Sunday’s game was a celebration for the Eagles, as they rested their starters in preparation for another postseason. For the Giants, the only thing worth celebrating is the fact that this nightmare 2024 season is mercifully over. With all the Eagles sitting out and New York themselves without 11 starters who were either inactive or on injured reserve, the game had a preseason feel to it, as Philadelphia held on for a 20-13 win.
Neither team had much success moving the ball in the first half as the teams were a combined 3-for-14 on third down. However, the Eagles took a 10-point lead on a Tanner McKee touchdown pass to Ainias Smith and a Jake Elliott field goal. For the rookie Smith, this was his first career touchdown. The Giants were outgained by 211 yards to 84 in the first half.
New York finally got on the board in the third quarter when their drive stalled in the red zone and Graham Gano made a chip shot field goal. However, the Eagles extended their lead to 17-3 on the first play of the fourth quarter when McKee found tight end EJ Jenkins from seven yards out for his first NFL touchdown.
The Giants made things interesting on a spectacular 45-yard touchdown connection from Drew Lock to Malik Nabers with 10:32 remaining. Gano then added a long field goal three minutes later to cut the lead to 17-13.
Another Elliott field goal left the Giants with just 47 seconds and no timeouts to try and erase a 20-13 deficit but Sydney Brown intercepted Lock to foil the comeback bid.
Here are the key takeaways…
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The Giants looked keen to get Nabers involved early and often, but their inability to sustain drives was a factor in him being limited to just four short catches in the first three quarters. Two drops didn’t help him, either. Those four were enough to give him the Giants single-season reception record and it looked like they might rest him for the remainder of the game, but then he re-entered and came up with the late touchdown, which also gives him the all-time rookie receptions record. This won’t hold up for long, though, because Brock Bowers only needs two catches later today to re-claim it.
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It was a clean game for both teams, who combined for just 40 penalty yards, although it seemed like the officiating crew was prepared to let some things go in view of the lack of significance attached to the outcome. The Giants still had some costly ones, though, as Dru Phillips and Boogie Basham both jumped offside on 4th-and-1 and Kayvon Thibodeaux’s personal foul extended the Eagles’ final drive after an apparent third down stop.
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This was a good opportunity for many players who don’t usually play much to get some playing time and put some plays on film. Perhaps the biggest beneficiary was linebacker Dyontae Johnson, who was playing in the just the second game of his career and seeing snaps on defense for the first time. He had eight tackles in the first half alone. He ended up with a team-high 10. For Johnson, who impressed at times in preseason before getting hurt, this could give him some momentum heading into 2025.
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McKee isn’t very mobile, but he gets rid of the ball quickly so there weren’t many chances for New York’s pass rushers to pad their stats. Thibodeaux registered 1.5 sacks, though, to end a disappointing season on a positive note in spite of his costly penalty.
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Tyrone Tracy once again outperformed Devin Singletary at the running back position, impressing with two powerful runs on the drive that led to the Giants’ first points of the day. Tracy contributed 66 yards on 16 touches overall.
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The Giants used their 10th different offensive line combination of the season, which leads the league. In addition, they also used 10 different combinations last season. It’s difficult to maintain any chemistry in such a situation but, to their credit, the Giants held Philadelphia without a sack. The Eagles did generate plenty of pressure on Lock, though, including on the play where he found Nabers for the touchdown.
Highlights
Up Next
Confirmation will no doubt follow within the next few days as to whether there will be any changes to the coaching staff or front office. After that, whoever is in charge can start preparations for free agency and the draft, when the Giants will have the No. 3 pick.