Eagles vs. Giants
Thursday, 8:25 p.m. on NBC
Giants favored by 2.5; over/under 41.5
Playing out a string that includes two home divisional games to end the season, the Eagles have only about 100 hours to prepare for the Giants in Week 16.
They're familiar foes, so it's not as bad of a situation as it could be. Let's take a look at the key matchups and storylines:
Lane Johnson vs. who?
With Jason Pierre-Paul out Thursday, returning Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson will likely be matched up against rookie D-end Romeo Okwara, who picked up his first and only sack in Week 14 against the Cowboys.
It's a big difference because Pierre-Paul was impactful in both the run and pass game in the Giants' 28-23 win over the Eagles back in Week 9. JPP had two QB hits, four QB hurries and four stops in the run game.
Despite a vastly improved defense, the Giants hadn't been getting much pressure even with Pierre-Paul. They rank directly in the middle of the NFL, tied with the Eagles with 31 sacks.
Philadelphia Eagles
Complete coverage of the Philadelphia Eagles and their NFL rivals from NBC Sports Philadelphia.
It's a good way to break Johnson back in after a 10-week absence. Nothing can take the place of NFL game speed, so he'll at least be blocking against mostly backups on Thursday.
Rest of the line
On the other side of Johnson, Pro Bowler Jason Peters will be matched up against high-priced defensive end Olivier Vernon, who so far has lived up to the money and hype. Vernon leads all 4-3 defensive ends with 55 QB hurries, according to Pro Football Focus. (Brandon Graham is second with 50.)
Vernon has eight sacks in his last seven games, a stretch that began with that Eagles game, but Peters handled him admirably.
The Giants' three prized offseason acquisitions - Vernon, DT Damon "Snacks" Harrison and CB Janoris Jenkins - have been their three best defenders in 2016.
The 6-foot-4, 350-pound Harrison has again been one of the top defensive tackles in the NFL against the run. He's been the main difference for a Giants run defense that is allowing 20 fewer rushing yards per game than last year and ranks third-best in the league.
The Eagles finally have their full opening day offensive line back together - Peters, Allen Barbre, Jason Kelce, Brandon Brooks, Johnson from left to right - but it's still going to be tough running against this front.
Then again, the Eagles were able to run against the Ravens, who had been even better. Ryan Mathews was the first running back since Week 2 and the second all season to exceed 100 yards against Baltimore.
Wentz vs. Giants' secondary
Over his last 10 games, Carson Wentz has completed 61 percent of his passes, averaged 238 yards per game and 5.9 yards per attempt, thrown six touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Ugly. But obviously, not all his fault given what he's had to work with.
Wentz wasn't great against the Giants, going 27 for 47 for 364 yards with no TDs and two INTs to safeties Landon Collins and Andrew Adams.
It's going to be another tough matchup for Wentz against a Giants secondary that is much improved with the additions of Jenkins and first-round cornerback Eli Apple, steady play from former Eagle Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and the emergence of Collins as a playmaking safety.
Collins and Jenkins were both named to the Pro Bowl on Tuesday.
Jenkins is questionable for Thursday's game after taking a knee to the back on Sunday against the Lions. Jenkins left the game, was unable to return and has practiced just sparingly this week. The talk from Jenkins and head coach Ben McAdoo this week makes it seem like Jenkins will miss the game, which would make things a lot easier for the Eagles' offense.
Jenkins has had a terrific year, holding Dez Bryant in check twice and limiting Antonio Brown and A.J. Green. He's PFF's second-best cornerback this year, behind only Denver's Chris Harris. Quarterbacks have a 65.3 rating when targeting Jenkins, by far the lowest of all Giants DBs.
Wentz was 1 for 6 for 17 yards when targeting Jenkins in Week 9.
If Jenkins can't go, Apple and DRC will get 100 percent of the snaps outside or close to it. It would also result in more snaps for Leon Hall and Trevin Wade, two beatable corners.
The Eagles' wide receivers desperately need a confidence-building game. Nelson Agholor has continued to play poorly and find separation difficult to come by. Dorial Green-Beckham is getting less involved by the week.
Jordan Matthews, who was quiet in Baltimore with six catches for 27 yards, could be in line for a nice night. In five career games against the Giants, Matthews has averaged 6 catches for 71 yards and scored three times. Despite not being 100 percent with an ankle issue, Matthews has been targeted 10-plus times in seven of his last eight games.
Eli's release
As we saw in the first meeting between these teams, sacking Eli Manning is tough even though the Giants' O-line is average at best.
Tackles Ereck Flowers and Bobby Hart have struggled all season, allowing 72 QB hurries but just six sacks. That disparity is owed to Manning's quick decision-making and release.
It's taken Manning an average of 2.39 seconds to get the ball out this season, the third-fastest time in the NFL behind Drew Brees and Carson Palmer, per PFF.
Interestingly, Manning has been better when routes have less time to develop. His QB rating is 94.9 when he gets the ball out in 2.5 seconds or less compared to 78.4 when he has 2.6 seconds or more.
Eli threw four touchdowns against the Eagles in Week 9 and was sacked just once, by defensive tackle Destiny Vaeao on a play in which he clearly misjudged where the rookie was.
The Eagles' defense can't expect to rush four and pick up sacks this Thursday and Jim Schwartz knows that. The best way to impact the Giants' offense is to stop their poor run game early and do what you can to frustrate Odell Beckham Jr.
Beckham vs. the Birds
Since burning them for 12 catches and 185 yards in Week 16 two years ago, Beckham has been held somewhat in check by the Eagles. Beckham has reached the end zone three times in three games since, but he's averaged just 54 receiving yards against the Birds compared to 99 per game the rest of his career.
In Week 9, OBJ hauled in just four of 10 targets.
Still, he's a game-breaker in more ways than one. Beckham is the best in the NFL at taking a quick slant to the house, and he's shown time and again that he can beat exceptional coverage because of his enormous catch radius.
Beckham is far from the Giants' only weapon, but he's by far the most dangerous. Victor Cruz is a shell of his former self. Rookie Sterling Shepard has seven touchdowns but few long gains, with only five catches longer than 20 yards and three longer than 23.
Throughout his three-year career, it's been evident that Beckham becomes frustrated and is prone to boneheaded plays when he isn't involved early. Yet another reason to sell out against him and then worry about catching up to and tackling the Giants' other, less electric pass-catchers.
Shepard hasn't reached 60 receiving yards since Week 3. Cruz has five catches the last six weeks. Tight end Will Tye has averaged 16 receiving yards the last five games. No Giant has rushed for 60 yards the last four weeks.
Let anyone else beat you.
Prediction
Call me crazy but I actually think the Eagles can win this game if Jenkins doesn't play. They're at home, which didn't matter against Washington or Green Bay but has made a difference most of the season.
Wentz at home: 66 percent completions, 7.1 yards per attempt, 253 yards per game, six TDs, four INTs.
Wentz on the road: 60 percent completions, 5.7 yards per attempt, 234 yards per game, seven TDs, nine INTs.
They have their full offensive line back in tact, they're familiar with Manning and have beaten the Giants four of the last five times.
The Giants are 10-4 but they're not an overwhelming, dominant 10-4. Six of their wins are by five points or less and only two were by more than a touchdown.
Foreseeing the Eagles scoring on defense or special teams in what's expected to be an ugly game, like all Thursday nighters. Also think Wentz builds off that final drive in Baltimore, which probably removed a boulder from his shoulder even though the Eagles lost.
Eagles 20, Giants 17
