The Philadelphia Eagles look to rebound from their first loss since final December after they go to a New York Giants group that hasn’t gained a Thursday recreation in a decade.
The Eagles (4-1) have gained their final three Thursday night time contests underneath coach Nick Sirianni, whereas the Giants (1-4) are 0-10 on Thursday underneath their final 4 head coaches.
Present coach Brian Daboll is 0-4, whereas predecessors Joe Choose, Pat Shurmur and Ben McAdoo had been every 0-2. New York’s final win on the brief week — a 32-21 victory over Washington in 2015 — got here throughout Tom Coughlin’s last season on the sideline.
That is simply one of many storylines for this prime-time NFC East conflict, which can be the second journey again to MetLife Stadium for Eagles operating again Saquon Barkley and the division debut for Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Forward 17-3 getting into the fourth quarter final week, Philadelphia was on its technique to a franchise-record eleventh straight win earlier than the Denver Broncos stampeded to a surprising 21-17 upset.
Barkley rushed solely six occasions, his fewest carries in a recreation since Week 11 of 2021 when he was with the Giants. He did rating towards Denver on a 47-yard move play, the longest by an Eagles operating again since 2016, however is much off the tempo of his dominant 2024 marketing campaign.
“I do not actually know what you need,” Barkley mentioned after the loss. “If I contact the ball an excessive amount of generally, we’re not throwing sufficient. If we throw it an excessive amount of and I solely have 9 touches — I am not within the enterprise of ‘what are we doing sufficient?’ I am within the enterprise of successful soccer video games.”
Maybe a return to his previous stomping grounds will jumpstart Barkley, who ranks twenty second within the NFL with 267 speeding yards. In his first recreation again in East Rutherford, N.J., he carried 17 occasions for 176 yards and a landing in a 28-3 win over the Giants in Week 7 final season.
“Clearly, with Saquon, he will be juiced up, able to go Thursday night time right here,” Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen mentioned. “So, it begins there, after which we acquired to ensure we do a very good job dealing with these playmakers on the perimeter. They are going to discover methods to get them the ball. They at all times do.”
Barkley wants 11 scrimmage yards to turn out to be the primary participant from the 2018 draft class to achieve 10,000.
As for the Giants, the main focus is on their newest first-round decide. Dart gained his residence debut towards the Los Angeles Chargers in his first NFL begin in Week 4 and constructed a 14-3 lead final weekend at New Orleans earlier than the Saints scored the sport’s last 23 factors.
He’s enthusiastic about going through his first NFC East opponent and the defending Tremendous Bowl champion.
“Clearly, divisional video games maintain just a little extra weight,” Dart mentioned. “Understanding the historical past of this matchup and the depth of it carries weight as nicely. I am actually simply excited to get on the market on the sphere Thursday night time and have loads of enjoyable competing. It is going to be a extremely cool surroundings.”
Dart was a full participant in apply on each Tuesday and Wednesday after being listed as restricted Monday with a hamstring concern.
Giants operating again Tyrone Tracy Jr. had no damage designation on Wednesday’s damage report, lining him up for a return towards the Eagles.
Tracy, 25, has not performed since Week 3 due to a shoulder damage and had been restricted in apply this week. He has rushed for 68 yards on 22 carries in three video games this season. The second-year again rushed for 839 yards with 5 TDs as a rookie final season.
Proper deal with Jermaine Eluemunor (again) is questionable after being restricted on Wednesday. Linebackers Swayze Bozeman (ankle) and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (hamstring) and wideout Darius Slayton (hamstring) didn’t take part in apply all week and have been dominated out for Thursday’s recreation.
Barkley was a restricted participant on Tuesday and a full participant on Wednesday. He doesn’t carry an damage designation into Thursday’s recreation.
Eagles defensive deal with Jalen Carter (heel) is deemed as questionable after being listed as a restricted participant in Wednesday’s estimated walkthrough session.
Linebacker Nakobe Dean (knee) is also listed as questionable to make his season debut. He sustained a torn patellar tendon in Philadelphia’s wild-card victory over the Inexperienced Bay Packers on Jan. 12.
Philadelphia dominated out left guard Landon Dickerson (ankle) and tight finish Grant Calcaterra (indirect) for Thursday’s recreation.
The Eagles have gained seven of the final eight conferences, together with the playoffs.
–Subject Stage Media
