Game Preview: Eagles vs. Giants

How many storylines can we cram into a single game? The return of a star is one. A division battle is another. Teams overcoming injury adversity is on the docket. Rookie standouts poised to do battle certainly means something.

What we have in this Eagles-Giants game on Sunday is an intriguing matchup of two teams trying to gain a footing in this 2024 season, so without further ado let’s get right to it: Storylines to watch with the 1PM kickoff fast approaching …

1. Saquon Barkley returns to MetLife Stadium

The star Eagles running back kept things business as usual in the week that was, handling his media responsibilities like the professional that he is and moving on: Playing his former team is something he knew was coming and now that it’s here, the focus is on winning a key football game.

“I do know it’s a big game, it’s an important game, it’s a division rival, and I’m going in there, locked in and do the best I can to help us win the game,” Barkley said when he met the media on Wednesday.

And so there it is. Beyond the reaction of the fans, and far more important, is winning this game and, obviously, Barkley will be a focal point. The Eagles want to get him and the offense up and moving early in the game and they have the task of winning in the trenches against a strong New York front led by tackle Dexter Lawrence. New York has allowed 5.3 yards per carry through six games, and establishing Barkley and the ground game is a priority. It is a great storyline, no doubt. Barkley just wants the victory.

2. Eagles offense has more injuries to overcome

Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore has had very little time working with a healthy offense this season and he’ll have some key pieces missing here: Tight end Dallas Goedert and left tackle Jordan Mailata are out – Mailata was placed on Injured Reserve on Friday and will miss at least four games, while Goedert is out for Sunday with a hamstring injury. The Eagles have depth – Fred Johnson is expected to play at left tackle and Grant Calcaterra and Jack Stoll will fill in for Goedert.

How does this impact the offense? Moore will have adjustments to make, no doubt. Johnson has a big chore at left tackle against a Giants pass rush that leads the NFL in quarterback sacks as the Eagles look to get into a rhythm early in this game. It isn’t the first time the Eagles have faced injuries this season, if that is any consolation. They have established depth and gained productivity and they will need both against New York – a good defense that flies to the football.

Philadelphia’s secondary is in full “go” mode with rookie cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in the lineup and playing excellent football. They will no doubt see first-round pick Malik Nabers, who has 35 receptions, 386 yards, and 3 touchdowns in four games. He’s back after missing two games with a concussion, and he joins another good, young receiver in Wan’Dale Robinson, who leads New York with 37 catches. Wide receiver Darius Slayton is a familiar face, a veteran who has explosive ability. But it’s the Mitchell/DeJean matchups against Nabers that will be fun to watch. Darius Slay is listed as questionable for the game, but he said all week that he expects to play on Sunday. It’s good vs. good here, and the downfield coverage will be in focus.

4. Welcome to the NFC East schedule

This is a wide-open division and at the moment the Eagles are just a smidge behind Washington (4-2, playing Carolina on Sunday) at the top of the group. There has been no repeat winner in the NFC East since 2004 season, just as a reminder. Any of the four teams could end up on top, so the importance of this game cannot be understated. And, by the way, it’s Eagles-Giants in the same stadium where, well, you know, miracles tend to happen every now and then.

5. Eagles front four heating up

The Eagles registered five quarterback sacks in the win over Cleveland. They pressured the pocket throughout the game, gaining 10 hits on quarterback Deshaun Watson. In this game, they play a Giants team missing left tackle Andrew Thomas and they face an offensive attack that has quarterback Daniel Jones at the helm. He is a multi-purpose threat, a danger to run, and that is something Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio is very much aware is a challenge.

“They really ran him a pretty good bit in this past game (11 carries, 56 yards against Bengals in a 17-7 loss) with quarterback-designed runs,” Fangio said. “He pulls it and keeps it on the zone-read stuff more than most quarterbacks. Very athletic, very fast. He’s a tough assignment with his movement and his arm strength. They are throwing the RPOs more than they have in the past … so, I think their offense is definitely a lot better than it was last year, and it’s going to be a tough assignment up there.”

New York is averaging 16 points per game this season and the Giants welcome back running back Devin Singletary after he missed time. Singletary and rookie Tyrone Tracy share the ground load in the backfield.

6. The other storylines to follow …

• Matt Haack averaged 46.8 yards on four punts in his Giants debut last week and had an excellent 43.5-yard net against Cincinnati.
• Wide receiver A.J. Brown has nine games of 100 yards or more receiving since Week 3 of last season and has gone over the 100-yard mark in each of his two games in 2024.
• Philadelphia did not turn the ball over in the win over Cleveland, a promising development that the team hopes to continue on Sunday.
• Despite the inconsistencies through five games, the Eagles rank 10th in the NFL with 367 total net yards per game, so there is something to build on here that could be very special.
• The Eagles are fifth in the NFL in red zone defense, allowing touchdowns only 41 percent of the time.