These Jalen Hurts Eagles are no one’s Rocky. Extra like Clubber Lang sprinting up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Artwork.
The Giants will present up anyway.
They know they should play the best way December contenders play, not essentially the right sport, however rattling shut.
There are inalienable soccer truths that so typically outline the distinction between profitable and dropping. … The one which looms largest over the others in Eagles-Giants on Sunday is espoused by Saquon Barkley:
“It’s the identical factor as each sport: Dominate the road of scrimmage. You dominate the road of scrimmage, you win soccer video games.”
Serby’s Massive Blueprint for surprising the world:
Bully the bullies: The Eagles have a large, elite offensive line.
“In all probability probably the greatest within the NFL. That could be an understatement,” Kayvon Thibodeaux mentioned.
Veteran heart Jason Kelce is the anchor.
“He’s quick. When you consider a middle that may transfer, that’s scrappy, you consider Kelce,” Justin “Jelly” Ellis mentioned.
The matchup there's Kelce’s mind towards Dexter Lawrence’s brawn.
“I noticed some statistics about their heart being like no pressures, no sacks, no nothing,” Thibodeaux mentioned. “I talked to Dex like, ‘Hey, that’s the man you’re going towards.’ He simply type of laughed at me, and we went on to the assembly.”
Thibodeaux laughed when it was prompt that he was making an attempt to rile up Lawrence.
“Positively making an attempt to place some pink in entrance of that bull,” Thibodeaux mentioned.
The Giants offensive line should stand as much as and maintain up towards the military of defensive linemen that the Eagles (42 sacks) will throw at Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley — and maintain your fingers crossed that his questionable neck is just not problematic.
Play to win: The quote from Herm Edwards was not, “You play to tie the sport.” Don’t be afraid to go for it this time on a crucial fourth-and-3. Third-and-1 deep in enemy territory earlier than the half? Take an end-zone shot. Nothing fallacious with a faux punt or faux area aim both, on the proper time. Ship a message to the Eagles that forfeiting the sport was by no means a consideration.
Begin quick: Play from forward. Get your followers into the sport early. The Eagles could be susceptible early: The Jaguars jumped on them in a 14-0 first quarter earlier than dropping 29-21, and the Colts took a 13-3 lead into the fourth quarter earlier than folding in a 17-16 defeat.
“You may’t let up, as a result of I really feel like they’ve been down this 12 months they usually got here again, so I really feel like when you get on ‘em you gotta keep on ’em,” Ellis mentioned.
Win on first down: “You wish to maintain your offense on schedule, in order that means the offensive coordinator has his complete Rolodex of play calls and stuff like that,” Evan Neal mentioned. Third-and-manageable is preferable to third-and-unmanageable.
Residence run: Saquon and Daniel Jones must outrush Miles Sanders and Hurts. Houston’s Dameon Pierce and Davis Mills (157 mixed yards) outrushed Sanders and Hurts (116) in a 29-17 loss. Brian Robinson and Taylor Heinicke (96 mixed yards) outrushed Sanders and Hurts (82) within the Commanders’ 32-21 upset.
Barkley has averaged simply 2.8 per carry over his previous three video games. Deploy him within the passing sport as nicely. His six receptions in Week 1 was a season excessive. Anybody bear in mind his rookie season when he caught 91 balls?
Hold pounding: The Commanders stored Hurts on the sideline for 40:24, however that’s a pipe dream. However the Giants have been inspired by the Commanders’ persistence on the bottom (152 yards).
Neal: “They have been simply taking part in actually sound. Took care of the ball nicely, they usually by no means misplaced their poise, they simply stored chipping away, chipping away, one play after the following. Philly made an excellent play, they didn’t let it have an effect on them. Took ’em out to the deep finish, and that’s type of what you’re gonna need to do to win video games like that.”
Andrew Thomas: “They only had a bodily mindset, you could possibly inform that they needed to run the ball, they usually fought exhausting to try this. It wasn’t straightforward, it’s by no means gonna be straightforward if it’s an excellent entrance, however they bought good double-teams, they usually stored chopping. That’s the best way to do it.”
It’s price noting that mountainous Eagles rookie defensive sort out Jordan Davis has returned, and Ndamukong Suh and Linval Joseph have been added, and Derrick Henry (11 rushes, 30 yards) was stuffed final week.
No spy video games: The Packers tried it with rookie linebacker Quay Walker, and Hurts (157) led a 363-yard dashing assault in a 40-33 victory. Until, in fact, Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale can discover higher spies.
“You wish to put athletic sufficient guys on the sphere that may do their job, after which rally to the soccer when it’s time,” Thibodeaux mentioned.
It received’t be straightforward. Hurts is having fun with an MVP season as a harmful twin menace.
“I wouldn’t evaluate him to Lamar [Jackson] as a runner,” Thibodeaux mentioned. “I'd evaluate him extra to a Justin Fields, a Kyler Murray, simply because I like the best way he continues to look downfield and wish to make performs. I like the best way his decision-making is nice. I really feel like he’s gonna be a terrific quarterback for a very long time.”
Resiliency: “Taking part in towards a terrific staff like that, they’re gonna make performs,” Thomas mentioned. “It’s gonna be primarily based on how we reply to that.”
Ball safety: A key to victory in any sport, however by no means extra necessary than towards a staff that leads the NFL with 22 takeaways.
“Don’t flip the ball over,” Darius Slayton mentioned.
Jones will have to be the environment friendly battlefield commander. Take pictures downfield to Slayton towards both Darius Slay or James Bradberry, if solely to loosen issues up for slants and intermediate throws. Be at liberty to check undrafted rookie security Reed Blankenship now that ballhawk security C.J. Gardner-Johnson (six interceptions) is out (kidney). Tight finish Daniel Bellinger can match his season excessive in receptions (5). Heinicke (one INT) and Matt Ryan (zero INTs) each threw for greater than 200 yards towards this protection. … Davis Mills threw two picks within the second half.
Ya Gotta Imagine: “Each subsequent sport is gonna need to be our greatest sport,” Thibodeaux mentioned.
Why is that?
“As a result of it’s December. Nothing you probably did earlier than issues. It’s all about what you do now.”
It may be performed.
Post a Comment