SB Nation Philly - Eagles Beat Giants in Crazy Game, On Top of NFC East

Eagles Vs Giants Highest Rated Sunday Night Game In 12 Years

2010-11-22T16:23:29Z

The Eagles have been setting ratings records all season. They’ve already been a part of the two highest rated games of the year; Week 1 against the Packers and just a couple weeks ago against the Colts. That game was the highest rated for CBS in three years.

Last night, with first place in the NFC East on the line and Michael Vick coming off a performance for the ages, they did it again. Eagles vs. Giants scored a 15.9 rating, which is the highest rated November Sunday night game in 12 years.

The Eagles will play their next two games in front of a national audience as well, so there’s a decent chance more ratings records could fall as the Eagles roll on.

Eagles Vs Giants Recap: Eagles Have Sole Possession of NFC East

2010-11-22T05:12:05Z

First things first, Ellis Hobbs walked out of the X-Ray room on his own power after his tests were negative. Great news there.

Secondly, I'm not going to get into what happened first or second or who did what individually in this game because it won't make any sense. This game was completely stupid. The Eagles didn't deserve to win this game, but the Giants deserved it less, so I guess it's good that Philadelphia came out on top. This football game had so many different elements to it, not the least of which being the bonus of the winner gaining sole control of the NFC East.

The referees absolutely played a role. One that was far too big and deciding for an unbiased group of people. There is not a person in this world who understands and agrees with each helmet-to-helmet call or what constitutes an actual fumble. There's just not. It's a complicated game, easily the most difficult to officiate in any of our sports, and I try to cut the refs some slack on real time plays and snap decisions.

But the way this game was officiated and the calls that got made or didn't get made were completely random. Some helmet-to-helmet hits are violent, malicious, flag-inducing plays, while some are circumstantial and "part of the game" and ambiguous. What is the exact definition of "irrefutable" that the NFL referees are looking at when deciding a challenged play? Because it's different from the one I'm aware of, and I'd just like to be clear on how I should be watching a game.

Refs aside, the players were in a sort of NFC East Twilight Zone the whole night. It seemed like every other play was a fumble pileup that could have gone either way. This was far from a tightly played football game (hey penalties!) and it exposed a ton of weaknesses in this Eagles team. All week, people were crowning them the class of the NFC because of how unstoppable they looked against the Redskins. And they did look the best I've ever seen an Eagles team look. But it was one week and before we anoint them world champions, they need to prove it over multiple games against good football teams. The secondary had a ton of trouble tackling, the defensive line wasn't getting to the quarterback enough, and seriously, stop making useless penalties.

The game didn't make any sense, but all that matters I suppose is that the Eagles scored more points than the Giants and are now a full game up on them for the top spot in the NFC East. What this means for the rest of the season I have no idea. But we've got six more weeks left to figure out just what the hell this team is and one game will not determine that. Next week at Chicago, a team that is somehow 7-3. Be sure to bring your inhalers.

Eagles Vs Giants: LeSean McCoy Runs 50 Yards for Leading Touchdown

2010-11-22T04:31:37Z

This game is unbelievable.

After Michael Vick missed Jeremy Maclin on 3rd and 1 from the 50, it seemed like they were going to fall flat on their face in the 4th quarter. But Vick, bobbling the ball on the snap, flipped the ball to Shady McCoy, who turned up field and ran 50 yards for the game-leading touchdown. Up 5, the Eagles went for 2 and got it when Vick hit Jason Avant in stride for the two yards.

The Eagles lead 24-17 in this whacked out game and this one is so very far from over. I need an Advil. 4:25 remaining.

Eagles Vs Giants: Broderick Bunkley Recovers Ahmad Bradshaw Fumble...Or Not.

2010-11-22T04:17:45Z

On a broken play, Ahmad Bradshaw caught an Eli Manning swing pass and was met immediately by Ernie Sims. The linebacker whiffed on the hit, but tripped up Bradshaw enough for him to stumble. He leaned forward trying to balance himself and his ball carrying hand hit the ground, when the ball came loose. Broderick Bunkley came up with the ball at the bottom of the pile.

The Giants challenged the play, arguing Bradshaw’s forearm was down, making the play dead. It looked to me like it was the back of his hand, which would make it a live ball, but the play is too close to overturn. The referees, clearly with superior vision to me, decided against this, saying there was indisputable evidence that the forearm hit first. I’m gonna go ahead and call shenanigans on this, but that’s the whole game so what’s the point.

Gross.

Eagles Vs Giants: Penalties the Eagles Undoing, Handing Giants the Game

2010-11-22T04:11:01Z

The drive started with Lawrence Tynes kicking the ball out of bounds, giving the Eagles a 60-yard field. On a big third down play, Michael Vick hit Jason Avant on a beautiful catch made by the receiver at the Giants 35 yard line. The next play, however, Todd Herremans got flagged for another personal foul, this time for a chop block, pushing the Eagles to the 50. Penalties like these have been the Achilles heel for this team all season. If they can’t limit these, the season will end quicker than they’d like.

Another negative play made it 3rd and 30 from Bethlehem, and Vick got sacked by Justin Tuck, almost fumbling the ball back to the Giants for great field position. Sav Rocca punted away, and the Giants will try to orchestrate a long, time-wasting touchdown drive from their own 27.

Ugh.

Eagles Vs Giants: Vick Fumbles, Eli Manning Makes Him Pay

2010-11-22T03:59:13Z

He simply held onto it too long in the pocket. The protection has been great all day, but Michael Vick held the ball at his side, allowing Justin Tuck to get to him and knock the ball away. Barry Cofield recovered at the Eagles 27.

With the momentum firmly on the Giants side and a short field to boot, Eli Manning didn’t waste any time. He rolled one way and hit a wheelbarrowing Brandon Jacobs for a 22 yard gain all the way to the Eagles 5. Then, with all the time in the world, Manning found Derek Hagan in the back of the endzone to tie it up. Lawrence Tynes PAT gave the Giants their first lead of the game and a nauseous feeling in the stomachs of all Eagles fans.

It’s like they’re trying to give the game away. Not good. Plenty of time left, down 1.

Eagles Vs Giants: Eli Manning Hits Travis Beckum for Giants First Touchdown

2010-11-22T03:47:34Z

The Giants were the beneficiaries of another Eagles penalty, this time a pass interference call on Quinton Mikell. Eli Manning threw up a lame duck Mario Manningham, who was covered, but Mikell got turned around and banged into Manningham before the ball was there, drawing a flag. The next play, Eli tossed an easy touchdown to Travis Beckum, cutting the Eagles lead to 16-10 with only seconds left in the third quarter.

Trent Cole gets held every play by Shawn Andrews or whoever else is on him after the snap. Sometimes they call it, but most of the time the don’t. Holds are everywhere so I don’t know how to fix it, but him being held seems to be a problem. Just thought I’d point that out.

16-10 Eagles, maybe now we can get a touchdown or two. Finish a drive please.

Eagles Vs Giants: Hobbs Out, Eight Minute Drive Ends in Field Goal, 16-3 Philly

2010-11-22T03:34:39Z

After a loooooong stoppage of play when Ellis Hobbs was getting stretchered off the field after a neck injury from an unflagged helmet to helmet hit, the Eagles offense looked much smoother than it had all night. First a pass on the outside to Desean Jackson, then a pass on the other side to Jeremy Maclin, who cut back for 18 yards. Then a rare screen pass to LeSean McCoy went for 17 more and Vick and company found themselves at midfield.

The Giants forced the Eagles into a third and short, and Vick went to Jason Avant for the first time since he dropped a sure touchdown pass, resulting in a first down. On another third and short, Vick tried to lean forward for the first, but was met at the line of scrimmage by Justin Tuck, who pushed him back and forced a 4th down. Andy Reid opted run another sneak on 4th and inches, deciding that the Giants front line couldn’t stop the same thing twice, and they didn’t. Back in the red zone, two ugly plays brought the Eagles to yet another third down, the third of the drive, this time with 11 yards to go. A quick slant to Desean Jackson only got 8, and David Akers came out for the 4th time today, nailing a 28-yard attempt.

16-3 Eagles. Field Goals < Touchdowns. Get some of those.