Eagles Win a Wild One Over the Giants

When the Eagles jumped out to a 14-0 lead early in the first quarter after Sheldon Brown returned a Brandon Marshall fumble 60 yards for a TD, I thought we were in for another lopsided win over the Giants. While the Birds eventually came away with the 45-38 victory it was a wild one from start to finish.

Give New York credit as they never quit and even briefly had a 31-30 lead with a little over six minutes to play in the third quarter. Fortunately for the Eagles, every time the Giants made a play to get back in this game they were able to counter with a big play of their own to maintain the lead. The biggest playmaker of them all was WR DeSean Jackson who once again burned the Giants with a couple of long scores.

With the Eagles holding onto a 17-10 lead in the second quarter, Jackson fielded a Jeff Feagles punt around the 30 yard line, surveyed the situation actually taking a few steps backwards, and then darted up the sideline managing not to step out of bounds for a 72 yard return that put the Eagles back up by two touchdowns.

His biggest play of the night came in the third quarter after the Giants just scored a go ahead touchdown to take a one point lead. On the first play from scrimmage at the Eagle's 40 yard line, Donovan McNabb dropped back and pumped faked the ball once and then hit Jackson for a 60 yard scoring strike that put the Eagles back on top for good 37-31.

While there has to be some concern with Philadelphia's defensive effort as the Giants torched them for 512 yards of total offense including 379 yards in the air, the overall importance of this win can over shadow that performance for now.

With the Cowboys in the middle of their annual December swoon losing their second game in a row, this win not only put the Birds in sole possession of first place in the NFC East, it gives them control of their own destiny to win the division. They have swept the Redskins and the Giants and have one more game against the Cowboys; a week 17 season finale in Dallas. Between now and then they have two home games; this week against San Francisco and next week against Denver, in what will be a homecoming game for Brian Dawkins. If they can win out, they will have a 12-4 record and are guaranteed to host at least one playoff game. Even if they should stumble in one of their next two games, they will still be able to win the East with a victory over Dallas.

This is by far the most exciting offense we have had in town in quite a long time as they can score from anywhere on the field. McNabb is playing with a high level of confidence and no matter which players are in the line up, somebody always seems to step up and make a key play when they need it the most. The hardest thing for this offense right now is the fact that they only have one football to play with as everyone from FB Leonard Weaver to backup QB Michael Vick wants a piece of the action. Throw in Brian Westbrook, who should be back for the playoffs and Jeremy Maclin, who missed this game with a foot injury but hopefully will be available down the stretch and they will have more than enough weapons to compete with the likes of Minnesota and New Orleans.