Observations from the Eagles’ first loss to the Giants since 2016, 27 to 17

On Wednesday, we asked: “Is this the week the Philadelphia Eagles will finally fail to beat the New York Giants?”

The answer: Yes.

For the first time since 2016, the Eagles lost to the G-Men. Final score: 27 to 17. Really just an embarrassing performance.

The Eagles are now 3-5-1 on the season. And still first in the NFC East, lol.

Read on for observations and postgame thoughts. Or don’t. Who cares!

FIRST QUARTER

• The Giants got the ball first. Derek Barnett sacked Daniel Jones on the first play from scrimmage. It was his first sack since last bringing Jones down in Week 7. He could benefit from going up against Andrew Thomas more often. Jones completed a first down pass over the middle to Darius Slayton, who got banged up after the catch. The Giants picked up a few more first downs to move into field goal range. But they didn’t need to settle for three with Jones taking off for a 34-yard touchdown run. Just another play where the defense struggled to stop a non-running back rushing attempt. Josh Sweat looked culpable on that one. He’s been a liability against the run at times. Really missed watching the Eagles play! EAGLES 0, GIANTS 7.

• The Eagles’ starting offensive line was unexpected with Sua Opeta at left guard instead of Nate Herbig. The entire configuration:

Left tackle — Jason Peters
Left guard — Sua Opeta
Center — Jason Kelce
Right guard — Matt Pryor
Right tackle — Lane Johnson

Herbig was limited in practice leading up to this game so that might explain his absence.

• Carson Wentz threw high and incomplete to Alshon Jeffery. It was great to see him getting a target before Travis Fulgham. Wentz threw high to Dallas Goedert, who could’ve caught it but wasn’t able to hold on. The Eagles converted a 4th-and-1 with a quick throw to Jalen Reagor. They moved into field goal range with some nice runs from Miles Sanders. The Eagles got to 3rd-and-3 and Wentz’s hesitation on an attempted rub route by Reagor allowed James Bradberry to come in and break up the pass. The Eagles settled for a 40-yard field goal from Jake Elliott and he made it. EAGLES 3, GIANTS 7.

• The Giants drove into field goal range again without much resistance. Then they moved into the red zone. They finished the first half with a running attempt for no gain to bring up 4th-and-1 from the 2-yard line.

SECOND QUARTER

• The Giants went for it on fourth down and Wayne Gallman jumped over the line for a touchdown. Really nice start for the Birds. EAGLES 3, GIANTS 14.

• The Eagles picked up a pair of first downs with Wentz completions to Richard Rodgers. Dick Rod also had success against the Giants in Week 7. Wentz stumbled on a 3rd-and-1 and was immediately downed for a four-yard loss. Lol. The Eagles’ offense stayed on the field but only to unsuccessfully try to draw the defense offside. Then the Eagles punted from the Giants’ 45-yard line. Why isn’t Doug Pederson going for that? Booooooooo!
• Brandon Graham hit Jones as he threw to force an incompletion and punt on 3rd-and-2. Been a great season for BLG.
• Booming 71-yard punt by the Giants forced the Eagles to start from their own 6-yard line. Wentz threw an uncatchable pass high of Greg Ward on third down but the Eagles got bailed out with a defensive pass interference penalty. The Eagles got to 3rd-and-11 around midfield and Wentz’s deep shot wasn’t on target. Punt.
• Rudy Ford, who has been good on special teams this year (look, Mom, a positive thing about the Eagles!) down the Eagles’ punt at the 2-yard line. The Giants were able to drive to 4th-and-1 from the Eagles’ 49-yard line with 1:17 left in the quarter. They pretended to go for it but took the delay of game penalty and punted. Really just should have went for it with the way they were running the ball.
• The Eagles took over at their own 11-yard line with 1:07 left in the quarter. Wentz threw a pass that got tipped and fell short of Sanders. Then he dropped a low quality snap from Jason Kelce and got tackled for a loss. Travis Fulgham committed a false start to set the Eagles up at 3rd-and-14 from their own 7-yard line. Wentz aired it out deep to Reagor, who was blanketed by Bradberry as the pass fell incomplete. Another punt.
• The Giants took over at the Eagles’ 43-yard line after a mere 40-yard punt from Cameron Johnston was returned by Jabrill Peppers for 10 yards. Nickell Robey-Coleman had a chance to intercept a tipped pass but dropped it. The Giants failed to get in position for a field goal attempt and instead Jones got sacked by Fletcher Cox to end the first half.

THIRD QUARTER

• Dumb and unnecessary block in the back penalty by Shaun Bradley on the Eagles’ kick return forced Philly to start at their own 16-yard line. Bradley committed the penalty as he could see Boston Scott was going out of bounds.

The Eagles FINALLY did a good thing with Boston Scott, the perpetual Giants Killer, breaking off a 56-yard touchdown. His tip-toeing along the sideline was reviewed and the call stood. Looked like his foot MIGHT have been out but not obvious enough to overrule the play. The Eagles went for a two-point conversion and Sanders punched it in. Suddenly a field goal game. EAGLES 11, GIANTS 14.

• Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate made back-to-back great leaping catches to quickly move the Giants into goal-to-go territory. Lol. Memories:

The Giants punched the ball in with Gallman for another touchdown. Just a terrible response by the defense. EAGLES 11, GIANTS 21.

• The Eagles picked up a first down on a play where Kelce snapped the ball too low into Jalen Hurts’ feet for a fumble and Sanders picked it up to rush for a first down. Just how the coaching staff drew it up! The Eagles did a nice job of moving into the red zone with Wentz taking what the Giants defense was giving him. A Sanders rushing attempt moved Philly to goal-to-go territory and then Corey Clement (!) punched it in for the score. First Clement touchdown since October 2018. Nice response by the offense! Pederson had the Eagles go for two again and Wentz got sacked. Matt Pryor beat by Leonard Williams. EAGLES 17, GIANTS 21.

• Javon Hargrave Actually Did Something Alert! Half a sack on Jones, split with T.Y. McGill. The Giants got to 3rd-and-11 and Jones ran but Duke Riley tackled him short of the sticks to force the three-and-out. Boom.
• The Eagles brought Hurts in for a predictable run on 2nd-and-10 and he was tackled for a loss. Wentz’s 3rd-and-11 throw to Ward was incomplete. Would’ve been like a 1-yard gain if completed. Maybe the Eagles should’ve just run the ball with Sanders, who was averaging 7.5 yards per carry, instead of getting too cute with Hurts? Just a thought to not kill a drive.

FOURTH QUARTER

• Slayton dropped a wide open pass that would’ve allowed the Giants to convert on 4th-and-4 and at least move into field goal range. Giants’ drops have been an Eagles MVP this season.
• ANOTHER low snap by Kelce set up Wentz to get sacked for an 8-yard loss. Wentz overthrew Goedert on second down. On 3rd-and-18, the Eagles ran a coward’s run to Sanders for a 1-yard gain. Punt. Eagles now 0/7 on third down. Kinda bad.

• 20-yard punt return by Peppers allowed the Giants to start with strong field position at Philly’s 41-yard line.

Vinny Curry notched a sack on Jones that was wiped out by defensive holding on T.J. Edwards. The Giants moved into the red zone and Jones ran 15 yards for another touchdown but it was brought back due to holding. Good call since Andrew Thomas was mugging Sweat. Instead of scoring seven, the Giants had to settle for a 35-yard field goal attempt. Graham Gano made it. EAGLES 17, GIANTS 24.

• Sanders dropped a short pass to bring up 3rd-and-10. Wentz’s third down throw was behind Fulgham, who couldn’t hold on. Would’ve been a tough grab. Wentz’s fourth down back shoulder throw for Reagor was broken up nicely by Bradberry, who was blanketing the rookie wide receiver. Turnover on downs. Maybe not the idea to attack the Giants’ best cover guy on a critical play.
• The Giants took over at their own 36-yard line. Darius Slayton beat Darius Slay (Slay-on-Slay crime) down the field for a 40-yard gain. The Giants ran some clock and then tried a 44-yard field goal attempt. It looked like it was going to go wide right before bending back in for the score. EAGLES 17, GIANTS 27.
• The Eagles got to 3rd-and-10 and Wentz got sacked to make the Eagles 0/9 on third down. On 4th-and-16, Wentz rolled right and completed to Scott short of the sticks for a turnover on downs. Game.
• The Giants ran the clock out to seal the deal.

FINAL SCORE: 27 to 17, Eagles LOSE

---

RAPID REACTION

• Doug Pederson is now 1-4 after the bye. Somehow worse off with more time to prepare.
• This was just an awful game by the coaching staff. So many poor decisions.
• This offense is painful to watch. 0/9 on third down!!!!!
• Carson Wentz, still not looking good.
• Miles Sanders is good! Shame he only touched the ball 17 times in this game.
• Sua Opeta and Matt Pryor ... they’re not good. The Eagles should’ve had Jason Peters playing at guard with Jordan Mailata at left tackle.
• Wasting a roster spot on Alshon Jeffery all season long ... totally worth it! Zero catches today.
• The defense gave up 27 points to an offense that was scoring 17.2 offensive points per game. They weren’t able to notch a takeaway against a total turnover machine in Jones. Just not good enough.
• Special teams also deserves blame in this loss. Really, everyone does.
• The Eagles are an Evan Engram drop away from being 0-2 against the Giants this year. Please let that sink in.
• The Eagles could feasibly go 0-5 in their next five games. So that’s cool.

---

INJURIES

• Dallas Goedert visited the medical tent on the Eagles’ first drive. He was evaluated for a head injury and was cleared to return.
• Fletcher Cox got banged up on the final play of the third quarter but was right back in for the first play of the fourth.
• Rudy Ford suffered (yet another) hamstring injury in the fourth quarter.
• This report about Nate Herbig emerged during the game. Explains the Opeta start: