Time: Sun. 1:00 PM ETWeather: High: 33, Low: 21, 10% chance of rain, estimated 25 mph cross wind
Favorite: New York by 4
All over football people have been searching high and low for this year’s version of last year’s Giants. Well, I have a news flash for everybody: Stop the hunt! Last year’s Giants haven’t gone anywhere. In fact, this time around they’re the #1 seed in the NFC. Add in the fact that there’s no 18-0 monster looming around the corner, and we don’t need a search party to find the Super Bowl favorites. While everybody seemed to jump off the Giant bandwagon after the Plaxico Burress incident, make no mistake, this team is still the best in the NFL.
I hate to sound so presumptuous about an NFL playoff game, but the task facing Philadelphia Sunday is truly that enormous. Sure, the Eagles did beat the Giants a month ago, 20-14 at the Meadowlands. And sure, everybody knows the Giants lost three of four down the stretch. Yet despite not coming into the game with the same momentum they entered last year’s playoffs with, this team is still focused, rested and looking to make a statement.
This Giant team has thrived off self-motivation in the past, and all of the glowing talk surrounding Philadelphia is surely fueling their fire. Apparently, the Giants players, most notably Brandon Jacobs, had a few spirited, full-speed practices this week after growing restless with all the time away from the field during their bye week. They seem to be chomping at the bit to begin the defense of their Super Bowl crown. All of this doesn’t bode well for the Eagles.
Philadelphia will have their hands full Sunday, but they do have three things working in their favor: Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, and their defense. All three will need to be in top form for Philly to walk into the Meadlowlands and leave with the victory. McNabb has been playing his best football of the year and so has Westbrook. But keep in mind that McNabb has a storied history of choking in big games, and for every dominating game that Westbrook has had this season, he’s disappeared in just as many.
If the Giants’ back-to-back effort falls short, it could very well be because of the loss of their big-play wide receiver Plaxico Burress. Burress’ impact on last year’s Super Bowl run cannot be understated. However, with 25 mph winds expected at the Swamp, this game falls right into the New York Giants wheelhouse. Expect the three-headed monster of Brandon Jacobs, Derek Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw to have a huge day, keeping the dreams of a repeat alive for another week.
Prediction: Philadelphia 7 New York 35
I hate to sound so presumptuous about an NFL playoff game, but the task facing Philadelphia Sunday is truly that enormous. Sure, the Eagles did beat the Giants a month ago, 20-14 at the Meadowlands. And sure, everybody knows the Giants lost three of four down the stretch. Yet despite not coming into the game with the same momentum they entered last year’s playoffs with, this team is still focused, rested and looking to make a statement.
This Giant team has thrived off self-motivation in the past, and all of the glowing talk surrounding Philadelphia is surely fueling their fire. Apparently, the Giants players, most notably Brandon Jacobs, had a few spirited, full-speed practices this week after growing restless with all the time away from the field during their bye week. They seem to be chomping at the bit to begin the defense of their Super Bowl crown. All of this doesn’t bode well for the Eagles.
Philadelphia will have their hands full Sunday, but they do have three things working in their favor: Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, and their defense. All three will need to be in top form for Philly to walk into the Meadlowlands and leave with the victory. McNabb has been playing his best football of the year and so has Westbrook. But keep in mind that McNabb has a storied history of choking in big games, and for every dominating game that Westbrook has had this season, he’s disappeared in just as many.
If the Giants’ back-to-back effort falls short, it could very well be because of the loss of their big-play wide receiver Plaxico Burress. Burress’ impact on last year’s Super Bowl run cannot be understated. However, with 25 mph winds expected at the Swamp, this game falls right into the New York Giants wheelhouse. Expect the three-headed monster of Brandon Jacobs, Derek Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw to have a huge day, keeping the dreams of a repeat alive for another week.
Prediction: Philadelphia 7 New York 35
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