An NFC East team will be playing in the NFC Championship Game with the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles meeting once again. The third edition of the Giants vs Eagles matchup could be one of the most important games in this rivalry’s history.
This will be the fourth Giants vs Eagles game in playoff history. In the previous four playoff meetings between these two division rivals, the series is split, two games apiece with Philadelphia winning the last two postseason contests.
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It represents an opportunity for a signature moment. Either Jalen Hurts or Daniel Jones will take their team to the NFC title game, a virtual guarantee of a lucrative contract extension within the next year. With legacies, bragging rights and a shot at the Super Bowl at stake, let’s dive into our Giants vs Eagles preview.
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Giants vs Eagles odds
The latest odds for the New York Giants vs Philadelphia Eagles matchup are courtesy of BetMGM.
- Spread: -8.0, Philadelphia Eagles
- Point Total: 48 points
- Moneyline: Philadelphia Eagles (-375), New York Giants (+290)
Giants vs Eagles game info
Here’s everything you need to know before the New York Giants vs Philadelphia Eagles game.
- Time: 8:15 PM ET
- TV Info: FOX
- Location: Lincoln Financial Field
- Date: Saturday, January 21
- Broadcasters: Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen
Giants vs Eagles matchups to watch
Daniel Jones vs Philadelphia Eagles pass rush
Brian Daboll is receiving a significant portion of the credit, but Jones’ breakout campaign is one of the best stories in the NFL this season. Viewed as a fringe starter entering the season, the former 6th overall pick has arguably been one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the NFL this year.
Philadelphia knows the exact game plan it needs to prepare for Jones. Among quarterbacks with 400-plus pass attempts, Jones had the second-fewest downfield throws (4.9%) during the regular season. Putting that into perspective, Joe Burrow had the third-lowest rate (8.6%) of throws 20-plus yards downfield.
The Eagles know where Jones will attack, given 50% of his passes from Weeks 10-18 were short throws (0-9 yards). It will allow Jonathan Gannon to play things aggressively, unleashing a pass rush that became just the fourth team in NFL history to record 70 sacks in a season.
- Daniel Jones vs pressure: 83.8 QB rating, 55.6% completion, 6.2 ypa, 6-1 TD-INT, 58.2 PFF
- Daniel Jones vs clean: 97.4 QB rating, 73.6% completion, 7.1 ypa, 9-4 TD-INT, 86.5 PFF
While Philadelphia’s pass rush and secondary provide it with an advantage over Jones, his athleticism could swing things. The Eagles allowed the fourth-most rushing yards (448) to quarterbacks this season, but it did hold Jones to 26 rushing yards in Week 14.
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DeVonta Smith, A.J. Brown vs New York Giants cornerbacks
In fairness to New York, given it rested its starters in Week 18, we look back to the matchup in Week 14. The Giants are a better team defensively since that meeting, but it highlights an area of exploitation on this defense.
When Hurts wasn’t under pressure (15 pressures, 4 sacks), he found both A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith open in New York’s secondary. The explosive receiver tandem turned nine receptions into 134 receiving yards and a touchdown apiece. Quite frankly, the damage could’ve been worse if Philadelphia didn’t take a 34-14 lead into the fourth quarter.
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It’s not hard to understand why the Eagles’ receivers had such an efficient day. The Giants’ defense ranked 31st in PFF’s coverage grade (52.1) during the regular season and there are weaknesses everywhere the eye can see.
| QB Rating allowed | Y/REC | TDs allowed | |
| Fabian Moreau | 101.2 | 10.8 | 5 |
| Darnay Holmes | 99.5 | 15.2 | 1 |
| Adoree Jackson | 74.3 | 12.6 | 1 |
It’s why we’ll be keeping a close eye on this head-to-head matchup, waiting to see if defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale makes any adjustments. History suggests he’ll stick with the core principles that made him one of the best defensive play-callers in the NFL, which means putting a lot of pressure on his cornerbacks in man coverage.
Dallas Goedert is another offensive weapon worth tracking. When these clubs met on Dec. 11, the 6-foot-5 tight end was sidelined by an injury. He is now healthy and one of Hurts’ most trusted targets could exploit a defense that has allowed over 1,000 yards to tight ends this season.
Giants’ defensive line vs Eagles’ offensive line
The battle in the trenches is what this matchup is all about. While no one trusts the Giants’ cornerbacks, they are protected by a dominant defensive line. This is the definition of strength versus strength.
Philadelphia’s offensive line can be overwhelming. It ranked second in PFF’s Pass Blocking Efficiency (89.7), allowing the fewest sacks (11) and quarterback hits (nine) in the NFL across 625 dropbacks. Not to be outdone, it rates as the 10th-best run-blocking offensive line in football.
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Despite the daunting challenge ahead, New York should be confident. All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence finished with the fourth-highest ESPN pass rush win rate (17%) among interior defensive linemen. Right alongside him, Leonard Williams posted the 10th-best run-stop win rate (40%) in the regular season.
Philadelphia will already have its hands full against two dominant interior disruptors. Rookie edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux only makes things more complicated. After a slow start in his first NFL season, Thibodeaux closed out the year strong with 21 pressures and 10 QB hits since Week 12.
New York’s trio will be facing All-Pro center Jason Kelce and All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson. Even in his age-35 season, Kelce is a bulldozer in the run game and holds up well in pass protection. As for Johnson, he didn’t allow a single quarterback hit in the regular season.
Giants vs Eagles prediction
New York is playing with house money, just earning a playoff appearance was an unbelievable accomplishment that exceeded even the wildest expectations. However, the Giants’ run likely comes to an end here.
The Eagles are one of the most talented teams in the NFL with arguably the most well-rounded roster and they might have three head coaches on their staff. The matchups are in Philadelphia’s favor, which should lead to a decisive victory followed by fans buying NFC Championship Game tickets at Lincoln Financial Field.
- Prediction: Philadelphia Eagles 31, New York Giants 21