Eagles need to beat the Giants and then get some help to win the NFC East
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 25: Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles look on against the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on December 25, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (P
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - A little more than a month ago, the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles were 10-1 and had a two-game lead in the race for the NFL's best record.
After losing four of five in December, things have changed.
The Eagles (11-5) head into their regular-season finale at MetLife Stadium against the New York Giants (5-11) guaranteed a playoff spot — and little else. They trail Dallas (11-5) in the tiebreaker to win the NFC East and would need to beat the Giants and hope the Cowboys either lose or tie against Washington to win the division.
Barring that, Philadelphia will be the No. 5 seed in the NFC and will play on the road against the NFC South winner when the playoffs start next week.
The lack of a potential home game is the least of coach Nick Sirianni's problems. The Eagles are not playing well, particularly on defense. They dropped a 35-31 decision to the Cardinals last weekend. It was the fourth win of the season for Arizona (4-12).
Sirianni said his team has continued to work hard, hold discussions and follow the process that has guided them since he took over in 2021.
"Everybody wants to win. Everybody like — that you know from this group, everybody wants to win, and they’re willing to do anything to win," Sirianni said.
The good news for Philadelphia is it dominates the Giants. The Eagles have won five straight matchups and 13 of 15. Their only win in December was against New York on Christmas.
After making the playoffs in 2022 in Brian Daboll's first season as coach, the Giants have disappointed. They go into the finale on a three-game losing streak.
"I mean, this is a division rival," Giants linebacker and special teams star Cam Brown said. "We've got to get back on track and flip the script and that’s what we’re working towards this week."
LAST TIME
The Giants have a score of players who will become free agents in the offseason unless they are signed by March or have a franchise tag placed on them.
Sterling Shepard, the longest tenured Giant whose 369 catches ranks sixth in team history; star running back Saquon Barkley; safety Xavier McKinney; backup and now starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor; cornerback Adoree Jackson; and guard Ben Bredeson are among the starters whose contracts will expire.
SPEAKING OUT
A.J. Brown bit his tongue.
The Eagles wide receiver, who saw his production plummet recently, said he declined to speak to the media after the last two losses because he didn’t want to be "negative."
Brown hasn’t had a 100-yard receiving game in the last four games. Brown has had just one 100-yard game since he ended an NFL-record streak of six straight games with at least 125 yards.
"I’m not trying to make it worse than what it is," Brown said. "Everything that I do, if I say something, if I do anything, I’m classified as a monster. Honestly, it’s just the opposite."
Brown apologized to his Eagles teammates for having to speak on his behalf the last two weeks. Brown, who has 105 catches for 1,447 yards, said he was tired of the narrative that his silence meant he was at odds with the Eagles.
"A.J. Brown is frustrated with the Eagles. A.J. this, A.J. that," he said. "Everybody in this locker room is frustrated, so why are you singling me out because I’m frustrated. Just because I’m shaking my head, I’m showing emotion? You can look at everybody in the stadium, they have bad body language, they’re frustrated."
GIANT ACCOMPLISHMENT
Barkley signed a one-year, $10 million contract before training camp after the team used the franchise tag on him. Despite missing three games with an ankle injury, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 draft needs 84 yards to post his second consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season, and his fourth overall.
Only Tiki Barber (six) and Rodney Hampton (five) have more 1,000-yard seasons for the Giants, who can franchise Barkley one more time if a new contract is not worked out.
SLAY TIME
Eagles cornerback Darius Slay isn’t sure if he’ll return Sunday from a three-game absence following knee surgery.
Slay said it was tough to watch from the sideline, but he expects to return for the playoffs. He said he is moving well, noting his knees haven't felt this strong since 2018.
The 32-year-old Slay has started 12 games and has two interceptions.
100 PERCENT
Linebacker Bobby Okereke and safety Xavier McKinney have a chance to become the first Giants to play every down on defense in a season since 2012. Lineman Nick Gates was the last player on offense to do that, taking 1,013 snaps in 2020.
Okereke leads the Giants in tackles with 141 while McKinney is second with 110. Okereke would need 11 tackles Sunday to break that team single-season record of 151 set by Blake Martinez in 2020.