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EVENTS
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |
Third time's a charm Fassel looking forward to facing Eagles ... again
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- If nothing else, playing the Philadelphia Eagles a third time this season means the New York Giants won't have to do too much homework, head Jim Fassel said Sunday evening. The Giants (12-4) ended a weekend of waiting for an opponent in the NFC semifinal next Sunday when the Eagles (12-5) earned the right to play New York once again with a 21-3 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. New York has won its last eight games with the Eagles, including two one-sided decisions this season. "Obviously, we're familiar with Philadelphia," Fassel, who has never lost to the Eagles since taking over as head coach in 1997. "The results of our two regular-season games with Philadelphia don't mean anything now. They are a very good team, and they showed that by the way they played [Sunday]." The Eagles didn't play well against the Giants in either game this season. New York embarrassed Philadelphia 33-18 in a game at Veterans Stadium in the second week of the season, gaining 387 total yards while holding the ball for almost 39 minutes. The Giants broke the game open with 14 points late in the first half to take a 20-3 lead. The Eagles, who were limited to 237 yards, never threatened after that. The Giants were even more impressive in beating Philadelphia 24-7 on Oct. 29 at Giants Stadium, where next Sunday's game will be played. New York outgained the Eagles 384-192 and held the ball for almost 44 minutes. In the two games, New York has rushed for 319 yards and limited Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb to 29 of 64 for 343 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions while sacking him seven times. Giants quarterback Kerry Collins hit 43 of 66 passes for 473 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in the two games. Amani Toomer has 16 catches for 188 yards and two touchdowns, while Ike Hilliard caught 13 passes for 123 yards and one TD. The Eagles have only four sacks in the two games. The Giants will come into conference semifinal riding a five-game winning streak that earned them the top seed in the NFC for the playoffs and a first-round bye. "As I've said for the last month or so, this season and each game is about us being as good as we can be," Fassel said. "It's not about anything or anybody else. It's about us. Everything we do this week will be geared towards us playing our best game of the season." The Giants prepared videotape work for four possible opponents last week, so all the coaches will have to do early this week is study film of the Eagles-Bucs game and then come up with a game plan. "It's a relief to know who our opponent is going to be," Fassel said. "Our players and coaches did a good job during the bye week of staying focused and working on the areas we need to improve. We will get back to work tomorrow with our normal routine." The playoff game will be the Giants first since losing a wild-card game to Minnesota at Giants Stadium in 1997. New York blew a 22-13 lead in the final two minutes.
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