Football
The Philadelphia Eagles are heading up the New Jersey Turnpike to take on the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on Thursday Night Football.
In order to preview this Week 6 matchup, I reached out to our enemies over at Big Blue View. The enduring Ed Valentine kindly took the time took the time to answer my questions about this upcoming battle. Let’s take a look at the answers.
[For my answers to Ed’s questions about the Eagles, check out BBV.]
1 – What do you make of what you’ve seen from Jaxson Dart thus far? Are Giants fans optimistic about his outlook?
Dart has been excellent. He has done nothing to make anyone think the Giants made a mistake when they traded up in the draft to select him. Dart is probably playing earlier than the Giants had hoped they would need to turn to him, and there will be growing pains, but Dart brings hope of a better future to a franchise and a fan base in desperate need of that.
2 – Speaking of QBs, how are Giants fans reacting to what Daniel Jones is doing on the Colts this season? Is his success there another nail in the coffin for Brian Daboll and/or Joe Schoen?
I would say fans are not taking it well. There are plenty of Jones backers saying “I told you so.” The truly annoying thing is the Colts are basically using the Giants’ 2022 Jones game plan — the one the Giants basically abandoned after they paid Jones following the playoff season. It is certainly an embarrassment Daboll and Schoen did not need.
3 – I’ll flip around your question to me: If you could take one player off the Eagles’ roster and put him in the Giants’ lineup, who would it be? Why?
I actually surveyed the Big Blue View staff for opinions on the answer to this question, and there are two answers:
- FOR THIS YEAR: Wide receiver A.J Brown. The Giants are desperate for wide receiver help with Malik Nabers gone for the season. Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson is all they have, and that’s not enough. Jalin Hyatt isn’t good. They have no difference makers on the outside without Nabers.
- FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS: Defensive tackle Jalen Carter. That guy is going to be a problem for a loooong time and he would look great next to Dexter Lawrence. Add him to what the Giants already have in their front seven and even I might be able to run that defense.
4 – What is the Giants’ biggest strength and biggest concern right now?
The biggest strength is the defensive foursome of Lawrence, Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux. The way they dominated against the Chargers is how the Giants drew it up. To be honest, though, Lawrence has had a down year to this point and figuring out how to maximize three quality edge defenders has been tricky.
The biggest concern is the wide receiver position without Malik Nabers, as I indicated about. Dart is a rookie quarterback with moxie, talent and mobility. He has a lot to learn, though, and he needs playmakers who can help him. Losing Nabers, the best one the Giants had, is devastating. Darius Slayton is OK, but had a horrific game vs. New Orleans. Wan’Dale Robinson is a good player, but limited in what he can do. Theo Johnson has potential at tight end. The Giants, though, don’t really have anyone who can bail their quarterback out.
5 – Who wins this game and why? With the Eagles currently listed as 7.5-point road favorites, what’s your score prediction?
The Eagles win this game. Because they are better, and because this one feels like a perfect “get-right” game for an Eagles’ offense that to this point hasn’t been what it was a year ago. Score? A lot to a little.
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