New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
Sunday, November 21, 2010, 8:20 pm EST, TV: NBC
Opening Line: Eagles -3
Current Line: Eagles -3
Opening Total: 47.5
Current Total: 48
Money Line: Eagles -195 / Giants +165
The Philadelphia Eagles (6-3) are coming off a dominating 59-28 win at Washington on Monday night and will try to put together a three-game winning streak for the first time this season when they host the New York Giants (6-3) on Sunday Night Football. The Eagles (-3) got an incredible performance from quarterback Michael Vick against the Redskins, as he threw for 333 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 80 yards and two more scores. Meanwhile, the Giants hope to forget a disappointing 33-20 home loss to Dallas last week and beat Philly to re-take the division lead in the NFC East.
New York seemed to be everybody’s pick to win the NFC after reeling off five straight wins. But it not take much to put the Giants back in the pack among other contenders after they lost straight-up at home to the Cowboys as 11.5-point favorites. Their previously dominant defense surrendered 327 yards and three touchdowns to Dallas quarterback Jon Kitna, with Dez Bryant, Felix Jones and Miles Austin combining for 257 of those yards and one score apiece.
Vick presents a completely different challenge for New York defensively due to his ability to run the ball, something defensive coordinator Perry Fewell believes his players are prepared for. Fewell is hyped up for the matchup and has a lot of confidence in a unit that still ranks #1 in the NFL in fewest yards allowed, giving up 270.2 per game. The Giants have been especially stingy stopping the run, with opponents averaging just 83 yards per game.
The NFC’s top two offenses will be taking the field, as the Eagles are averaging 400.2 yards per game compared to 409.8 for New York. The Giants will be without wide receiver Steve Smith but still have one of the leading receivers in the NFL with Hakeem Nicks, who is tied for the league lead in touchdown catches with nine and ranks sixth overall with 735 yards.
Philadelphia has won the last four meetings both straight-up and against the spread but has not found a way to win more than two straight games this season. A lot of that has to do with the health of head coach Andy Reid’s quarterbacks. Reid has done an outstanding job managing the quarterback situation so far, but injuries have helped make his decision rather easy.
Kevin Kolb was the starter in the season-opening loss at home to Green Bay, and Vick took over when he suffered a concussion against the Packers. Vick then started the next three games but injured his ribs in a 17-12 home loss to Washington. Kolb went 2-1 in the following three games, but a 37-19 road loss at Tennessee and the bye week enabled Vick to come back again.
The Eagles are averaging 32 points per game in Vick’s starts compared to 24.3 with Kolb, and they have seen the OVER cash in their last five games. The OVER is also 4-0 in the last four games for New York and 2-0 in the last two meetings.
Now that you have read this Sunday Night Football preview, check out the NFL odds on this game between the Eagles & Giants and compare the best lines at multiple sportsbooks.
