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Dottino: Game Balls And Gassers From The Giants' Ugly Night In Philly

By Paul Dottino
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There was not much for Giants coach Tom Coughlin to like after Eli Manning marched the Giants on an 80-yard TD drive to open the game.

From that point on, it became an avalanche of mistakes that allowed the Eagles to seize the momentum as Philadelphia turned in a one-sided 27-7 victory at Lincoln Financial Field.

So the Giants' three-game winning streak is over, leaving them at 3-3 and tied with the Eagles atop the NFC East. Perhaps that's a small consolation. And that's what Coughlin is going to have to use to help his team mentally recover as it prepares for Sunday's home game against the Dallas Cowboys (coming off a bye), who walked away with a gift win over the Giants in Week 1. If there's one thing for sure about the division, it's that tiebreakers are going to be essential, and it will prove fatal to get swept by any team within the East.

Let's get to our review of the Eagles game.

GAME BALLS

Offense: WR Odell Beckham Jr.

After missing practice throughout the week because of a sore hamstring, he tested it before the game and was cleared to play. He finished the night with seven grabs (on eight targets) for 61 yards, including an extra-effort 13-yard touchdown grab to cap the opening drive.

A sprawling Beckham, realizing he was not touched, stretched out and reached the ball across the goal line for the score as the Giants grabbed a 7-0 lead. Manning was 5-of-5 for 59 yards on the drive, and it appeared as if the Giants' offense would have its way all night. Not so fast.

Defense: MLB Uani Unga

Although Jon Beason was able to play, Unga wound up taking 40 snaps (one more than the veteran) and made the most of his time in the game. He was in on seven tackles.

Unga also forced a Ryan Mathews fumble that was recovered by DE Damontre Moore at the Giants' 37 with 12:53 left in the third quarter and the Giants down, 17-7. Simply put, Unga never takes off a play and somehow finds a way to get near the ball.

Special Teams: S Craig Dahl

He had two solo tackles in the return game, highlighted by an impressive whack on Darren Sproles midway into the second quarter. Sproles was drilled for a 2-yard loss to his own 25 with the Eagles on top, 14-7.

GASSERS

Offense: TE Larry Donnell

We could easily go with the offensive line, which had its worst game (three sacks) of the season. However, Donnell was responsible for the first of the Giants' three turnovers -- they were up, 7-0, and it ended a nine-play, 40-yard drive that stalled at the Philadelphia 23.

The play was ruled an interception. On third-and-1, Donnell had the pass in his grasp, but LB DeMeco Ryans stole it out of his hands while they were wrestling to the ground and was awarded the ball. Three snaps later, a personal foul (see below) compounded the error.

Defense: DE Damontre Moore

He attracts ill-advised penalties like an active beehive. The Giants were up, 7-0, with five minutes left in the first quarter when he drew a roughing-the-passer flag on third-and-10 from the Eagles' 22.

QB Sam Bradford hit Sproles for 3 yards before Moore came in a bit late, wrapped him up and squashed him to the turf. First down, Eagles. Four plays later, Riley Cooper's 32-yard TD grab tied it at 7 and the Eagles were off to the races.

Special Teams: Moore and Nikita Whitlock

They were involved in the most pivotal play of the second half, a running-into-the-kicker penalty with 9:49 left in the third quarter and the Giants down, 17-7.

Moore and Whitlock (the latter was called for the penalty) knocked into P Brad Jones on fourth-and-2 from the Philadelphia 23, giving the Eagles a first down. Eight snaps later, DeMarco Murray raced 12 yards around the edge for a TD that nailed down the rout.

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