The New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles squared off at MetLife Stadium on Sunday in what was the final regular season game for both teams, but one that meant much more to Philly than New York.
With a win, the Eagles would win the NFC East. On the other side of the field, the Giants were potentially playing for Pat Shurmur’s job.
Out of the gate, the Giants looked sloppy, ill-prepared and unenthusiastic. For the first time in weeks, they appeared like a group that was done and looking ahead to their vacation. And their play in the first half was indicative of that.
Rookie quarterback Daniel Jones went 11-of-21 for 116 yards, while running back Saquon Barkley was limited to just three yards on five carries — all up the middle into an eight-man box — and wide receiver Golden Tate had a crushing drop.
Couple that with poor offensive line play and remarkably poor clock management, and Big Blue could muster just three points on a 37-yard field goal through the rain drops.
The Eagles, meanwhile, clearly looked like a team with a lot to lose despite an overwhelming amount of injuries that only became compounded as the game went on.
Despite that, Philly was able to take a 10-3 lead into halftime thanks in part to a big half from running back Miles Sanders (52 yards on nine carries) and quarterback Carson Wentz, who hit third-string tight end Josh Perkins on a 28-yard touchdown pass that went across his body into the coverage of eight defensive backs.
Jake Elliott also had a 31-yard field goal.
In the second half, the Giants not only made some necessary adjustments, but their players came alive.
Jones and Tate kicked things off by connecting on a 20-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 10, but the Eagles were quick to come back with a score of their own — a seven-yard Boston Scott touchdown to cap off a nine-play, 62 yard drive.
But then came Saquon on his first outside run all game.
On the first play of the ensuing drive after Philly re-took the lead, Jones handed the ball to Barkley, who cut it outside and took off down the sideline throwing up deuces as he hit the open field, blazing his way 68 yards for the game-tying score.
With their playoff lives on the line, the Eagles would fight right back and re-take the lead with 13:58 remaining in the fourth quarter, however. This time, Elliott connected from 50 yards out through the rain and wet snow.
Three plays later, Jones’ fumbling issues reared their ugly head again as he couldn’t get a hold of a low snap, which he inadvertently booted backwards, allowing the Eagles to recover it at the one-yard line. It then took one play for Scott to plunge it into the endzone, giving Philly a 27-17 in what felt like the blink of an eye.
With the finish line in sight, the Eagles would not be denied. Their defense began to swarm, Jones was beaten into the ground, the offensive line was abused and Pat Shurmur, in what will likely be his final game as head coach, was embarrassed.
Already up 10 points, the Eagles put their foot on the throat of the Giants late in the fourth and pressed. And with 6:14 remaining, Scott scored this third touchdown of the contest, this one from two yards out to cap off a four-play, 38-yard drive.
The Giants gave it one last go, but with just under 4:00 remaining, wide receiver Darius Slayton slipped and fell down leading to a Daniel Jones interception. That would be all she wrote.
With the loss, the Giants finish the season with a record of 4-12.
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