Giants Dominate Eagles in Season Finale, 27-10
The New York Giants ended their frustrating 2023 season on a high note, dominating their hated rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles, 27-10. With the win, the Giants finished the year at 6-11.
New York got to play spoiler as they built up a 24-0 lead at halftime thanks to three touchdowns in the second quarter. The Eagles, who took out their starters once the game got out of hand, lost for the fifth time in the last six games to finish second in the NFC East; they needed a win and a Dallas Cowboys loss to win the division, but the Giants’ dominant first half effectively ended any hope for Philadelphia.
Ultimately, the Giants outgained the Eagles by 415-299 yards in total yards, forced four turnovers, and recorded five sacks. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor temporarily left the game twice due to injury, but completed 23 of 32 passes for 297 yards and a touchdown, with one interception. Taylor also added 38 rushing yards on eight carries.
Running back Saquon Barkley totaled 97 scrimmage yards by rushing for 46 yards on 18 carries and catching two passes for 51; he scored two touchdowns, both on the ground. Wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson led the Giants with 85 yards on five receptions. Fellow receiver Darius Slayton caught five passes for 62 yards and a touchdown, while tight end Darren Waller had five receptions for 45 yards.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was removed from the game near the end of the first half and was abysmal; he completed just seven of 16 passes for 55 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception for a terrible 26.8 passer rating. Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota played throughout the second half and completed 13 of 20 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown, with one interception.
Quez Watkins was the game’s leading receiver with 93 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions, while Kenneth Gainwell was the game’s leading rusher with 62 yards on seven carries. Wide receiver A.J. Brown suffered a knee injury and was taken out of the game while running back D’Andre Swift and wide receiver DeVonta Smith didn’t play.
Both teams punted on their opening possessions before the Giants moved 67 yards in nine plays. Robinson immediately moved the ball into Philadelphia territory with a 33-yard reception, while a 13-yard reception by Isaiah Hodgins and an 11-yard run by Barkley moved the ball inside the 10-yard line. But a 5-yard sack of Taylor ultimately forced New York to settle for a 24-yard field goal from Mason Crosby, giving the Giants an early lead.
The Eagles looked to respond by driving 57 yards in seven plays, with Gainwell breaking off a 32-yard run to enter New York territory. However, on 2nd-and-9 at the Giants 27, cornerback Nick McCloud forced a fumble from A.J. Brown, and linebacker Micah McFadden recovered at the 17-yard line. The turnover was the least of the Eagles’ worries, though, as Brown suffered a knee injury on the play.
On the Giants’ next possession, Tommy DeVito entered the game at quarterback, as it was reported that Taylor suffered a thumb injury on the previous drive. New York would quickly go three-and-out.
Philadelphia’s next possession would also feature a big stop from the Giants defense. After a 12-yard reception by Quez Watkins on 3rd and 15, the Eagles faced 4th-and-3 at their 48-yard line; although not quite in range for the “Brotherly Shove” play, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni elected to go for it. But linebacker Bobby Okereke quickly snuffed out the conversion, as Hurts’s pass to tight end Dallas Goedert was incomplete for a turnover on downs. Hurts additionally injured his middle finger on his throwing hand during the play.
The Giants capitalized with Taylor back in the game and great field position at the Eagles 48-yard line. Their nine-play drive featured a pair of third down conversions, the second of which was a 26-yard strike to Robinson at the 2-yard line. Barkley ran the ball into the end zone on the next play to extend New York’s lead to 10-0.
New York’s offense quickly returned to the field after the defense forced a three-and-out, and a 15-yard punt return by Gunner Olszewski gave the Giants great field position again, this time at their 45-yard line. It took just six plays to find the end zone, as a 23-yard catch by Waller and a 19-yard reception by Robinson set up Barkley’s second rushing touchdown of the game, as the Giants increased their lead to 17-0 with 5:08 left in the half.
The Giants continued to floor the gas pedal as the defense forced another Eagles three-and-out, and the offense stormed 73 yards in just four plays. On 3rd-and-2 at the 35-yard line, Taylor lofted a 46-yard strike to Barkley to enter the red zone, followed up with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Slayton.
New York now had a stunning 24-0 lead, and that score would hold until halftime. This didn’t stop safety Xavier McKinney from intercepting two passes to provide an exclamation point; the first was against Hurts, while the second was against Mariota as the Eagles took out their starters.
When all was said and done, the Giants dominated the first half by outgaining the Eagles 272-102 in total yards and forcing three turnovers. Philadelphia had only 29 passing yards against New York’s defense, while the Giants had 229 passing yards.
With the Eagles playing their backups, the second half was generally uneventful. Philadelphia managed to break up the shutout late in the third quarter with a 36-yard field goal by Jake Elliott; after New York was forced to punt, the Eagles drove 81 yards in eight plays before cutting their deficit to 14 points with Mariota’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Watkins.
But the Giants put the game away with a 12-play, 72-yard drive that took 6:36 off the clock, and Crosby’s 21-yard field goal pushed the lead back up to 17. Two plays into Philadelphia’s ensuing possession, linebacker Jihad Ward forced a fumble, and Azeez Ojulari recovered for New York; Crosby missed a 45-yard field goal that would have put the Giants up by 20, but the Eagles would only make it to midfield before the game ended, as Ojulari sacked Mariota to officially conclude the Giants’ season.
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