Giants Country

Can Giants Exploit Philadelphia Eagles' Flaws?

Philadelphia Eagles On SI reporter Ed Kracz checks in with some answers about the Giants' Week 7 opponent.

Patricia Traina

Aug 15, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles helmets sit on the bench during the first half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium.
Aug 15, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles helmets sit on the bench during the first half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. / Eric Canha-Imagn Images
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Philadelphia Eagles On SI reporter Ed Kracz provides deeper insight into the state of the New York Giants' biggest NFC East rival, who make their way to MetLife Stadium this weekend.

Nick Sirianni’s act appears to be wearing thin on the outside. Just how warm is his seat even after changing coordinators?

It was a terrible look for the Eagles head coach to get into it with fans, though it’s unknown if they were Eagles or Browns fans. Either way, a bad, bad mistake, though he got into it with Kansas City fans after beating the Chiefs last November. It is wearing thin among the fan base, but Sirianni hasn’t lost the locker room based on comments that have emerged from inside there.

That aside, Sirianni came into the season on the hot seat after they collapsed in the heap of a 1-6 finish to last season after a 10-1 start. That he was able to keep his job was probably because he has taken the Eagles to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons with a Super Bowl appearance two years ago. That sort of goodwill will vanish if he doesn’t take a talent roster into the playoffs and do something once they get there.

Jalen Hurts has been sloppy with his ball security. What do you attribute that to and do you get a sense the Eagles have buyer's remorse with him after giving him that contract extension?

I don’t get a sense of buyer’s remorse. The organization, as far as I know, still loves him and thinks he’s the guy. Last year was total dysfunction inside the coach’s room impacting his performance with him going outside the scheme to try to play hero ball.

That said, he still has a bad habit of holding onto the ball too long and not making quick decisions, which has gotten him into trouble, and for a QB in his fifth season now, some of the mistakes he makes should not be happening. He did end his streak of turning the ball over in nine straight games against the Browns last week. So, there’s that.

How much has Saquon Barkley made in terms of a difference for the Eagles offense?

He has made a huge difference, especially since the Eagles were forced to play without A.J. Brown for three straight games and DeVonta Smith for a game with injuries, which put even more of a burden on him. He handled it well, though.

He has been everything the Eagles could have hoped for and more inside the locker room in terms of leadership and on the field in terms of production, with a team-high five touchdowns and fourth in the league in rushing despite only playing four games due to an early bye for the Eagles.

What can you tell us about the injuries from last week and the potential impact those players’ absences might have on the upcoming game?

Left tackle Jordan Mailata will have a streak of 34 straight starts end with a hamstring injury, and that is a significant loss. The backup, Fred Johnson, is a solid run blocker, but inconsistent in pass protection. The Eagles have flexibility on the line, though, and we could see former Jets tackle Mekhi Becton, who has started all five games at right guard, move outside and Philly plug in last year’s third-round pick, Tyler Steen at guard.

Tight end Dallas Goedert could also miss time, and whenever he misses games, the Eagles get very little production from the backups, so that would be a big loss as well.

What’s been holding back the pass rush?

It showed some life last week with five sacks of Browns QB Deshaun Watson, but Bryce Huff hasn’t been the player the Eagles had hoped they were getting as a free agent - not yet, anyway. They basically swapped Haason Reddick for him, viewing Huff as a younger, cheaper option and paying him on potential. Some see that as him trying to adjust to becoming a three-down player rather than the pass rush specialist he was with the Jets last year, and it does look like he may be thinking too much at times when he’s out there.

Some of the lack of rush before last week could be in players adjusting to new responsibilities deployed by first-year defensive coordinator Vic Fangio or it could be the overvaluation of players such as former first-round picks Nolan Smith and Jordan Davis, though Davis isn’t seen as a pass rusher, but more of a run stuffer. Perhaps it’s both the coach still learning a young defense and the players underperforming. 

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Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.

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