Things are going from bad to worse for New York as it stumbled to its second consecutive defeat on Monday with a humiliating 24-10 loss to the Detroit Lions. The Giants now start the 2017 campaign 0-2, the fourth time that has happened in the last five seasons. They will look to get their season back on track when they lock horns with the Philadelphia Eagles this coming Sunday.
For the Giants to notch their first win of the campaign, they will need to improve on their play on the offensive end. The Giants have scored just 13 points over their first two games, their fewest to start the season since 1947. Such is the Giants’ offensive mediocrity that they have not eclipsed 20 points since Week 12 of last season.
Eli Manning looks like he’s running on fumes, throwing just one touchdown through the Giants’ first two outings. The Giants’ O-line didn’t offer Manning enough protection on Monday as he was sacked by the Lions a whopping five times. Odell Beckham Jr. looked out of sorts as well in that loss, catching just four passes for 36 yards. The Giants will need Manning and Beckham to rediscover their old form against a Philadelphia secondary that’s allowing 245.5 yards per game through the air this season.
It’s important for New York as well to improve on its faltering ground game against Philadelphia. The Giants rushed for just 62 yards against the Lions on Monday. New York is dead-last in the NFL in rushing offense, averaging just 48.5 yards per game this season. It won’t get any easier for them against an Eagles defensive line that’s allowing just 88.0 yards per game on the ground this season, 14th in the entire league.
The Philadelphia Eagles came crashing back to earth on Sunday with a deflating 27-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Eagles had an excellent chance to record their second straight victory, but several missed opportunities on the offensive end denied them a 2-0 slate. The Eagles had no answer for rookie Kareem Hunt and Travis Kelce who scored three touchdowns for Kansas City in the game’s final 17 minutes.
The good news for the Eagles is that they will be returning to Lincoln Financial Field in Week 3 for their first home game of the season. They were pretty successful at home last campaign, going 6-2 (SU and ATS) in the City of Brotherly Love. The Eagles will be licking their chops at the prospect of hosting the reeling Giants who they have dominated at home of late. The Eagles have won their last three home games against the Giants by an average of 17.3 points.
For the Eagles to extend their dominance this coming Sunday, they will need to get their ground game back in order against the Giants. Philadelphia’s running backs ran the ball just 13 times for 52 yards against the Chiefs on Sunday. LeGarrette Blount, the Eagles’ projected top back, did not have a single carry in that contest. Carson Wentz will need to spread the wealth more for the Eagles to emerge victorious this coming weekend. He has already thrown 85 passes this season which is quite a lot considering we’re only into Week 2. Wentz completed 25-of-46 passes for 333 yards in the loss to the Chiefs with two touchdowns and one interception.
Writer’s Prediction
The Eagles (-265) pile more misery on the Giants with a 27-17 win.
