdown as the Eagles host the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

This match up is all-too familiar for the Eagles (5-3) who without a doubt have had this date circled on their calendar after losing both games to the G-Men last year.

The Beages (combine the Birds with the Eagles) are coming into tonight’s game looking for their fourth straight win and a chance to make some noise in the NFC East against the division leading Giants (7-1.)

This will be a classic defensive battle. Even though both teams have a deadly offensive arsenal with both teams on track to set franchise scoring records, the Eagles are ranked No.3 overall in defense, right behind the best D in the league in, you guessed it the Giants.

Look for the Eagles to run, run, run the ball against the Giants to keep the pressure off Donovan McNabb who was sacked an NFL record 12 times against the Giants last season in a 16-3 win in New York.

McNabb has a career 7-6 record against the Giants.

With the running game in mind, all eyes will be on running back Brian Westbrook who has 12 touchdowns in his last eight games against New York.

In 11 career games against the division rivals Westbrook has scampered for 825 yards on the ground and 369 in the receiving.

The Eagles must win today if the want a shot at winning the division. After the Phillies run this season, fans won’t settle for a wild card slot.

You can watch the game live on NBC 10 tonight at 8:15 PM.

Birds Eye View

The key match up will be the Eagles defense against quarterback Eli Manning.

The Eagles punished Manning early on in his career. In nine career games against the Birds, Manning is 5-4 with 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

But ever since he put that Super Bowl ring on his finger, he has had more confidence than ever in his arm and has emerged as one of the elite QB’s in the game.