Giants Run Over Eagles

Three things stand out from the Giants game over Philly:

1. The Eagles were unable to stop the Giants running game. From the first snap to the last, the Giants ran the ball at will. The Giants running back trio were quoted earlier in the week about trying to reach 300 yards rushing in a game. The only reason they didn't have 300 against the Eagles is because they threw passes once in a while. One had the sense that if the Giants decided to run the ball every down, they wouldn't have punted or kicked any field goals. That's how dominant they were running the ball.

2. The Eagles were unable to run the ball against the Giants.

3. The Giants were unable to generate any pass rush.

In addition to the absence of a pass rush, the Giants have to be concerned with the turnovers. Although only one fumble was lost, neither Earth, Wind or Fire seemed capable of securing the ball. This is now the second week in a row that the Giants have been careless with the football. If the trend continues it will eventually bite them in the tush and turn a W into a L.

This was a huge game. The Eagles now join Dallas a full three games behind the Giants, which probably relegates both teams as wild card hopefuls at best. With only seven games remaining, it appears that Washington is the only team left with any realistic chance of challenging for the Divisional crown.

If possible, things get even more difficult today against the Ravens in another physical test. The Giants surprised me with their physicality against the Steelers and last week they simply dominated Philly. It has become clear at this point that the Giants are going to show up for each and every game and that they are going to play very physical football. While they probably won't win out the rest of the season and will therefore lose one or two games, I don't think we are going to witness another Cleveland where they simply didn't compete. The Giants are going to war today and, win or lose, it is going to be fun to watch some great matchups. Jacobs vs Lewis. Number one run offense vs number one run defense. Yet the game itself is likely to come down to the Giants defense which needs to smother Baltimore's offense to a greater degree than Baltimore's defense restricts the Giants O.

As with all of their remaining games against quality opponents, this game could go either way, but I'm looking for 19-6 Giants.