The Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants are set to face off in an NFC East rivalry game at MetLife Stadium in Week 7. This game carries extra significance, marking the return of Saquon Barkley to East Rutherford, now wearing an Eagles uniform after leaving the Giants during the offseason. Kickoff is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. EST, and both teams are looking to make a statement.
The Eagles (3-2) narrowly escaped with a win against the Cleveland Browns in Week 6 and are aiming to show they are more than their early-season struggles suggest. Meanwhile, the Giants (2-4) find themselves in familiar territory, with fans frustrated by quarterback Daniel Jones and head coach Brian Daboll’s job status under scrutiny.
Let’s dive into the key factors for this divisional matchup.
Eagles Lean on Barkley and Balanced Attack
Philadelphia’s signing of Saquon Barkley was one of the most surprising moves of the offseason, and they’ll look to showcase his talents against his former team. Barkley will be highly motivated to prove the Eagles made the right move by offering him a $37.75 million contract. With left tackle Jordan Mailata and tight end Dallas Goedert both likely sidelined, the Eagles will need Barkley to be productive against a Giants defense that leads the league with 4.3 sacks per game.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts will also look to continue building chemistry with wide receiver A.J. Brown, who has become a key part of Philadelphia’s offense. Hurts’ ability to avoid turnovers, as seen in Week 6, will be crucial against a Giants defense that has kept opponents under 20 points in four straight games.
Giants Hope to Find Offensive Rhythm
The Giants’ offense has struggled this season, averaging just 10 points per game in their three home losses. Despite the poor performances, running back Jordan Mason has provided a spark in limited action. Quarterback Daniel Jones will need to elevate his game to keep up with the Eagles’ offense, and the Giants’ defense must maintain its recent form to give New York a chance.
A key matchup to watch will be Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence against the Eagles’ offensive line. Lawrence already has seven sacks this season and will look to disrupt Philadelphia’s offense from the interior. The Giants’ ability to create pressure will be critical in slowing down both Hurts and Barkley.
Prediction: Eagles Edge Giants in Close Game
This game is shaping up to be a low-scoring, defensive battle between two teams trying to find consistency. While the Giants’ defense has been solid, their offensive struggles may be too much to overcome. Look for the Eagles to lean heavily on Barkley and rely on their balanced attack to control the game.
We predict the Eagles will cover the 3.5-point spread and the total will stay under 45 points. Expect a hard-fought contest, with Philadelphia ultimately coming out on top.
