Team Grades: Sloppy Giants Stumble Badly Against Eagles, 27-7
By Curt Macysyn
The New York Giants (3-2) got off to a hot start against the Philadelphia Eagles (2-3) at Lincoln Financial Field on Monday Night Football. Big Blue went like a hot knife through butter on their first drive, going 80 yards in eight plays to open up a 7-0 lead. But the Giants were in a giving mood, as the offense turned the ball over three times in the first half, courtesy of two Manning interceptions and a Rashad Jennings' fumble.
Even though the Eagles turned the ball over four times, the Giants could never get on track, as the Birds' defensive line was a total disruptive force all night. Offensively, Philadelphia rode the legs of DeMarco Murray to victory, as the former Cowboys' running back surpassed 100 yards on the ground for the first time in Philadelphia.
The net result was an Eagles 27-7 victory that catapulted Philadelphia into a first place tie with New York before a raucous "black-out" crowd at the Linc.
Offense: D
After a great start, the offense could not get out of its own way. Larry Donnell allowed DeMeco Ryan to strip away an interception from him, when the G-men were driving in the first quarter, and that turnover stopped the Giants dead in their tracks. Donnell also dropped a pass that would have landed the Giants deep in Eagles' territory late in the first. The lack of a consistent threat at the tight end position will continue to haunt the Giants and Eli Manning this season.
Speaking of Manning, he went from the penthouse to the outhouse in no time flat. He tried to force the ball into Dwayne Harris after Rueben Randle got jammed off the line. Nolan Carroll stepped in front of Manning's ill-fated missile, and the result was a pick six for the Birds. Manning started strong, but finished poorly, and he had 62.9 quarterback rating for the evening.
The team's first drive was a thing of beauty but after that the offense, especially the line, scuffled mightily. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and right tackle Marshall Newhouse continued to struggle. Connor Barwin was the main antagonist against Newhouse, as he disrupted the Giants' rushing and passing attacks with continued penetration.
Odell Beckham had seven catches on eight targets for 61 yards, but he was someone invisible for the entire game.
Defense: C-
After some early serendipity from the Giants, the Eagles' offensive line began to dominate Big Blue's defensive front. DeMarco Murray finally got on track with his first 100-yard effort as an Eagle, as the former Dallas Cowboy carried the ball 22 times for 109 yards and a touchdown. Ryan Mathews chipped in with 40 yards on 9 carries (4.4 yards per carry), as the Giants' front four seemed to wear down from the stress of the Eagles' attack.
The patchwork secondary did pick off Sam Bradford three times, as Landon Collins had a nice leaping end zone interception in front of tight end Zack Ertz. Jayron Hosley picked off Bradford, as did Brandon Meriweather, but the offense could not do anything with the turnovers.
Safety Craig Dahl finished the game with eight tackles, and he was one of the few Giants who was continually aggressive. Brandon Meriweather had six tackles, an interception and two passes defended in the loss.
Special Teams: D
Brad Wing duffed a punt with under two minutes left in the first half, when he got off 27 yards of ugliness that put the Birds in good field position. Philadelphia converted the stellar field position into three points when Caleb Sturgis hit a 37-yard field goal before the half ended. Wing punted eight times for a nondescript 42.4 yard average, as he has not been impressive lately.
Nikita Whitlock committed a running into the kicker penalty that provided the Eagles with a first down early in the third quarter that turned into a DeMarco Murray 12-yard touchdown scamper. Dwayne Harris did not do much in the return game, as his snaps at wide receiver may be taking its toll on his body. Punt coverage was the only thing standing between the special teams and an F grade.
Coaching: D
Lincoln Financial Field has become a house of horrors for the Giants recently, and the coaching staff should shoulder some of the blame for this outcome. Offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo could never dial up the right number that might have confused the Eagles, since the Giants could not handle Philadelphia's defensive front four man-to-man.
Force feeding Andre Williams was not a good idea either, as the Eagles stuffed the running lanes. Williams ended up with six yards on five carries, as Rashad Jennings was the only ground threat for Big Blue on the evenings. Receiver Myles White does not look ready for prime time, so maybe Jerry Reese ought to dial up Wes Welkers' agent.
Steve Spagnuolo has some injuries to contend with, but the defense was missing its passion, and they appeared on their heels all night. The lack of a pass rush continues to haunt the Giants, and their inability to make Bradford uncomfortable in the pocket, falls onto Spagnuolo.
Curt Macysyn has been covering the New York Football Giants for the past four seasons for Examiner.com, and he is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). Born and raised in New Jersey, Curt attended Seton Hall Prep School in South Orange, N.J. and is a graduate of Rutgers University - New Brunswick. Follow him on Twitter @CurtMac23 for the latest NFL and New York Giants news.