Giants Embracing Opportunity to Play Spoiler in Philadelphia

New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito has never played football on any level at Lincoln Financial Field, so he's unaware of how hostile the environment can be for the visiting team.

But on Monday, he's about to find out. And he says he's ready for it.

"I heard it's a pretty hostile environment," he said Wednesday while standing in front of his locker. "I'm looking forward to it. I like to thrive in those environments."

Thriving in the City of Brotherly Love, as the Giants have learned, isn't easy. New York hasn't won a game in Philadelphia since 2013, offensive lineman Justin Pugh's rookie season.

Pugh, who was born in Holland, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Eagles territory, is all too familiar with the disdain Eagles fans have toward visitors and figures that come Monday, despite it being Christmas Day, the home crowd that has seen its beloved birds drop three games in a row, won't exactly be conveying Christmas cheer when the Giants take the field.

"It's going to be loud; it's going to be raucous; it's going to be intense. Probably my gym teacher and the people I grew up with will be in the stands booing us," Pugh joked.

All kidding aside, Pugh said when one thinks of great football environments to play in, Philly is among the top ones.

"It's the environment you want to play in in football, and we've got a job to do, and they have a three-game skid," he said. "They're going to be looking to get right, and we just lost. We're both going to have that bad taste in our mouths. So, two teams are looking for a win."

DeVito, for his part, is no stranger to playing in hostile conditions, having done so back as part of the Bergen Catholic-Don Bosco Prep rivalry. As such, he's developed a taste for the hostile environment and embraces it.

"It's fun. It's part of the game. I like a hostile crowd," he said.

All seriousness aside, a win for DeVito and the Giants would not only give the New York fans who are tired of watching the Eagles make birdseed out of Big Blue the best Christmas gift possible.

"It'll be huge," DeVito said of a win in Philadelphia. "I think all wins are huge, but you know, when you're coming off a loss like we did last week, it'll make that win that much better."

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