The Path to the NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles haven't just dominated the Giants over the past decade, they've haunted them.

Since the Giants' Super Bowl XLII victory in 2008, the rivalry, which was once considered the most competitive in the NFL, has been lopsided 20-5 in favor of the Eagles.

The Giants' recent ineptitude allowed Philadelphia to officially pull ahead in the all-time series of the two organizations this past season, as they now lead 87-85-2 since the two teams first met in 1933.

Buried within the Giants' 20 losses against the Eagles since 2008 are some genuinely dark moments.

Blowing a 21-point fourth-quarter lead at the newly opened Metlife Stadium in 2010 earned a place in the pantheon of all-time collapses. It was appropriately dubbed "The Miracle at The Meadowlands II," the game in which Giants punter Matt Dodge foolishly kicked the ball down the middle of the field to returner DeSean Jackson. The latter evaded numerous would-be tacklers and danced into the end zone.

But the Giants' other recent dark moments against the Eagles have been less grandiose and more purely painful.

Former Giants fan-favorite wide receiver Victor Cruz suffered a torn patellar tendon during a 27-0 primetime loss in 2014, as Cruz was never the same player after that injury.

Tom Coughlin's last game as Giants' head coach was a 35-30 home loss to an Eagles team led by interim head coach (and future Giants head coach) Pat Shurmur. And just this past season, quarterback Eli Manning's regular-season career record fell under .500 after the Giants blew a 17-3 lead in primetime against the Eagles.

There are challenges ahead in 2020 for the Giants in this rivalry. They will have to travel to Philadelphia on a short week to play a Thursday Night Football game, appropriately scheduled during the week leading up Halloween.

Ironically, the Giants will depend on the leadership of a Philadelphia native and childhood Eagles fan to turn their fortunes against their rival around.

.@Giants Head Coach Joe Judge chats with @miketirico about his football fan experience as a kid with the team he now coaches. #LunchTalkNBCSN pic.twitter.com/ZXNJcYAd8F
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) May 6, 2020

New Giants head coach Joe Judge admitted he grew up in an Eagles household, and will be right back in the heat of that rivalry, but on the other side as Giants head coach in 2020 and beyond.

At some point, the tide will have to turn in the Giants favor. Will this be the season?

Stay tuned.

The Eagles in 2020

Key Losses: S Malcolm Jenkins, CB Ronald Darby, DE Vinny Curry, DT Tim Jernigan, OT Halapoulivaati Vaitai, WR Nelson Agholor, RB Darren Sproles, RB Jordan Howard, QB Josh McCown, RB Corey Clement

Key Free Agent Signings: S Will Parks, LB Jatavis Brown, CB Darius Slay (Trade), DT Javon Hargrave

Draft Picks: WR Jalen Reagor, QB Jalen Hurts, OLB Davion Taylor, S K'Von Wallace, OT Jack Driscoll, WR John Hightower, LB Shaun Bradley, WR Quez Watkins, OT Prince Tega Wanagho, LB Casey Toohill

What It Means for the Giants

If the drafting of Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts brings a quarterback controversy to Philadelphia, it could spell either an opportunity or more embarrassing history for the Giants.

If Hurts faces the Giants in 2020, it will be the eighth different Eagles quarterback the Giants have faced dating back to 2012, the most of any other opponent in that span.

And if the Giants lose to Hurts, it would mark the sixth Eagles quarterback they've lost to also in that span, which is the most quarterbacks from a single opponent the Giants have lost to in a decade.

However, a break from facing Carson Wentz could spell an opportunity for the Giants to notch a rare win over the Eagles, as Wentz has won six straight games against the Giants. In Wentz's last four meetings against the Giants, he's thrown for 1,128 yards, seven touchdowns, and no interceptions.

New Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham will look to change that trend in 2020. For Graham, taking away Wentz's favorite target Zach Ertz should be a top priority, as Ertz has caught four of those touchdowns.

Graham and the Giants have some new tools to contain tight ends in 2020.

The Giants' defense could bring back the three-high safety set to keep tight ends from exploiting the middle of the field with the drafting of safety Xavier McKinney out of Alabama.

McKinney came through in his matchup assignments covering tight ends in college. Before flipping his hips with clean transitions to work into the trail position, McKinney possesses the length to press or disrupt inside the contact window.

Meanwhile, Giants quarterback Daniel Jones has only faced the Eagles once. He will have a new threat on the perimeter to worry about with Philadelphia's trade for cornerback Darius Slay from Detroit.

Slay has been one of the most dependable defensive backs in the NFL since 2014, with a coverage grade of at least 77, according to Pro Football Focus in four of the last five years. He took a step back in 2019, but many believe Slay will bounce back as an Eagle in 2020.

Even with a down year in 2019, Slay held his own against the league's top receivers.

Darius Slay shadows in 2019 pic.twitter.com/hJpzo0NWvo
— Jeff Ratcliffe (@JeffRatcliffe) March 19, 2020

Slay will likely draw the coverage duties of Giants wideout Darius Slayton this season, and will be a must-see matchup when the two teams face off for the first time in 2020 on Thursday night.

But even if Slayton can get the better of Slay, Jones won't be able to get the ball into Slayton's hands unless he has better protection than he did against the Eagles last season.

Jones suffered a career-high four sacks and hit ten quarterback hits in the Giants' Week 17 game against Philadelphia. Eagles defensive end Derek Barnett led the way with two of those sacks and four of the total hits.

Giants' first-round pick offensive tackle Andrew Thomas was brought in to keep Jones upright. He will get the chance to prove he can make a significant difference in this rivalry if he draws the blocking assignment of Barnett.

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