The Eagles need to beat the Giants and then get some help to win the NFC East

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — – A little more than a month ago, the defending NFC

champion Philadelphia Eagles were 10-1 and had a two-game lead in the race for the NFL’s best record.

 

After losing four of five in December, things have changed.

 

The Eagles (11-5) head into their regular-season finale at MetLife Stadium against the New York Giants (5-11) guaranteed a

playoff spot – and little else. They trail Dallas (11-5) in the tiebreaker to win the

NFC East and would need to beat the Giants and hope the Cowboys either lose

or tie against Washington to win the division.

 

Barring that, Philadelphia will be the No. 5 seed in the NFC and will play on the

road against the NFC South winner when the playoffs start next week.

 

The lack of a potential home game is the least of coach Nick Sirianni’s problems. The Eagles are not playing well,

particularly on defense. They dropped a 35-31 decision to the Cardinals last

weekend. It was the fourth win of the season for Arizona (4-12).

Sirianni said his team has continued to work hard, hold discussions and follow

the process that has guided them since he took over in 2021.

 

“Everybody wants to win. Everybody like – that you know from this group,

everybody wants to win, and they’re willing to do anything to win,” Sirianni said.

 

The good news for Philadelphia is it dominates the Giants. The Eagles have

won five straight matchups and 13 of 15. Their only win in

December was against New York on Christmas.

 

After making the playoffs in 2022 in Brian Daboll’s first season as coach, the

Giants have disappointed. They go into the finale on a three-game losing streak.

 

“I mean, this is a division rival,” Giants linebacker and special teams star Cam Brown said. “We’ve got to get back on

track and flip the script and that’s what we’re

working towards this week.”

Final Word

 

Numerous players on the Giants roster are set to become unrestricted free

agents in the summer unless they sign a contract by March 31st or are assigned a franchise tag.

 

Among the players whose contracts are up for renewal are guard Ben Bredeson,

star running back Saquon Barkley, safety Xavier

McKinney, backup and now

starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor, cornerback Adoree Jackson, and longest-

serving Giant, Sterling Shepard, whose 369 catches rank sixth in team history.

 

TALKING UP

 

A.J. Brown gnawed at his lip.

The Eagles wide receiver, who saw his production plummet recently, said he

declined to speak to the media after the last two losses because he didn’t want to be “negative.”

 

Brown hasn’t had a 100-yard receiving game in the last four games. Brown has

had just one 100-yard game since he ended an NFL-record streak of six straight games with at least 125 yards.

 

“I’m not trying to make it worse than what it is,”

Brown said. “Everything that I do, if I say

something, if I do anything,

I’m classified as a monster. Honestly, it’s just the opposite.”

 

Brown apologized to his Eagles teammates for having to speak on his

behalf the last two weeks. Brown, who has 105 catches for 1,447 yards, said he

was tired of the narrative that his silence meant he was at odds with the Eagles.

 

“A.J. Brown is frustrated with the Eagles. A.J. this, A.J. that,” he said. “Everybody in

this locker room is frustrated, so why are

you singling me out because I’m

frustrated. Just because I’m shaking my head, I’m showing emotion? You can look

at everybody in the stadium, they have bad body language, they’re frustrated.”

GIANT ACCOMPLISHMENT

 

Barkley signed a one-year, $10 million contract before training camp after the

team used the franchise tag on him. Despite missing three games with an

ankle injury, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018

draft needs 84 yards to post his

second consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season, and his fourth overall.

 

Only Tiki Barber (six) and Rodney Hampton (five) have more 1,000-yard

seasons for the Giants, who can franchise Barkley one more time if a new contract is not worked out.

 

SLAY TIME

 

Eagles cornerback Darius Slay isn’t sure if he’ll return Sunday from a three-game absence following knee surgery.

 

Slay said it was tough to watch from the sideline, but he expects to return for the

playoffs. He said he is moving well, noting his

knees haven’t felt this strong since 2018.

 

The 32-year-old Slay has started 12 games and has two interceptions.

 

100 PERCENT

 

Linebacker Bobby Okereke and safety Xavier McKinney have a chance to

become the first Giants to play every down on defense in a season since 2012. Lineman Nick Gates was the last player

on offense to do that, taking 1,013 snaps in 2020.

With 141 tackles, Okereke leads the Giants, followed by McKinney with 110.

In order to surpass Blake Martinez’s 2020 club single-season record of 151 tackles,

Okereke would need to accumulate 11 tackles on Sunday.