Philadelphia, PA - Philly did what they had to do on Monday when they knocked off the New York Giants in overtime. The game looked bleak after the first half, with the Giants jumping to a 17-3 lead and the Eagles offense being booed off the field. Eli Manning’s first start since Week 2 went about as well as he could’ve hoped, and he found a connection with rookie wide receiver Darius Slayton, who scored two touchdowns in the first half.
Those would be the last points that New York would score in the entire game, however. The Eagles defense rose up and helped shut down the Giants’ offense through a combination of solid play and the Giants’ own ineptitude. The Eagles offense never looked great in the cold and wet conditions at the Linc, but they did come together down the stretch and Carson Wentz helped engineer some clutch possessions. One was to tie the game late in regulation, and the next was in overtime to walk off with a touchdown. Both were capped off with Zach Ertz touchdown receptions. Boston Scott was also a spark for the offense, with over 100 all-purpose yards seemingly out of nowhere for the elusive runner. He brought shades of Darren Sproles to the Philly fans.
With the win, the Eagles moved to 6-7 on the year, which puts them in a good position to win the NFC East and thusly clinch a playoff berth. They control their own destiny, and as long as the birds can win out, that’s all they’ll need. All three of the final games will be against division opponents, including the Cowboys, who have lost three straight games and have another tough matchup against the L.A. Rams. This is now a golden opportunity for the Eagles to become the frontrunners in a division that they really had no right to win a few short weeks ago.
This week, the Eagles will take on the Washington Redskins who have been playing better lately. Rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins has helped lift the ‘Skins to two wins in their last three games, with the latest being a close loss against the Packers. An upset win against the Birds at home would be a signature win in an otherwise lost season for Washington. The last time these teams played, the Eagles had to rally back to get the victory after a sloppy start at home. This time at FedEx Field, the Eagles have to do better out of the gates and make the opening statement of the game. I think they will, but it won’t be as much of a bloodbath as some will expect.
Final Score: Eagles, 23. Redskins, 15.
Sam Woloson
Sports Writer
PhillyBite sports contributor and Philadelphia Eagles Writer.
