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The Eagles extended a three game home winning streak over the Giants on Sunday, winning 27-24. Despite the Eagles winning the game, there are more winners and losers when you look deeper into it.
Winners
The Eagles
It wasn't pretty, but whew, they pulled it out. After a day where Carson Wentz looked off his game, the team was able to rally and overcome a rocky fourth quarter. The Eagles improve to 2-1, with both wins coming in the conference and division. They'll be in the drivers seat of the NFC East for at least a week regardless of what Dallas does tomorrow.
Jake Elliott
REPLACE THE ROCKY STATUE WITH JAKE ELLIOT!
— Tyler Jackson (@TjackRH) September 24, 2017
Apologies for misspelling his name, but rookie kicker Jake Elliott is forever immortalized in Philadelphia history. Replace the Rocky statue with Elliott’s pose after nailing a 61-yard field goal as time expired. Elliott missed a 52-yard field goal earlier in the game and a 30-yard field goal last week. It’s fair to believe that Doug Pederson’s play calling in-between the 40s was influenced by the uncertainty at kicker, but when called upon Elliott nailed the biggest kick of his young career and likely ended the Giants’ season.
Alshon Jeffery
Janoris Jenkins effectively shut down Alshon Jeffery when the Eagles went to him on third down, but sometimes one play is all it takes to change a game. Jeffery’s big catch to set up the field goal attempt from Elliott was clutch. Those are the kind of plays you need from a No. 1 receiver.
The Eagles’ run game
After two weeks of an inability to effectively run the ball, the Eagles ground game exploded for 193 yards and two touchdowns. LeGarrette Blount had a few early long runs and Wendell Smallwood helped the Eagles move the ball late as the Eagles averaged 4.9 yards per carry on the ground. If the Eagles can continue to run the ball somewhat as well as they did today, the play-action passing game that has effectively opened receivers deep will be lethal.
Rasul Douglas
Douglas was easily the Eagles’ best cornerback today, as the rookie defender notched his first career interception and made good plays in coverage all game long.
Odell Beckham Jr.
I think we can all agree that we hate Odell Beckham Jr., but the Giants offense is nothing without him. That was evidenced today as New York couldn't get anything going until OBJ got going. Beckham held out earlier in the offseason to secure a new contract and after a showing like the one he had today, his case for the largest skill position player contract only grows.
Losers
Giants
With an overall record of 0-3, and two of their loses being to division rivals, should effectively end the Giants season. The Giants suffered their fourth straight loss in Philadelphia dating back to 2014 and the offense couldn't get out of it’s own way. Twice the Giants found themselves in the red zone and twice they turned the ball over on downs. Put a fork in this team.
Health
The Eagles lost Jordan Hicks, Jason Peters and Fletcher Cox this week. This was after coming into the game with Chris Maragos and Malcolm Jenkins as the team’s starting safeties. Maybe Week 4 byes aren't bad? OK, but seriously, the Eagles could really benefit if the injury bug would leave the building.
Eli Manning
Manning looked awful when the Giants’ offensive line gave him time to throw deep. Between the Rasul Douglas interception and various other deep throws, you can tell Eli’s deep ball is losing any effectiveness it had. Man, OBJ really did extend Eli’s career.