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Eagles-Giants Breakdown
Posted: Thursday January 04, 2001 2:28 PM
Updated: Friday January 05, 2001 8:34 PM
CNNSI.com NFL analyst Pat Kirwan breaks down the Divisional weekend games and explains which team has the edge.
Matchups: Offense | Defense | Special Teams | Coaching
| OFFENSE |
| Eagles | | Giants |
| Donovan McNabb showed why he was the MVP runner-up against Bucs. As it is, he accounts for almost 80 percent of the Eagles' offense. In the red zone he may be the most dangerous threat in the league right now from the QB position. | QB
 | Kerry Collins has directed the Giants' offense with skill and confidence. He has good size and has learned to throw deep as well as with a nice touch to backs. He's not as mobile as his counterpart, but he can win a game with his arm. |
| Since Duce Staley got hurt, the Eagles have employed a backfield by committee. Chris Warren led the rushing attack last week by running for 82-yards on 21 carries and is fresh after a season on the bench in Dallas. He has life in those legs, but holding on to the ball is another matter. | RB
 | The tandem of Tiki Barber and Ron Dayne has rushed for more than 1,800 yards and 13 touchdowns. Barber is the speed back, Dayne is the power back. Barber is also dangerous coming out of the backfield. |
| The Eagles take advantage of McNabb's scrambling ability and use the short passing scheme to perfection. Against the Bucs, 10 different receivers caught at least one pass. TE Chad Lewis has become a "go-to" guy for McNabb. He can get open in the seams and also blocks well at the point of attack. | WR / TE
 | Amani Toomer and Ike Hilliard have shown they can get open for QB Collins to stretch the field. Between them, Toomer and Hilliard have 15 touchdown receptions. The Giants like to use big TE Howard Cross to block for their running-back tandem. They tend to use the sure-handed Pete Mitchell when they want to incorporate the TE into their passing game. |
| The Eagles' offensive line has started every game together this season as a unit. In the NFL, that is unheard of. Their experience and size allow McNabb to scramble to buy time for rushing/passing seams to open up. | LINE
| LG Glenn Parker has been nursing a sore knee, and LT Lomas Brown (280 pounds) is somewhat small compared to other tackles around the league. But Brown is a much better matchup against Hugh Douglas than George Hegamin was last week. |
| DEFENSE |
| Eagles | | Giants |
| DE Hugh Douglas racked up 15 sacks this season (he had two more last week against the Bucs). Corey Simon finished third in the voting for rookie defensive player of the year. Mike Mamula and Hollis Thomas round out a unit that held the Bucs to 50 yards rushing. | LINE
| DE Michael Strahan led the defensive front four in tackles with 66, including 9 1/2 sacks. DT Keith Hamilton chipped in 10 sacks. As a unit, this group is as solid as any in the league. |
| This linebacking corps lacks some speed on the outside, but are fundamentally sound and are sure tacklers. | LB
| This extremely quick unit, led by Jessie Armstead (102 tackles, five sacks, one interception), has strong tackling skills. |
| Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor combined to effectively shut down Bucs WR Keyshawn Johnson week. Their secondary is especially adept at playing man coverage in an aggressive blitzing scheme. Safety Brian Dawkins is a big-time hitter. | DB
| The Giants' defensive backs are big enough to play with any
receiver in the league. They're an athletic group, but there is always
concern about CB Dave Thomas in man-to-man matchups. |
| SPECIAL TEAMS |
| Eagles | | Giants |
| Solid placekicker David Akers usually deals well with the kind of wind conditions you'd expect at Giants Stadium. Veteran punter Sean Landeta had a great game against the Bucs, keeping them pinned with poor field position all day. |
| Veteran kicker Brad Daluiso attempted just 11 field goals this season. P Brad Maynard (40.6-yard average) has punted 26 times inside the
20. Ron Dixon is a dangerous return man. |
| COACHING |
| Eagles | | Giants |
| Andy Reid continues to do a masterful job leading the Eagles. Without consistency at running back and wide receiver, they completely dominated the much-heralded Bucs defense. He has his team playing with purpose while having fun doing it. |
| Jim Fassel has his players believing in themselves, and has created a chemistry that makes this team dangerous during the playoffs. |
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