Eagles vs. Giants: The Good & The Not-So-Good

Didn’t I tell you that NBC gets the best games? Depending on how the final six games of the season play out, Sunday night’s marquis divisional showdown between the Eagles and the Giants just might go down as one of the most memorable and important games of the 2010 season. This game looked like a blowout at first, and then saw two comeback efforts before it was all decided. But in the end, the red-hot Eagles took sole possession of first place in the NFC East. Here’s the good and the not-so-good from Sunday night’s exciting matchup.

The Good

• The Eagles’ first half offensive line: Juan Castillo deserves major props for turning this unit into a reliable offensive line. And though they struggled in the game’s second half against some of the Giants’ well-designed delayed safety blitzes, in the first half, they gave Michael Vick just short of all day to make his throws. Their blocking played a big role in the Eagles’ fast start.
• LeSean McCoy: After this game, it might be safe to say that McCoy could be one of the best multi-purpose backs in the game. When he hits the open field, say goodbye. He’s nearly uncatchable. And his agility and nimble footwork is unmatched in the division. Case in point: towards the end of the first quarter on a 2^nd and 9, McCoy caught a short pass from Vick and proceeded to make an effective pair of fake cuts to left as he ran into the middle of the field. His juking turned a 5-yard checkdown into a 10-yard gain for the first down. I don’t think anybody’s missing Brian Westbrook in Philly.
• The secondary: I’ve been pretty tough on this group all year long, but after Sunday’s game, I’m just about ready to admit I was wrong. The Eagles’ defensive backs played an excellent game. Their tight coverage scheme in the first half forced the Giants to throw dink-and-dunk passes outside the numbers. That strategy helped the Eagles jump out to an early 16-3 lead at halftime. And intercepting Eli Manning 3 times didn’t hurt either. At times this group might have played too tight (as seen by a pass-interference call in the third quarter?), but they made the Giants work for every passing yard.
• Michael Vick’s sparkly ear-bling: When I saw Vick sporting some bedazzled man-jewelry at his post-game press conference, I felt compelled to include a joke in this post. But then I remembered his record-breaking 6-TD performance against Washington last week, and I think Vick has earned the right to do whatever he wants.

The Not-So-Good

• Michael Vick’s open-field running: If there was any thought that Vick was going to be wiser about running between the numbers after suffering a rib injury, this game made it clear that he won’t be shying away from making plays. And while Vick’s running did net the Eagles their first touchdown of the game, it also exposed to him to numerous open-field tackles, including one in which he was nearly sandwiched again. It’s one thing to make plays, but the Eagles won’t be able to afford it if he gets injured again.
• Ellis Hobb’s frightening injury: It was brutal, ugly, and an entirely legal hit. But most importantly, it was another horrifying reminder of just how badly things can go on the field for NFL players. Thankfully, Hobbs was able to leave the locker room under his own power in a neck brace.
• Eli Manning’s slide/dive: I know this doesn’t pertain to anything that the Eagles did, but I never miss an opportunity to make fun of Eli Manning. With the game on the line at the end of the fourth quarter, Eli Manning broke off on a run that looked like it might give the Giants a chance to win. But then, when Manning realized he was about to be tackled, he made one of the dumbest plays I have ever seen. Seemingly torn between sliding and diving ahead, Manning chose an odd mixture of the two. The result was an incredibly awkward-looking tumble that bore a striking resemblance to what a wind-up toy dinosaur does when you knock it over. Naturally, Eli fumbled and the ruling was upheld after challenge because by not sliding, Manning was still an untouched runner. You would think that an “elite, Super Bowl-winning” QB like him would know something like that.

It’s funny how things change in the NFL. Before the year began, there were quite a few people (including me) who were predicting the Giants to compete for the division title while the Eagles would take a year to let the team gel under the leadership of Kevin Kolb. And now, 11 weeks later, the Eagles look to be embarking on another of their trademark mid-season winning streaks, and the Giants look to be on the verge of a late-season deflation—just like last year.

And if the Eagles—who have scored 109 points in their last three games—can keep their team firing on all cylinders, then they should be able to put away a division title with ease.