The Eagles (2-3) are heading to North Jersey to take on the Giants (1-4) at MetLife Stadium.
With a win, the Eagles would take over first place in the NFC East.
We all incorrectly picked the Eagles to beat the Vikings last week.
Reuben Frank (3-2)
The Eagles are lucky to be in a division where they're going to have a chance to find themselves and still be in the middle of a playoff hunt once they do. I see a team that's losing games because they're playing stupid, undisciplined, inconsistent football but still fighting and still battling and still caring. You are what you are, and the Eagles are 2-3, but I also get the sense they're underachieving. They're a decent team playing poorly. Not a terrible team. So they have a chance to work this thing out and get back in the mix, and I expect them to start that process at the Meadowlands Thursday night.
Weird things happen on short weeks, so anything's possible, but I think the defense plays OK against the Giants and the offense gets its act together and the Eagles escape East Rutherford with a win. I'm looking for three takeaways, a big game from Nelson Agholor and a hold-your-breath 29-27 win that gets the Eagles back to .500.
Eagles 29, Giants 27
Dave Zangaro (1-4)
Good news, Eagles fans. I'm picking the Giants in this one. That's good news because as bad as the Eagles have been this season, I've been even worse at predicting their games.
Here's my reasoning: Sure, the Eagles have had the Giants' number in recent years, but even last season, when the Eagles were a great team, they didn't crush the Giants. These teams play close games. It took a 61-yard field goal in the first game, and the Giants were one play away from winning in the second meeting last year. The Eagles were winning those types of games in 2017; in 2018, they seem to be losing them. Don't love that they're on the road (even though it's close) on a short week. It's sort of a coin flip that I don't trust the Eagles to win.
Giants 24, Eagles 23
Derrick Gunn (2-3)
It's bad enough the Eagles are riding a two-game losing streak, but now they've lost running back Jay Ajayi for the season. So where does their inconsistent run game go from here? Who knows. The offensive line has been a disappointment protecting Carson Wentz, who has been sacked 12 times and hit at least 27 times in his three starts.
As for the Giants, they've had more than their share of problems and it begins with a porous offensive line that can't open holes for rookie RB Saquon Barkley. Defensively, the G-Men don't generate much of a pass rush, tied for last in the league in QB sacks with six. This should be a game Wentz has time to throw and hit on big pass plays since New York has given up 18 passes of 20 or more yards.
But with that said, I just don't feel good about where the Eagles are as a team right now. The Giants are ticked off after letting an upset road win at Carolina slip away because of a 63-yard field goal. They're at home, in the national spotlight and a win could be the spark they need in a mediocre NFC East. A few weeks ago, I wouldn't have thought it possible, but the way things have looked for the Eagles the past few weeks, I don't trust them. I hope I'm wrong.
Giants 24, Eagles 21
Ray Didinger (2-3)
It is hard to have confidence in the Eagles given the way they are playing. Killer turnovers, blown assignments, stupid penalties, lack of discipline, the whole "How to Lose in the NFL" playbook, that's the story of the Eagles' season so far.
For the third time in four weeks, they will face a former offensive assistant. First, it was Frank Reich (Colts), then it was John DeFilippo (Vikings), now it is Pat Shurmur, head coach of the Giants. Does that give you pause? It should if only because the Eagles' offense seems to have lost its way, failing to score more than 23 points in any game this season. The play-calling and in-game decisions on Sunday were worrisome, to say the least.
The defending champs have one thing going for them and that's their division. The NFC East stinks so if they take care of business there, they will be back in the playoffs. It starts with beating the Giants.
Eagles 24, Giants 20
Andrew Kulp (2-3)
I'm about done riding the Eagles if they lose this one. Of course, smarter folks than me are probably already there, but it's the Giants. I can't think of a compelling reason to take the Giants over the Eagles, other than the Eagles might be a bad team, too. I don't think they're that bad though. They can't be ... can they?
Eagles 24, Giants 21
Corey Seidman (1-4)
Being 1-4 in these predictions is embarrassing, but Barrett and Seth are as well! This team has been incredibly difficult to project week to week.
This does feel like the easiest game prediction of the season so far, though. The Giants are a mess. Bad O-line, QB/WR drama, Eli Manning's awfulness.
I think Saquon Barkley will be the first back to do some real damage against the 2018 Eagles, but I also expect the Birds to finally get out to a fast start and score 3+ TDs in a game.
Should be another monstrous performance for Zach Ertz. The Giants have been decent against tight ends this season but allowed 81 receptions for 965 yards and 13 TDs to them last year.
Also feeling the first defensive or special teams TD of the season for the Eagles.
Eagles 28, Giants 16
