PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 38 – NEW YORK GIANTS 20…
As has become sadly commonplace, another New York Giants season is over by Halloween. The Giants were clobbered by the Philadelphia Eagles 38-20 at Lincoln Financial Field. The Giants are now 2-6 on the season and 1-3 in the NFC East. Worse for the Giants, running back Cam Skattebo suffered a serious, season-ending, dislocated ankle injury.
The Eagles dominated team stats, out-performing the Giants in first downs (23 to 13), total net yards (427 to 246), net yards rushing (276 to 68), and time of possession (33:15 to 26:45). Aside from Skattebo’s injury, the shoddy New York run defense was really one of the key stories of the game.
The Eagles received the ball to start the game on their second offensive snap, running back Saquon Barkley exploded for a 65-yard touchdown to make the game 7-0 after 17 seconds. The Giants went three-and-out on their first possession.
The Eagles drove into Giants’ territory on their second possession, but missed a 58-yard field goal. The Giants responded with a 6-play, 52-yard drive that ended with an 18-yard touchdown catch-and-run by Skattebo on a throw by quarterback Jaxson Dart. The game was briefly tied, but after the Eagles returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards, the Eagles converted twice on 4th-down, and Barkley scored another touchdown on 9-yard pass from quarterback Jalen Hurts. Eagles 14 – Giants 7.
It was during New York’s third possession that Skattebo suffered the gruesome ankle injury on a 2nd-and-16 incomplete pass to the running back. The Giants ended up punting. After a three-and-out by the Eagles, the Giants got into field goal range with a 21-yard pass from Dart to tight end Daniel Bellinger. The drive stalled there, but place kicker Graham Gano hit the 47-yard field goal cut the Eagles’ advantage to 14-10.
With less than three minutes before halftime, the Eagles broke off another long kick return, this one 32 yards. Seven plays later, Hurts threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dallas Goedert to make the score 21-10 at the break. The Giants also lost cornerback Cor’Dale Flott with a concussion on this drive.
The Giants went three-and-out to start the second half and the Eagles added another field goal, this one from 34-yards out, after a 11-play, 54-yard drive. The Giants responded with a 15-play, 59-yard drive that also ended with a field goal, by Gano from 34 yards out near the end of the 3rd quarter. Eagles 24 – Giants 13.
For all intents and purposes, the Eagles ended the game on the following possession. Barkley ran for 28 yards on the first play of the drive. Then facing a 2nd-and-26 after a 16-yard sack by outside linebacker Brian Burns, running back Tank Bigsby broke off a 29-yard run for the first down. Four plays later, Hurts threw his second touchdown to Goedert. The Eagles now held a commanding 31-13 lead.
But it still would get worse for New York. After going three-and-out, the Eagles quickly scored again on a 6-play, 73-yard drive that culminated with a 40-yard touchdown pass from Hurts to wide receiver Jahan Dotson. The Giants made the score look more respectable with a 7-play, 65-yard drive in garbage time with Dart scoring on a designed run from two yards out on 4th-and-2 with under three minutes to play.
Dart finished 14-of-24 for 193 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. He was sacked five times. Wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson “led” the team with three catches for 48 yards. The leading rusher was running back Tyrone Tracy with 10 carries for 39 yards.
Defensively, the Giants gave up an embarrassing 276 yards of rushing, allowing 8.4 yards per rush. Once again, the Giants did not force a turnover. They did accrue four sacks.
GAME VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS are available on YouTube.
ROSTER MOVES, PRACTICE SQUAD ELEVATIONS, INACTIVES, AND INJURY REPORT…
On Saturday, the Giants activated PK Graham Gano (groin) from Injured Reserve and waived ILB Swayze Bozeman.
The Giants also activated (standard elevation) WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey and S Raheem Layne from the Practice Squad.
Inactive for the game were DL/OLB Chauncey Golston (neck), CB Paulson Adebo (knee), S Jevon Holland (knee), QB Jameis Winston (3rd QB), WR Jalin Hyatt, OT James Hudson, and OG Evan Neal.
RB Cam Skattebo (dislocated ankle) left the game with a serious injury; his season is over. Also suffering injuries were CB Cor’Dale Flott (concussion), CB Art Green (hamstring), and TE Daniel Bellinger (neck).
POST-GAME REACTION…
Transcripts and video clips of post-game media sessions with Head Coach Brian Daboll and the following players are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:
- Head Coach Brian Daboll (Video)
- QB Jaxson Dart (Video)
- RB Tyrone Tracy (Video)
- WR Wan’Dale Robinson (Video)
- WR Darius Slayton (Video)
- RT Jermaine Eluemunor (Video)
- DL Dexter Lawrence (Video)
- ILB Bobby Okereke (Video)
WHAT’S UP NEXT…
Head Coach Brian Daboll and select players will address the media on Monday by Zoom.