The New York Giants stunned the football world Thursday night as they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 34-17. The win also ended the team’s eight-game losing streak in the NFC East.
Few gave New York a chance of pulling off the upset against the reigning Super Bowl champions after losing to the winless New Orleans Saints just four days prior. But head coach Brian Daboll rallied his troops, and the team delivered its best performance of the season.
With many expecting the season to spiral after losing Malik Nabers for the season to a torn ACL, there’s renewed hope that the team will remain competitive. The Giants and Eagles will play again on Oct. 26, but we’ll look at the three biggest takeaways from Thursday night’s contest.
Giants Played Best Game of Year on Both Sides of Ball
If New York was going to play any meaningful games going forward, they had to win Thursday, and with the season on the brink, both units delivered.
As it did the previous week, the offense began the game red hot, scoring touchdowns on its first two possessions on drives of 54 and 66 yards. When the Eagles captured the lead 17-13 in the second quarter on a Jalen Hurts one-yard run, the offense responded with a 15-play, 67-yard drive that culminated in a Cam Skattebo four-yard touchdown to take a 20-17 halftime lead.
The defense had its best performance of the season as Philadelphia’s offense never clicked on all cylinders. They sacked Hurts three times, and two of them were by Brian Burns, who is playing as well as any pass rusher in the league. The defense also held Saquon Barkley and the Eagles rushing attack to just 73 yards on 20 attempts.
Most impressively, after committing five turnovers on five consecutive drives, the offense protected the ball while the defense forced two takeaways.
Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo Will Be in Running for Offensive ROY
The resurgence surrounding the team is in large part due to Skattebo and Jaxson Dart. The energy they bring is contagious, their teammates feed off of it, and they’re playing with a confidence that’s not always seen from rookies.
Dart finished the game completing 17 of 25 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown and gained 58 yards on the ground on 13 attempts. He scored the first touchdown of the evening on a 20-yard run.
Skattebo had a performance that could put him in consideration for Offensive Player of the Week, as he carried the ball 19 times for 98 yards and scored three touchdowns. He became the second Giants rookie to score three touchdowns in a game. He also caught two of his targets for 12 yards.
It’s still early in the season, but when you consider no rookie quarterback is making an impact as big as Dart, and the way Skattebo has become a dual-threat as a runner and receiver, this rookie tandem will be in consideration for being named Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Unsung Players Stepped Up
The victory was an all-around team win, and numerous players from both sides of the ball contributed. What made this win so encouraging going forward was that it wasn’t just the stars who delivered; some of the under-the-radar players shined Thursday night.
With Darius Slayton out with a hamstring injury, Big Blue needed a wideout other than Wan’Dale Robinson to contribute, and that man was Lil’ Jordan Humphrey.
Humphrey caught four passes for 55 yards, and his 34-yard reception on the first drive helped set up the first score of the game.
On defense, Cor’Dale Flott made the biggest defensive play of the season. With New York up 27-17 and the Eagles at the Giants 15-yard line, Flott intercepted Hurts and ran the ball back to the Eagles 23-yard line. This play led to Skattebo’s third touchdown of the game, which put the game out of reach.
Flott had been rotating with Deonte Banks at corner, but after the way the 24-year-old played Thursday night, this should cement him as the every-play starter.
Big Blue will look to ride the momentum of this win when they face the Denver Broncos on Oct. 19.
