Edge Eagles? Chaotic Week Leaves Giants Short On Prep
PHILADELPHIA (WFAN/AP) — With an eye toward a first-place showdown against the Giants, the Philadelphia Eagles took care of business in Dallas.
They also received some help from Mother Nature for next week.
The Giants now have one less day to prepare for Philadelphia after toppling the Minnesota Vikings 21-3 during their postponed matchup on Monday night.
New York's game against Minnesota was postponed until Monday night in Detroit because of a massive snowstorm in Minneapolis.
That's usually not such a big deal, except it's already been a chaotic weekend for New York. The Giants were stranded in Kansas City after their plane was diverted there Saturday, and stayed overnight before arriving in Detroit on Sunday afternoon.
So while the Giants traveled around the country — and essentially made two road trips for one game — the Eagles had a chance to relax comfortably at home and focus on next Sunday's game at New Meadowlands Stadium.
Is that an advantage?
"Listen, we're going to get the Giants' best shot," coach Andy Reid said Monday. "We know that. Whether they're playing Monday night, Sunday, I don't think it matters. They're a pretty strong group mentally, I think."
While they may say it doesn't matter to them, or that it's too early, you can't help but think this team has its sights set on a division title. After all, the Eagles have won consecutive games since a 31-26 setback at Chicago, they are 3-1 in the division and they haven't won the NFC East title since 2006.
"It's very tough going down the stretch," quarterback Michael Vick said. "You have to play your best football in December. We still have a tough schedule ahead of us."
After the Giants, the Eagles finish up with home games against the Vikings and Cowboys. They're hoping to win out and secure a first-round bye. But they have to get in the playoffs first.
The Cowboys beat the Eagles three times last year and again gave them trouble on Sunday night. But Vick, DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy starred in the 30-27 win.
Vick threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a score, Jackson had a career-best 210 yards receiving on just four catches, and McCoy had a career-best 149 yards rushing.
Jackson's spectacular 91-yard catch-and-run touchdown put the Eagles ahead 27-20, and then McCoy iced it with some long gains in the final minutes after the Cowboys closed within a field goal.
"It was pretty sweet. It shows the type of heart the offensive line has, to come out and dominate when the defense knows we are going to run the ball," McCoy said. "It's just their mentality. You should have heard them in the huddle. Those guys wanted to run the ball themselves. They did a great job of pushing guys up front and making some lanes."
The victory was a costly one for the Eagles defense. Rookie defensive end Brandon Graham, the 13th overall pick in the draft, tore a knee ligament and will miss the rest of the season. Middle linebacker Stewart Bradley dislocated his elbow and is out indefinitely.
Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel missed his third straight with a knee injury, though he could return against New York.
"If and when your starter gets hurt, you have confidence that that next guy can step in and be able to handle it," Reid said. "That's the way we approach it from day one at training camp. We expect everybody in there to be a contributor in some way."
Philadelphia won the first meeting against New York, 27-17, on Nov. 21. The Eagles blew a 16-3 lead in that one, but rallied after falling behind by a point. They entered Week 14 in a tie with the Giants, but owned the first division tiebreaker because of that 10-point win last month.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
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