The Eagles are preparing for their second contest against the Giants in 19 days this upcoming Sunday. The matchup will largely look the same, with a few key players for the Eagles getting sprinkled into the mix.
Here are 3 X-factors for the Birds offense heading into their Week 10 matchup against New York.
Miles Sanders back in the fold
Although the Giants have one of the worst overall defenses in football this season, their rush defense has been top tier. They’ve allowed the 8th fewest rushing yards and they’re tied for the 4th lowest yards per carry average allowed.
In the first matchup between these teams, the Eagles accumulated 96 rushing yards on 26 carries, a 3.7 yards per carry average. That was without Miles Sanders, though, who’s averaged 6.1 yards per carry when healthy this season.
Boston Scott has had his most productive outings against New York, but most of that has come through the air. Having Sanders take the bulk of the carries while giving Scott ample opportunities on screens and wheel routes should be something Doug Pederson tries to do on Sunday.
The Giants are massive up front, with all three of their starting defensive lineman weighing over 300 pounds. But with Sanders back in the fold and a bonified Giant killer behind him, there’s no reason for Pederson to veer away from the running game early in this one.
Dallas Goedert should also be at full strength in this matchup
Like Sanders, Dallas Goedert was sidelined with an injury in the team’s first matchup with New York, as was fellow tight end Zach Ertz. With those two out, Richard Rodgers led the team in receiving from the tight end position, hauling in 6 catches for 85 yards.
Eagles tight ends have torched the Giants for the past few seasons. Ertz has had at least 6 catches and 1 touchdown in each Giants game since 2017. Goedert is more than equipped to do the same kind of damage to this Giants defense. If Rodgers led the team in receiving against New York, there’s no reason to think Goedert can’t.
Goedert did suit up in the Eagles final game before the bye week, but it was pretty clear he wasn’t 100% in that ball game, catching just 1 pass for 15 yards. With the extra week to get right, Goedert should be a focal point of the Eagles offensive attack this week.
Travis Fulgham/Jalen Reagor vs. a banged up Giants secondary
The Giants have dealt with a slew of injuries to their cornerback position this season. James Bradberry has managed to stay off the injury list, but CB2 is a different story for the G-Men. Ryan Lewis, one of the Giants promising young corners, was just placed on IR last Friday, meaning 24-year-old Isaac Yiadom will start opposite of Bradberry this week.
Yiadom has played 100% of the Giants defensive snaps the past two weeks and has a pitiful 40.5 coverage grade this season per Pro Football Focus.
Bradberry is a formidable corner and has been one of the lone bright spots on the Giants defense this year. He recorded an interception 19 days ago when these teams played. But unfortunately for New York, he won’t be able to cover Travis Fulgham and Jalen Reagor at the same time. One of those two will be matched up against Yiadom almost every play, and I expect Pederson to exploit that weakness as much as he can.
Both Fulgham and Reagor have the ability to absolutely torch Yiadom on any given play. There’s no reason not to target this guy as much as possible.