Most Philadelphians will be focused on World Series odds this week, but there's another very important New York/Philadelphia matchup happening this weekend. The Giants visit Philly to battle the Eagles in a crucial NFC East battle.
New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday, November 1 at 1:00 p.m. ET
NFL odds: Eagles -1
Suddenly, asking whether or not the Giants are for real is a valid question. The Giants raced to a 5-0 start but, since then, have lost two in a row to the Saints and Cardinals. New York's only quality win came over the Cowboys, and even that's questionable considering what a see-saw Dallas is. The once-smothering defense hasn't looked nearly as impressive as of late, allowing 72 points during the past two losses—compared to 71 during the first five wins.
On the other side of the football, Eli Manning suffered through is worst game of the season against Arizona. Manning tossed three interceptions while being sacked three times, but he wasn't the only one making mistakes. The Giants had seven penalties and countless mental errors, from fumbles to dropped passes.
Speaking of lapses, the Eagles suffered through a major one two weeks ago when they lost to the Raiders. Philly bounced back with a 27-17 win over the Redskins. DeSean Jackson exploded for two long touchdowns and the Eagles built a 27-7 lead before taking their foot off the gas late in the game.
Defensively, the Eagles are playing fantastic. Philadelphia has allowed more than 17 points just once this season (a 48-point thrashing at the hands of New Orleans) and much of the credit belongs to an aggressive, attacking style. The Eagles recorded six sacks and three turnovers, giving Jason Campbell no chance to get anything going.
Both teams have displayed Jekyll and Hyde personalities this season, so making NFL predictions in this one is going to be tough. The Giants looked susceptible to pressure against Arizona and New Orleans, something Philly can be expected to duplicate in Week 8. Considering the Giants' secondary is nicked up too, explosive receivers Jackson and Jeremy Maclin should be able to run free. Expect the Giants' reeling slide to continue as Philadelphia nets a win for online betting fans.
