The Giants make a statement in enemy territory, shutting down the Eagles 19–11 to earn a huge divisional win and strengthen their grip on the NFC East.
A Statement Win in Enemy Territory
No win can come close to defeating a divisional opponent at their home stadium. The New York Giants defeated their divisional opponents on Sunday, with Big Blue taking the battle to Philadelphia, and claiming a hard fought 19-11 victory against the Eagles. It was the first win for New York at Lincoln Financial Field since 2013.
It was not an exciting shootout, but instead a tough defensive struggle that the Giants showed they could get the job done. After this win the Giants have moved to 5-2-1 and strengthen their lead at the top of the NFC East. It was also the seventh straight loss for the Eagles.
The Defense Steals the Spotlight
The Giants defense stole the show in the afternoon. The Giants pressured the Eagles and got seven sacks against them. Joe Milton struggled to find his rhythm.
Arvell Reese put in a tremendous performance in his rookie season. He finished with 12 tackles and three sacks. He was a menace all afternoon.
The Eagles weren’t able to get into a rhythm. They didn’t make much yardage. Only getting 220 yards. On third down the struggled too, only converting five out of 18. However when they needed a big play the Giants defense always had an answer.
McCarthy, Winston and Likely Get the Job Done
The Giants had to do some quarterback shuffling after J.J. McCarthy was knocked out of the game with a hip injury. He did finish with 12-of-19 passing for 127 yards, but Jameis Winston also came into the game and gave the Giants a spark.
Winston went 6-for-8 for 71 yards including a touchdown strike to tight end Isaiah Likely. Likely finished with five catches for 53 yards and the only offensive touchdown for the Giants.
Darnell Mooney had the most targets and caught three balls for 54 yards and Malik Nabers chipped in with five catches for 43 yards. Although it wasn’t a big passing game from the Giants, they made enough plays to score points.
Special Teams Help Seal the Win
Dominic Zvada had a big day from the kicker position as he put the Giants up 19-8 going into the 4th quarter with his 49-yard field goal.
Philadelphia managed to score late on a field goal to make it 19-11, but the Giants defense held strong as they were not able to complete their comeback. New York took a divisional win on the road in Philadelphia.
Players of the Game
Arvell Reese: 12 tackles, 3 sacks.
Jameis Winston: Made an impact coming off the bench with a touchdown pass.
Isaiah Likely: Had five catches for 53 yards and scored the lone Giants touchdown.
Darnell Mooney: Led the Giants with 54 yards on receptions.
Offensive line: The Giants defensive line had seven sacks and pressured Philadelphia throughout the game.
What This Win Means for the Giants
It was a sweet win. Always a good thing to beat them on the road, but with the long drought at Lincoln Financial Field now behind us, this is an even sweeter win.
At 5-2-1, the Giants are in a great position in the NFC East. Defensively they’re playing with confidence and the whole team is finding ways to win. They’ve got another big divisional win under their belt.
While there are still some things to improve upon, specifically protecting McCarthy and getting more consistency in their run game, they can take great confidence from beating this tough team on the road.
Final Thoughts: Big Blue Owns the Moment in Philly
While they did not play offensively in a flashy fashion, the Giants played tough, disciplined football and got contributions from their defense.
From Arvell Reese’s dominant afternoon to Winston connecting with Likely for a touchdown, it was a complete team effort from New York. The Eagles had chances but New York would not let them do any damage.
Big Blue came away with a victory on the road by defeating a division rival and adding to Philadelphia’s history along the way. With a 19-11 victory, Giants fans have plenty to be celebrating about.
