Giants flip tables on Eagles with full dwelling victory

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The streak is over, due to rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. The New York Giants lastly gained an NFC East recreation for the primary time for the reason that 2023 season with a 34-17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night time at MetLife Stadium.

Do not inform Dart that the Giants had misplaced eight straight within the division. He stated beforehand that these contests maintain a “little extra weight.” Nonetheless, this was his first begin towards an NFC East opponent, even when it was the defending Tremendous Bowl champs. He hardly seemed intimidated.

Dart introduced vitality to a Giants offense that has lengthy struggled within the division. He threw for 195 yards on 17-of-25 passing with a landing and rushed for an additional rating. He made performs everywhere in the area together with his legs. Rookie Cam Skattebo added three landing runs.

The Giants (2-4) seemed like a unique group with the 2 rookies main the way in which.

New York Giants (2-4)

Stat to know: Dart did a ton of harm on this contest together with his legs. He grew to become simply the third quarterback within the Tremendous Bowl period to hurry for no less than 50 yards in every of his first three profession NFL begins, becoming a member of Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts. Elite firm. Dart ran for 60 yards and a landing on 10 carries, which does not even embody the handful of sacks he prevented together with his mobility.

Turning level: Eagles QB Jalen Hurts overthrowing a wide-open DeVonta Smith. This occurred on a 3rd down on the opening drive of the second half. It led to a punt for the Eagles. The Giants’ protection actually turned it on after that play. That was the primary of three straight punts. Then the Giants introduced uncommon stress, and cornerback Cor’Dale Flott had a large interception of Hurts within the fourth quarter, serving to to place the sport away. The Giants’ protection did not permit a degree within the second half.

Most shocking efficiency: WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey. After not elevating Humphrey from the follow squad final week in New Orleans, the Giants wanted the veteran with Darius Slayton out due to a hamstring harm. Humphrey immediately jumped Jalin Hyatt and Beaux Collins on the depth chart and made performs. He completed with 55 yards on 4 receptions and performed a wealth of the offensive snaps. Humphrey had not performed in a recreation this season earlier than Thursday night time.

Development to observe: The Giants scored touchdowns on every of their first two possessions for the second consecutive week. It is the primary time since 1978 that they’ve scored a landing on their first two possessions in consecutive video games, in line with the Elias Sports activities Bureau. Dart credited the fast begins earlier than the sport to some schematics opposing defenses hadn’t seen but from them. Credit score to offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and coach Brian Daboll on that entrance. — Jordan Raanan

Subsequent recreation: at Denver Broncos (Oct. 19, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS)

Philadelphia Eagles (4-2)

The Eagles felt lucky to play Thursday night time following final week’s loss to the Denver Broncos as a result of, as coach Nick Sirianni put it, “You do not have to take a seat with this loss that we had on Sunday for too lengthy.”

The bounce-back alternative towards the New York Giants as a substitute devolved right into a lopsided loss that can result in questions on whether or not there are foundational cracks. The hope externally was that the lengthy assembly between A.J. Brown, Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley would get everybody on the identical web page and transfer the group previous some early-season frustrations. The offense seemed first rate in spots however Hurts’ first interception of the season — a fourth-quarter crusher within the purple zone that Cor’Dale Flott returned 68 yards — highlighted a mistake-riddled efficiency in all three phases.

Philadelphia was outgained in every of its first 5 video games and was outplayed badly by a group with a much less proficient roster Thursday night time. It will likely be a protracted 10 days of examination earlier than the Eagles have one other likelihood to course-correct towards the Vikings in Minnesota.

Greatest gap within the recreation plan: The Eagles needed to have recognized coming in that one of the best ways to defend Jaxson Dart was to bottle him within the pocket — particularly after going through QBs with comparable types the previous two weeks in Baker Mayfield and Bo Nix — however they misplaced include on a number of events and it value them. Dart ran for a 20-yard landing early within the first quarter. Later within the body, he escaped to his proper and located Wan’Dale Robinson, who broke a deal with and raced down the sideline for a 35-yard landing.

Turning level: The Giants’ protection pressured a three-and-out on Philadelphia’s first possession of the second half. On the following drive, New York put collectively a nine-play, 56-yard drive capped by a Skattebo TD to make it 27-17. Getting into Sunday, Philadelphia had the very best price of three-and-outs at 35.8% — a hanging stat given all of the expertise on that facet of the ball.

Stat to know: Hurts scored his sixtieth profession speeding landing on a QB sneak halfway via the second quarter. The one different participant with 60 rush TDs in Eagles historical past is Steve Van Buren (69), per ESPN Analysis. The Eagles ran 4 consecutive tush pushes to bulldoze into the top zone. That was the primary time since ESPN began monitoring the “push sneak” in 2022 that the Eagles (or one other different group) did it on 4 consecutive performs. — Tim McManus

Subsequent recreation: at Minnesota Vikings (Oct. 19, 1 p.m. ET, Fox)