Instant Analysis: Giants fall to Eagles, 20-13

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE OFFENSE

With starting center John Michael Schmitz (ankle) and right tackle Evan Neal (rib/hip) out for the season finale, the Giants used their 10^th different offensive line combination, which tied their 2023 total. Greg Van Roten moved over to center for the second consecutive game, undrafted rookie Jake Kubas manned right guard, and Tyre Phillips played right tackle. It was Phillips’ first start since he suffered a season-ending quad injury against the Rams on Dec. 31, 2023.

Entering Week 18, Malik Nabers needed four catches to break Steve Smith’s franchise single-season record of 107, which had stood since 2009. The rookie hit the mark in the third quarter and finished the game with five catches for 64 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown. Nabers, the sixth overall pick, had already broken the Giants’ rookie catch mark, which was split at 91 by Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquon Barkley. Nabers will await how Las Vegas’ Brock Bowers fares later this afternoon for the all-time NFL rookie record.

Wan’Dale Robinson led the team with 10 catches, bringing his season total to 93 (fifth-most in franchise history).

Last week, Nabers and Tracy became just the third rookie duo in NFL history to each eclipse 1,000 yards from scrimmage. The latter closed the season with 14 carries for 59 yards and two catches for seven yards.

Drew Lock, who had a career game last week with five total touchdowns and a 155.3 passer rating, completed 22 of 28 passes for 138 yards with one touchdown and an interception on the final drive of the game.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE DEFENSE

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni announced Wednesday in Philadelphia that they were going to “rest some guys” with the team locked into the No. 2 seed. That list included former Giants running back Saquon Barkley, who was 101 yards shy of breaking Eric Dickerson’s NFL single-season rushing record.

“Obviously, it’s a very special record that’s been standing for a long time by a great player,” Sirianni said, according to the Eagles’ official website. “It’s a team record that everybody’s involved in. You take and weigh all of those things, but at the end of the day, you just try to do what’s best for the team.”

Quarterback Tanner McKee, a 2023 sixth-round draft choice by Philadelphia, made his first career start on Sunday in place of Jalen Hurts. The Stanford product threw two touchdowns and posted a 100.6 passer rating.

Linebacker Dyontae Johnson, playing in his second game back after an ankle injury derailed a promising offseason, racked up a team-high 11 tackles (six solo).

Outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux recorded the first sack by either team late in the third quarter. With sacks in back-to-back weeks, he finished the season with 5.5 total in 12 games played (he missed five games with a wrist injury that required surgery). In the process, the third-year pro became the 19^th player in Giants history to record at least 20 sacks with the team.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT SPECIAL TEAMS

The Giants converted a fake punt in the second quarter. Safety Dane Belton took the direct snap and got the edge for a 10-yard gain on fourth-and-three at the Giants 36.

A week ago, Ihmir Smith-Marsette opened the second half with a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown. The Giants were almost on the other end of that Sunday as Philadelphia’s Isaiah Rodgers started the third quarter with a 51-yard return.

Graham Gano made a 53-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 17-13 with 7:21 left in the game. It extended his franchise record for most 50-yard field goals made to 25; Joe Danelo is second with nine.

NYG: DL Elijah Chatman (evaluated for a concussion), LB Ty Summers (stinger)

NYG: RB Dante Miller, CB Greg Stroman (shin), CB Dee Williams (toe), ILB Micah McFadden (neck), C John Michael Schmitz (ankle), OT Evan Neal (rib/hip), QB Tim Boyle (3^rd QB)

PHI: QB Jalen Hurts (concussion/left finger), WR DeVonta Smith (wrist/rest), WR A.J. Brown (knee/rest), RB Saquon Barkley (rest), OLB Zack Baun (rest), OT Lane Johnson (rest), OT Jordan Mailata (rest), G Landon Dickerson (rest), ILB Nakobe Dean (abdomen), DT Jalen Carter (rest), CB Darius Slay (rest)

NYG: OLB Boogie Basham (standard elevation), OT Tyre Phillips (standard elevation), RB Dante Miller (free agent signing from NYG practice squad), DT Armon Watts (placed on Reserve/Injured

PHI: TE Dallas Goedert (activated off Reserve/Injured), LB Dallas Gant (standard elevation), DE Charles Harris (standard elevation), TE C.J. Uzomah (placed on Reserve/Injured), CB Tariq Castro-Fields (practice squad addition), DB Mekhi Garner (practice squad addition), DE Charles Harris (practice squad addition), DE Tarron Jackson (released from practice squad), RB Lew Nichols (released from practice squad)