The Philadelphia Eagles have won the Thursdy Night Game with a 34:13 blowout victory at frighteningly harmless New York Giants. A strong Saquon Barkley was the only ray of hope for the landlords, while Odell Beckham once again provided side line drama. For Philly, Carson Wentz played the best game since his injury return.
Anyone who thought that the Giants game in Carolina the week before was a starting shot for the offense and that New York were now launching an attack on NFC East was mistaken. With the exception of Saquon Barkley, the performance was a complete disaster. The offensive line allowed pressure against the 4-men rush of the Eagles at almost every snap and this led to an already unsettled Eli Manning (24/43, 281 YDS, INT) that he didn’t even get the idea to watch downfield. Instead, checkdowns to the rookie running back were the only thing Manning saw as a way out.
Barkley (13 CAR, 130 YDS, TD, 9 REC, 99 YDS) got the absolute maximum out of it and broke several tackles in spectacular plays, but that was also the only ray of hope. Because an early turnover and a Giants fumble collected at the 1-yard line helped Philly to build up a comfortable lead early on. Important, because also the Eagles Open came out of a difficult start of the season and was longing for self-confidence.
This was found during the second quarter, when the O-Line controlled the lightning packages of New York very solidly and Carson Wentz (26/36, 278 YDS, 3 TD) built better and better rhythm with Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor. An improvised downfield pass and a superb red-zone play helped the Eagles to have more points on their account during the break than in any of the first five games in total. Philly’s front dominated the duel in the Trenches and never let Manning settle down in the second heat. It was class difference. A duel at different levels.
The frustration of the Giants was once again reflected in Odell Beckham’s one or the other side line performance. The Wideout, who had signed a monster contract in the off-season, left the field after two Receptions in the first half before the last Play towards the cabin. After a 50-yard touchdown run from Barkley, which had no effect on the outcome of the game already in the middle of the third quarter, the extroverted Wideout hit the side line with his head several times against a refrigerator and let his displeasure run free with some tirades.
Best game he’s played since he got back. Wentz got going better and better with all the opportunities in the first quarter and gained a lot of self-confidence. He recognized the lightning of the Giants and always found the right answers. His precision and pass strength in impressive drives in the second and third quarters reminded of the Wentz of the previous season. So did Scrambles, where he might even have taken too much risk. Wentz was 10/10 at Third Downs until the end of the third quarter.
The O-line of the Giants was perforated in many places. But nowhere did this have such a big impact on the game as the initial problems on the Blind Side Mannings. Michael Bennett often made it past Soldier’s left side with ease, quickly collecting a sack and a fumble. The latter even picked up Solder because he had already been beaten so far by Bennett that he could observe the fumble from the best position. The ex-patriot gathered over the course of the game. Also the neighbor Will Hernandez paid a lot of dear money.