Approach to the Game – New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles, December 30, 2001: When the schedule first came out many months ago, we all looked to this game as most likely the decisive one in determining the outcome of the NFC East race. Seems like a long time ago. Well this game has finally arrived and just as we speculated, this one is as important was believed. But who would have envisioned how both the Giants and Eagles got to this point? For most of the season, the Eagles have played fairly well and remained front runners in the division. The Giants – as we all know – suffered two bad 3-game losing streaks. Only three weeks ago, they were 5-7 and all looked lost. After two come-from-behind wins, New York is 7-7. The Eagles lost last weekend and are now 9-5.
The division is still the Eagles to lose. All they need is one win or one loss by the Giants and they are the NFC East Champs. The odds are stacked against New York. If the Giants someone manage to slip by Philly, they will then face Brett Farve’s Packers the following weekend. The Eagles travel to Tampa to play a team they dominated in the playoffs last year.
But the Giants are alive and kicking and still very much a threat. The Eagles know this. The pressure is on Philadephia – not New York. If the Eagles somehow blow a 3-game lead in the East when there was three games left to play, it will go down in history as one of the greater collapses in NFL history. The Giants? Most “experts” wrote them off weeks ago. Most expect them to falter still. “So what if they beat the Eagles? They’ll lose to the Packers,” they contend. “Regardless, all Philly needs is one win.” We’ll see…the pressure is there and it matters.
This game evokes memories of other late-season intra-division wars between the Giants and other NFC opponents. There were the disappointing failures against the Cardinals in 1984 and the Cowboys in 1985 – Stump Mitchell killed the Giants in the former; who can forget “Too Tall” Jones stealing the latter game? Remember, the Giants traveling to hostile RFK in 1986 for the division title and coming away victorious? Remember how you felt when a one-armed Emmitt Smith beat the Jints in 1993? That game was for the division too. In 1997, it was the Fassel-led Giants whose victories over the Eagles and Redskins late in the year won the NFC East. In 2000, the crown was secured by the G-Men in Dallas with some late-game heroics. My point? These are the games that are remembered by fans, sportswriters, and players. These games are the reason we watch and dream. To the victor, glory.
Giants on Offense: To me, the Giants’ success or failure on offense will come down to these four points:
- Strategically, Offensive Coordinator Sean Payton and Head Coach Jim Fassel must come up with a quality game plan AND, tactically, Payton must call a good game. In the regular season games last year between the Giants and Eagles, New York was able to move the ball pretty well against the Eagles and put up a lot of points (33 and 24). However, in the post-season the Giants’ offense only mustered 3 points (the other 14 came on special teams and defense). This year, the Giants could only put 9 points up on the board. Has Philly figured out New York’s offense and Payton? In the earlier game this year, the Eagle defenders were calling out the Giants’ plays before the snap of the ball. The Giants’ offensive brain trust needs to come up with some fresh material or it will be a long day.
- The offensive line, tight ends, and Greg Comella must control the trenches for most of the game. No one is going to shut out Philadelphia completely up front – they are too good and too well-coached. The Eagles have allowed the fewest points in the League for a reason. Philadelphia will make its share of plays. The secret for the Giants is to keep these plays to a minimum and that starts up front with the run blocking and pass protection. Blitz pick-ups by the backs are also important – you can bet Philly is aware of how much problem Tiki Barber and Ron Dayne had in picking up the blitz last week. The huge match-ups up front are Lomas Brown versus Hugh Douglas and Ron Stone versus Corey Simon.
- The wide receivers need to make some big plays against the tough Eagle secondary. Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor are two big corners. Free safety Brian Dawkins is one of the best players at his position in the NFL.
- Kerry Collins needs to play well. The Eagles’ game-plan will dare Collins to make plays under pressure. “We bring it; it doesn’t matter who we play or what part of the game it is. That’s this defense,” Eagles’ head coach Andy Reid says. “(Collins) will see plenty of blitzes and people coming from every way imaginable.” Fans know – the book on Collins is that if you pressure him, he will unravel and lose the game. The ball is in his court and the fate of the team rests on his head and right arm.
Giants on Defense: The Giants did a good job of shutting down the Eagles in the last game EXCEPT for the late in the fourth quarter. New York lost. They could have won if the defense held its ground. The Giants will need a COMPLETE game effort this time. Like their brethren on offense, the defensive line needs to control the line of scrimmage. It must be a four-player from Strahan, Griffin, Hamilton, and Holmes. The Giants have a lot invested in the defensive line and it is there time to deliver – across the board. Shut down Duce Staley and get after McNabb. Cover his security blanket Chad Lewis and don’t let James Thrash beat you deep. McNabb is the wild card – he can look great or terrible at times. The one thing you don’t want him to do is get out of the pocket too much as he can hurt you badly with his feet. The linebackers also must keep an eye on Brian Mitchell out of the backfield; he’s the kind of player who can be used on trick plays as well.
With Jason Sehorn out, it’s show-time for the young pups at corner: Will Allen and Will Peterson. You can bet your ass that the Eagles will test these guys. How will they respond to the pressure? Remember, they are still very inexperienced. It is also very important for nickel back Emmanuel McDaniel to play well. Although he usually plays well, he can be guilty of a bad game here and there. The Giants need his very best on Sunday.
Giants on Special Teams: Close games are decided by special teams play. The Giants MUST, MUST, MUST keep Brian Mitchell under control on kick-off and punt returns.