Someone Has To Win … Or Tie
Two struggling teams looking to end their losing ways collide as the Philadelphia Eagles visit East Rutherford to face the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on Thursday night to kickoff the NFL Week 6 slate.
The defending champion Eagles have looked nothing like the team from a season ago as they have slipped offensively and defensively.
Losers of two straight and three out of their last four, Philly has failed to protect Carson Wentz — who returned from a knee injury back in Week 3 in a 20-16 home win over the Indianapolis Colts.
With injuries mounting, that’s a point of emphasis moving forward for Doug Pederson’s team who faces another team having their problems protecting the quarterback.
The Giants are a 1-4 team but looked like a team with life in the second half last week vs the Carolina Panthers that nearly resulted in a win. A 63-yard field goal stunned New York, dropping them to a disappointing 1-4 mark that’s last in the NFC East.
Before the Week 6 matchup, we’ll take a look at three headlines heading into this NFC East battle between two teams looking to change course.
Let’s get started.
What Now For The Eagles At Running Back?
I am by no means a mind reader, but I’m sure the name LeGarrette Blount has popped in Doug Pederson’s head at least once since Monday’s devastating news regarding Jay Ajayi.
The Philadelphia Eagles (2-3) have lost their starting running back for the rest of 2018 after Ajayi suffered a torn ACL last Sunday in a 23-21 loss to Minnesota.
I mentioned LeGarrette Blount because while he took a backseat to Ajayi in the Eagles backfield last season, a fresh and large body like Blount was valued in Philadelphia’s offense.
Now without a legitimate third down back as well as a three down back, what will the Eagles do now? Wendell Smallwood and Corey Clement are Philadelphia’s current running backs.
While shifty, neither running back would be considered as backs capable of having a large or extended workload. More pass attempts may be coming for Carson Wentz in Doug Pederson’s offense.
Odell Beckham Jr.: A Distraction Or Budding Leader?
There’s been plenty to talk about in the press regarding Big Blue. Most of that talk has been centered around the Giants offensive line, Eli Manning and everything that has led to a 1-4 start.
Headlines of late in the Big Apple have been about Giants’ star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who recently called out the Giants after a frustrating start.
Beckham Jr. told ESPN in a interview last week that the Giants lacked “heart” and “energy” following a 33-18 loss to the New Orleans Saints two weeks ago.
That triggered some alarm bells for Giants followers as some wondered if Beckham Jr. was speaking out as a leader or as a player who coming into Week 5 zero touchdown receptions in the first four games and was steaming over his production in New York’s offense.
Head Coach Pat Shurmer had a animated postgame interview following the Giants heartbreaking 33-31 loss to the Carolina Panthers last Sunday.
Shurmer would loudly repeat what he said days before the game regarding Beckham Jr.’s comments where he told the media he ‘disagreed’ with the comments and discussed the situation with his team and Beckham Jr.
The New York Giants (1-4) as a team appeared to react to Beckham Jr.’s comments by coming out and playing with a frenetic energy vs Carolina, particularly in the second half but came up short.
The question is how long can Odell Beckham Jr. — who declares himself as one of the team’s leaders — continue to make these comments before his credibility begins to take a hit?
Is There An NFC East Favorite?
Through five weeks of the NFL season the NFC East has produced one of the least compelling divisions in the NFL as there are three teams currently under .500.
The only other division in the NFL right now that can hold claim to that is the NFC West, which has a 5-0 Los Angeles Rams team in the division.
The question is, is there a favorite to win the NFC East? While Philadelphia is struggling, of all the teams in the division right now their flaws aren’t as significant as others in the division.
Philadelphia can’t protect Carson Wentz reliably, but neither can New York and Eli Manning’s play is showing the effects of it. While Wentz gets hit, he’s still making himself a capable quarterback of standing in the pocket and delivering the ball.
That’s something a 37-year-old Eli Manning simply won’t do as it’s been years of bad pass protection for him behind New York’s offensive line.
Dallas’ offense is one dimensional and lacks depth at wide receiver as they have been one of the worst units in the NFL. In addition to the struggles from the wide receivers, the injuries along the offensive line have caused Dak Prescott to take a beating this season that he has not taken in his first two seasons.
The Washington Redskins … they lost to a 1-4 Indianapolis Colts team at home and just got obliterated by the Saints coming off a bye week.
Philadelphia wouldn’t be considered a favorite to win the NFC East given these two scenarios. One, the Dallas Cowboys offense magically begins to find production at wide receiver. Two, the Giants feast on a relatively easy schedule the rest of the way and find a way to start attacking teams down the field.
In all likelihood, neither of those scenarios will actually play out in 2018.
What are your thoughts on this Week 6 matchup? Leave your comments below!