The New York Giants had won six straight games against the No. 1 in the NFC Playoffs. It’s a streak that obviously took years to build, aided by the fact that the Giants have only made the playoffs twice in the last 11 years.
It took the Eagles about five minutes to tear that run to shreds in their 38-7 demolition of the Giants in the NFC divisional round of the playoffs Saturday night at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Eagles are now advancing into the NFC Championship for the first time since the 2017 season and for the eighth time in franchise history, seventh since 2001, awaiting the victors of the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys.
This game was over before it even started. The Eagles led 28-0 at halftime and were never threatened (second-largest halftime lead in franchise playoff history since leading 38-7 against the Detroit Lions on December 30, 1995). It tied the Eagles’ all-time playoff record at 24-24.
The Eagles team ranks second in franchise playoff history with a total rushing yards of 268 behind the 274 rushing yards the Eagles rushed in their 14-0 1949 NFL championship win over Norm Van Brocklin and the Los Angeles accumulated rams.
In his first NFL playoff win, Jalen Hurts completed 16 of 24 for 154 yards and two touchdowns while the Eagles’ defense thwarted the Giants’ hot hand of Daniel Jones, who was 15 for 27, for 135 yards and an interception.
In the Eagles’ stunning 38-7 loss to the New York Giants, there were heaps of good, touches of bad, and ugly here and there.
The good
Get it right Lane Johnsonright guard Isaac Seumalocenter Jason Kelceleft guard Landon Dickerson and grab left Jordan Mailataand tight end Dallas Goedert absolutely manhandling, controlling and directing the Giants’ defensive front into whatever they wanted to do, down to the tune 416 total meter, 268 get on the ground.
Eagles first half: They led 28-0 at halftime, with 18 first downs against the three Giants, defeated New York 258-64, converted six of seven third downs, scored on four of their six possessions and ran 43 plays against the Giants from ’19 while Hurts was 12/17 for 118 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another score.
Defensive End josh sweat‘s eight-yard sack on a third-and-10 at the Giants ’15 with 5:00 to play.
Security Reed Blankenship He defeated Saquon Barkley for a four-yard loss on a first-and-10 at the Giants ’25 on New York’s fourth possession.
On the Eagles’ fourth possession, Hurts went seven yards on a third and three to the Giants’ 13. It turned out Boston Scott three-yard touchdown for a 21-0 Eagles lead.
Miles Sanders running back In his first six games, he rushed for 43 total yards on the Eagles’ fourth drive. It set up Scott’s touchdown in the second quarter. Sanders finished with 90 yards.
Cornerback James Bradberry‘s diving interception on the Giants’ second possession at the New York 46. Unfortunately, the Eagles couldn’t handle the turnover. It was a great call from the defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon sent CJ Gardner-Johnson on a blitz, forcing Jones to an early throw and Bradberry was there to jump the route. Bradberry made a nice stop at the Giants ’15 on New York’s third possession and tackled Isaiah Hodgins for a three-yard gain on a third and four.
AJ Brown’s blockade on Giants cornerback Adoree Jackson, who broke free De Vonta Smith for a nine-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead for the Eagles with 1:21 in the first quarter. Hurts was then 7-for-7 for 89 yards and two touchdowns.
Hurts He showed he was okay on a first-and-10 at the Giants ’17, walking nine yards before going down. It proved he could take a punch.
Eagles second possession, running back Kenneth Gainwell 14 yards on a third-and-one in the Giants ’43. Left tackle Jordan Mailata provided a great block and prevented Giants linebacker Jarrad Davis from getting anywhere. Gainwell later made a six-yard gain on a third and one on the Giants ’17 on the Eagles’ last possession in the half. He came on a tough 12-yard run to the Giants ’13 with 5:57 left that sealed the win for the Eagles. Gainwell finished with 112 Meter.
linebacker Haason Reddick The Giants’ right tackle beats Evan Neal for a five-yard sack from Jones at the Eagles ’40 on New York’s first possession. It’s the first defensive play the Eagles had made up to that point and it was a huge momentum swing. Reddick performed a stunt in the next game, turning and running through Giants center Jon Feliciano to sack Jones for an eight-yard loss.
The Eagles’ inaugural drive. They made it look easy – and it set the tone for the game. Hurts went 5-for-5 for 68 yards and a touchdown while the Eagles suffered just two thirds down on the eight-play 75-yard drive that took 4 minutes and 54 seconds of the clock.
In third and fifth place with the Giants ’15 on the Eagles’ first possession, tight end Dallas Goedert He collected a left-hand pass from Hurts and took full advantage of the fall of Giants’ safety Xavier McKinney to earn the first score of the game. Goedert had possibly his best all-around half in football as a pro, catching four passes to four targets for 35 yards and a touchdown and making pancake blocks on field on outside runs from Gainwell and Sanders. Goedert finished with five receptions for 58 yards.
The Eagles converted their first third down when Hurts hit AJ Brown on a five-yard pass at the Giants ’21 for a third and a third on the first drive of the game.
The second turn of the game It hurts to hit Smith With a 40-yard pass, he beat Giants safety Julian Love. It revealed that Hurts may not have been as “hurt” as many in the pre-game media were speculating. The game turned the field, moving the ball from the Eagles’ 27 to the Giants’ 33.
The bad
Granted, it was late, cornerback kill Darius He allowed a 17-yard completion on a fourth and 16 to play 4:17 when Jones hit Marcus Johnson at the Giants ’34.
Plus 28-7 and the game in hand why Run Hurts to play on a third and two at the Eagles ’38 with 11:13 left? Kayvon Thibodeaux eventually made the tackle but there was a risk of Hurts being out there when it wasn’t necessary.
Security Reed Blankenship fell to third and fourth in the Giants ’30 on a 12-yard completion from Jones to Richie James on New York’s first possession. Blankenship was stabbed again in the next game when Jones Lawrence Cager hit the Eagles’ 42 for a 16-yard gain. Against the Giants, the Eagles’ flawed safety zone was easy to hide. Against the Dallas or San Francisco offense, it could be a different story.
the ugly
Defensive End josh sweat being completely fooled at the left end on an eight-yard touchdown by Matt Breida. It was a feral cat for Barkley to make a choice and instead of keeping the ball he passed it to Breida and caught Sweat, in charge of the outer containment, flatfooted as Breida ran right past him.
On the Giants’ second drive of the second half, on a third and two on the New York 20, Barkley broke a 39-yard streak to the Eagles’ 41st linebacker TJ Edwards filled the wrong gap. He came through from the right as Barkley flew untouched down center until he was 30 yards underfield. security Markus Epps took Barkley from a bad angle and added yards to the Giants’ dangerous running back. This game served as the catalyst for the Giants’ first result in a game the Eagles completely dominated.
On the Giants’ second possession, Jones seems to have all day Hitting Matt Breida with a 19-yard pass to the Eagles’ 49. If you watch a replay, you’ll see that Hasson Reddick somehow confused with Giants’ right tackle Evan Neal in a way that’s sure to have everyone laughing during this week’s film session, with his helmet tucked between Neal’s legs. Luckily for the Eagles, Jones threw in an interception James Bradberry to the next game.
With the Eagles having an early chance to take a 21-0 lead, right attack Lane Johnson‘s false start at the Giants’ 44, turned a third and eight into a third and 13 at the Giants’ 49 and forced the Eagles to the first punt. It was New York’s first stop and gave the Giants some hope that they could stop the Eagles’ offense. That momentum quickly faded.
Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning Philadelphia-area sportswriter who has written reports for SI.com, ESPN.com, NFL.com, MLB.com, Deadspin and The Philadelphia Daily News. In 2006, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for a special project feature for ESPN.com entitled “Love at First Beep.” He is best known for his award-winning ESPN.com article about high school wrestler AJ Detwiler in February 2006, which appeared on SportsCenter. In 2015 he was elected President of the Boxing Writers Association of America.