Game Preview: Eagles at Giants

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Dec 6, 2008 7:17 PM EST

Since the Giants and Eagles met only a few weeks ago, we'll stick with the "rematch" format from last week.

Paul Schwartz and Geoff Mosher of The Sporting News have a great breakdown of the game.

NOTES AND QUOTES:

For the Eagles, the playoffs already have begun. At 6-5-1, they no longer have any margin for error. They have to win out to have any chance of making the playoffs. That's not going to be easy, particularly considering that three of their remaining four games are against division opponents, starting with the 11-1 New York Giants Sunday up in the Meadowlands. "This is a must-win game for us," quarterback Donovan McNabb said. "In order for us to go forward, we have to win this game."

Andy Reid is 0-for-6 on instant replay challenges this season. "We're not doing very good with it," he said. I have looked into it. I really don't like being 0 and 6. We can do better. Some of them, I don't listen as well as I should. Other ones, we think we see something, but it's not quite there."

Wide receiver Reggie Brown has become the odd man out of the Eagles' offense. Brown, who caught a career-high 61 passes last season, missed four of the first seven games with injuries. In the five games since his return, he's got just three catches. Against the Cardinals last week, Andy Reid primarily used just four wide receivers in his personnel groupings and Brown wasn't one of them. He played just four snaps in the first half and didn't have a reception in the 48-20 win.

SERIES HISTORY

148th regular-season meeting. Giants lead the series, 79-66-2. Eagles have lost the past three meetings, including a 36-31 defeat in Week 10 when a potential game-winning drive by the Eagles fizzled at midfield on a failed fourth-and-one run by Brian Westbrook.

BY THE NUMBERS:

3 - The number of field goals Eagles kicker David Akers has made from 35-plus yards in 11 attempts at Giants Stadium. He has struggled with the stadium's swirling winds during his career.

QUOTE TO NOTE:
"Plaxico Burress is a good football player. You're talking about a Pro Bowl player. But they've got other guys that are good players." -- Coach Andy Reid on the Giants being without suspended WR Plaxico Burress Sunday.