By Mark Inabinet | minabinett@al.com The New York Giants seemed to be just what the Philadelphia Eagles needed to get out of their funk.
After winning 10 of their first 11 games this season, the Eagles entered Monday’s game on a three-game losing streak. By halftime, Philadelphia had a 17-point lead and the Giants were playing like a 5-9 team with their third quarterback.
But the Eagles needed an interception in the end zone on the final play to win 33-25. And a great play by the quarterback. Philadelphia’s problems began on the opening kickoff of the second half.
Blocker Olamide Zaccheaus threw to returner Boston Scott, and the Giants recovered their fumble at the Eagles’ 14-yard line for a New York touchdown. Later in the third quarter, Philadelphia tight end Dallas Goedert slipped out of a cut, and Giants cornerback Adoree Jackson caught a pass from quarterback Jalen Hurts and ran 76 yards down the sideline, ending the Eagles’ 14-play drive and bringing the game to. close . Giants two points away from the lead 20-18.
On Philadelphia’s next possession, the Eagles faced a third-and-20 when Hurts avoided a rush and connected with AJ Brown for a 32-yard gain and lofted a pass over leaping safety Isaiah Simmons into the hands of wide receiver Isaiah Simmons. “There aren’t many plays on third and 20,” Sirianni said, “so it was an incredible individual effort by Jalen, AJ, the offensive line that gave Jalen enough time to escape and move. ball AJ:lle That’s the key to me “When you’re in a bit of a league – they had 15 points in two rounds – that’s what we talk about a lot in training camp: ‘Hey, we’re stuck.’ Someone has to get us out. We have to do a good job as coaches to give you a chance play and then someone has to play and get us out.And Jalen and AJ did just that in this particular case.
Four straight runs covered the remaining 42yards into the end zone as Philadelphia took a 27-18 lead with 11:07 left. Hurts said it’s a good example of “not letting the situation get the best of you, but finding a way to overcome the situation.”
A field goal on the Eagles’ next possession appeared to put the game out of reach for the Giants — until Tyrod Taylor caught former Auburn standout Darius Slayton on a 69-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to five points with 5:22 left.
left It took Philadelphia 4:12 to get another field goal, leaving New York with only 1:10 to complete the return. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor completed a third-and-four pass to bring the Giants to the Philadelphia 26-yard line, but rookie cornerback Kelee Ringo’s interception in the end zone ended the game.
Hurts completed 24 of 38 passes for 301 yards with one touchdown and one interception and ran for 34 yards and one touchdown on eight carries as the Eagles rolled up 465 yards on Monday. On Philadelphia’s second drive, Hurts scored the game’s first points on a 1-yard Brotherly Shove.
The Eagles started their first possession at the New York 13-yard line after a 54-yard punt return by Britain Covey. Hurts had 15 rushing yards in 2023, the most by a quarterback in a single season in NFL history.
The pass hit former Alabama teammate DeVonta Smith for 36 yards as Philadelphia took a 17–3 lead with 11:44 left in the first half. Hurts said while “self-inflicted little things” held the Eagles back, it would be “hard not to say” they took a step in the right direction Monday.
“Britain Covey had a great game for us early and we were able to put it away early,” Hurts said, “and then we got them back early in the second half. But we were able to make some plays. It’s hard not to say.
I think there’s a lot of opportunity for us to build on that because we’ve had a lot of opportunities to build on the lessons we’ve learned in games where we’ve come close. The reality is we’re just going to keep tearing it up, keep growing, keep learn from it, save, build through it.
” Monday’s win moved Philadelphia one game ahead of Dallas atop the NFC East with two weeks left in the regular season. The Eagles will host the Arizona Cardinals in December. 31 and visit the Giants on Jan. 7
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