Giants vs. Eagles 2014, Week 17: Giants favored over low-flying Eagles

The 6-9 New York Giants are three-point favorites over the 9-6 Philadelphia Eagles in Sunday's regular-season finale at MetLife Stadium. Who would have seen that coming a few short weeks ago?

A little more than two months ago the Eagles embarrassed the Giants at Lincoln Financial Field, 27-0. That began a seven-game losing streak for the Giants that saw them sink to a pitiful 3-9 record. The Eagles? While the Giants were suffering the indignity of blowing a 21-point lead to the Jacksonville Jaguars the Eagles were celebrating a Thanksgiving Day victory over the Dallas Cowboys that ran their record to 9-3 and seemed to put them in control of the NFC East.

Since then? The Giants have won three straight games, salvaging some respectability and leaving themselves feeling optimistic about the possibilities in 2015. The Eagles, with Mark Sanchez subbing for the injured Nick Foles, have lost three straight and find themselves out of the playoffs, something that was incomprehensible when December began.

The Giants and their fans have been looking for signs that the team, with a core of young players at the forefront, really has shown improvement. Could a win over Philly, which is 9-6 but disheartened after being knocked out of the playoff race last week and using a quarterback all but certain not to be their next year, provide such a sign?

The Giants' only victory this season over a team with a winning record game in Week 3 against the Houston Texans. The Texans were 2-0 at the time and are now 8-7.

Follow the Big Blue View Giants-Eagles Hub Page for complete coverage throughout the week.