NFC East Round Two: Revenge Seeking in Philadelphia
For the second time in the last three weeks, two NFC East teams will be facing off again for another division rivalry showdown. The Philadelphia Eagles were dominated by the New York Giants in Week Six and are now seeking their revenge at home in Week Eight. The Eagles are coming off a much-needed win against the Vikings last week after two consecutive losses, and seem to be finding their footing once again. The Giants, on the other hand, are coming off a loss against the Denver Broncos, who scored 33 points in the fourth quarter for a major comeback win. Despite a mess of an ending, the Giants have been finding a better rhythm, proving themselves as a team that should not be overlooked. This Sunday, October 26th, fans should be excited to watch this brawl: will the Giants go undefeated against their rival, or will the Eagles even the score?
Recapping the Week Six Matchup
Since their last matchup was so recent, it is important to review how the teams fared against one another just two weeks ago. In their latest matchup, Jalen Hurts threw for 283 yards and one interception, while Dallas Goedert stood out as his most reliable target with 110 yards and a touchdown. A major element of this loss for them was the inability to convert on third down, finding success on only one of nine attempts. For the Giants, Jaxson Dart threw for 195 yards, awarding Wan’Dale Robinson six catches for 84 yards and a touchdown. The two standout players of this game were Cam Skattebo, who rushed for 98 yards and three touchdowns, and, defensively, Brian Burns, who notched two of the three sacks on Hurts. The game ended 34-17 after the Giants completely shut down the Eagles' offense in the second half.
Week Seven Performances
The Eagles broke a two-game losing streak last week against the Minnesota Vikings, when the struggling offense became reminiscent of their 2024 campaign. Hurts' passing attack took flight when he threw for 326 yards with three touchdown passes, and he averaged over 14 yards per attempt. Both of the Birds’ star receivers had their best performance of the season last Sunday. AJ Brown had 121 yards and scored two touchdowns, while DeVonta Smith set a career high of 183 yards and earned a touchdown for himself. Still, however, they struggled to convert third downs, going three for 10, and only had one trip to the red zone. The Eagles' run game has yet to find momentum this season, but the Giants are currently ranked 29th in the league in defending the rush. Last week, NY allowed 142 yards on the ground and two rushing touchdowns to the Broncos. With an offense struggling to run the ball and a defense struggling to stop it, the ground game for Philly could be a major storyline this week.
The Giants' offense with Dart at the helm has been looking up in recent weeks. Despite the fourth quarter collapse last week, Dart had one of his best showings with 283 yards, three touchdown passes, and averaged over eight yards per attempt. The offense was able to put up 32 points against Denver’s defense, which is currently ranked third in the league in average yards allowed. Skattebo remains a threat on the ground, while Robinson and Daniel Bellinger combined for 183 receiving yards. However, Dart was sacked four times last week, and conversely, the Eagles' pass-rush took down Carson Wentz twice. Philadelphia’s secondary gave up 313 yards to Wentz and certainly needed strengthening, but they were able to notch two interceptions to help secure the win. Their red zone defense has been efficient, though, and they only allowed one touchdown on six attempts from the Vikings in Week Seven.
Players to Watch in Week Eight Division Rivalry
Most Philly fans have been awaiting a breakout performance from Saquon Barkley this season, which has yet to come. In the last five consecutive games, he has earned less than 60 rushing yards, and many speculate he has fallen victim to the “Madden curse.” With the weak run defense from New York, he will be a player to watch once again this week. Another Eagle to watch will be linebacker Zack Baun, who has been the veteran rock for the defense this season. According to Pro Football Focus, he has the highest-rated pass-rushing grade in the league with two sacks, three QB hits, seven hurries, and 12 pressures. Last, but certainly not least, Brandon Graham has returned to Philadelphia from retirement this week. If he sees any snaps against the Giants this week, he will certainly be a player to keep an eye on.
As for New York, Skattebo has been keeping fans entertained all season. The rookie is a staple for the Giants' offense with five touchdowns so far. He put up three of those in Week Six against the Birds, so it will be interesting to see if he finds the same success this Sunday. Quarterback Jaxson Dart is another rookie who has brought hope to the Giants franchise in their 2025 campaign and seems to be improving each week, combining 10 touchdowns over his first four career starts. As the Eagles plot their revenge this week, viewers may see how well he performs under divisional pressure this time around. Defensively, Brian Burns has been lethal with the pass-rush. He is tied at nine with the Rams’ Byron Young for the most sacks this season, and leads the NFL with 12 tackles for loss.
Prediction
As game day nears, excitement is building for both NFC East teams. It seems unlikely that the Eagles will allow themselves to be beaten twice by the Giants within the first half of a season. That being said, the Giants have proven to have more fight in them than their early games suggest. Each team has something to prove this week. The Eagles are fighting for redemption and momentum, while the Giants aim for validation with a statement game this week. Either way, this matchup promises excitement as these divisional rivals set the tone for their franchises as they head toward November football.
