Storylines to follow in Week 7 NFC East matchup

The Giants’ defense is coming off perhaps its most impressive performance of the season. The Bengals entered Sunday Night Football with at least 33 points and 23 first downs in each of their previous three games, along with an average of 417 total yards of offense during that stretch. Cincinnati also ranked as a top 5 unit in both third down and red zone offense. Well, the Giants held the Bengals to just 17 points, 304 total yards of offense, and 13 first downs, all of which were their lowest totals since their Week 1 loss to the Patriots. The defense also held them to four conversions on 11 third down attempts, and kept them out of the end zone in their lone trip inside the 20-yard line.

While last week’s game was a strong showing by the defense, the unit has performed at a high level all season. Heading into Week 7, the Giants rank ninth in points and 10^th in yards allowed on the season. The defense has not surrendered more than 21 points in any game this year, despite matchups against some of the league’s most potent offenses. The unit also ranks 11^th in both third and fourth down defense, while their 41.7 percent red zone defense ranks as the seventh-best in the NFL.

A big reason for the defense’s success has been the pass rush. The Giants have registered 26 sacks through the first six games, four more than any other team. Leading the way is defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence, who is off to the best start of his NFL career. Lawrence has already picked up seven sacks this year, which has him tied for the second-most and just a half-sack shy of the league-lead. With 11 games to go, the 26-year-old needs one full sack to top his previous career-high of 7.5 sacks set in 2022. However, Daboll announced that Lawrence would not practice Wednesday due to a hip injury and is “day to day.”

Lawrence isn’t the only defensive lineman getting after the quarterback with success. Brian Burns recorded a sack of Joe Burrow last week, marking his third sack in the last four games. He also has six total quarterback hits during that span. Burns also did not practice Wednesday because of a groin injury and falls under the same “day to day” category as Lawrence. Meanwhile, Azeez Ojulari stepped into the starting lineup with Kayvon Thibodeaux placed on injured reserve and had one of the best games of his NFL career last week. Ojulari had two sacks of Burrow and finished with six total pressures on 26 pass rushes. This was his highest pressure rate generated in a game since Week 18 of 2021.

It’s been an up and down start to the season for the Eagles, who have alternated between wins and losses since their season-opening victory over the Packers in Brazil. After scoring 34 points in that Week 1 win, Philadelphia has failed to top 21 points in each of their last four games (they also had a Week 5 bye). The Eagles’ offense enters this matchup ranking 18^th in points scored but 10^th in yards gained.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts has completed 67.5 percent of his passes on the season for 1,194 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions for a 92.2 passer rating. He has also registered 56 rushing attempts for 196 yards (3.5 avg.) and an additional two touchdowns, but has fumbled the ball five times through five games. Since the start of the 2023 campaign, Hurts leads the NFL with 27 total turnovers (19 interceptions, eight fumbles).

The combination of Hurts and Barkley has helped the Eagles rushing attack rank sixth in the league with 146.2 yards per game. Barkley’s 96.4 rushing yards per game is currently the third-highest in the NFL, while his 482 rushing yards rank fourth. He is averaging an impressive 5.3 yards per carry with four touchdowns on the ground, while adding 14 receptions for 92 yards and one additional score.

After both players missed time earlier in the year, wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith both returned for the team’s Week 6 victory over Cleveland. Brown led the team with six receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown, while Smith caught three passes for 64 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Dallas Goedert left the game early due to a hamstring injury and did not participate in Wednesday’s practice. In last week’s game, Grant Calcaterra filled in for Goedert and caught four passes for 67 yards. Elsewhere on the offense, the Eagles will be without starting left tackle Jordan Mailata after he also injured his hamstring in last week’s win. Coach Nick Sirianni told reporters Monday that they expect the left tackle “to be out a couple of weeks.”

Moving over to the defense, the Eagles currently rank 14^th in points and 20^th in yards allowed. Similar to the Giants, the unit has performed well in the red zone, allowing a touchdown on just seven of 17 trips inside their 20-yard line. This 41.2 percent red zone defense ranks sixth in the NFL. Philadelphia’s 11 sacks are currently tied for the 24^th-most, while their two turnovers forced match the Las Vegas Raiders for the fewest in the league.

Both of the Eagles’ turnovers have come in the form of Reed Blankenship interceptions. Meanwhile, linebacker Zack Baun and outside linebacker Josh Sweat are tied for the team-lead with two sacks apiece. Baun also has registered a team-high 51 total tackles, while rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell leads the team with six passes defensed. Fellow rookie defensive back Cooper DeJean started his first game for the Eagles this past Sunday and notched six total tackles (three solo) and a quarterback hit. Philadelphia also boasts a talented group of defensive tackles in Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Milton Williams, who have combined for eight tackles for loss on the year.