Sunday, November 20, 2005

Final Score: Giants 27, Eagles 17

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- If you didn't think it was over last week. Now it is really over.

Giants 27, Eagles 17

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Two weeks, two games, two cornerbacks burnt on pump fakes. Last week against the Dallas Cowboys it was Lito Sheppard biting on a Drew Bledsoe pump fake that resulted in a Terry Glenn TD. This week it was Sheldon Brown, who's been the best d-back for the Eagles this season, getting schooled on an Eli Manning pump, that gave the quarterback an wide-open Plaxico Burress for a 61-yard TD and essentially sealed the outcome ... or did it?

Giants 20, Eagles 17

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The Giants are horrible.

Giants 20, Eagles 10

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Any hope that McMahon can lead the Eagles back with 12 minutes left?

Giants 13, Eagles 10

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Some up here in the press box questioned the Eagles' decision to take the David Akers' three points instead of going for the seven on fourth and goal from the two. The statement was: "Shouldn't the Eagles go for it on every pivotal fourth down at this point in their 4-5 season?"

Giants 13, Eagles 7

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Football Giants come back and add three to their lead. The big play of the possession came from running back Tiki Barber who hit the hole and broke free for a 55-yard gain. I made this comment after the run: "Tiki is due for a fumble." Bob Brookover, seated to my left, noted that Barber doesn't cough the ball up that much amymore since he altered how he holds the ball two years ago.

Brookover 1, McLane 0.

Giants 10, Eagles 7

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Just as Koy Detmer was warming up on the sidelines, McMahon drove the Eagles 72 yards on six plays and hooked up with Reggie Brown for a 22-yard TD. Brown ran a post and McMahon threw a strike. Bygonit, maybe every McNabb-hater out there was right. Nah.

Halftime Score: Giants 10, Eagles 0

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Anyone who made the claim that maybe the Eagles would be better off without Donovan McNabb, please stand up, please stand up.

We know that Mike McMahon was behind the eight ball even before this game started. He hasn't started in years. He's still getting familiar with the offense. He's playing on the road in a pressure situation. But he just simply isn't the guy to save the season for the Eagles. His first half was pretty putrid. He was 5 of 15 for 81 yards with one interception and two fumbles. His pick right before the half was not a bad read, but a bad throw. I'd take the occasional bad read over an inaccurate arm any day.

Giants 10, Eagles 0

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Something terribly wrong was bound to happen with Reggie Hodges as the Eagles' punter. The replacement for Dirk Johnson has been shaky with his punts in the first place, but then came this debacle with less than five minutes remaining in the first half. The snap from Mike Bartram wasn't perfect, but Hodges took his lollygagging time getting the boot off, and had it blocked.

Off the block, the Giants had first and goal on the Eagles 1-yard line and needed four plays to get in the end zone. For a second there, we thought Barry Switzer was calling plays on the Giants' sideline. But Manning made a nice play-action and an even nicer pass to Amani Toomer for the 1-yard TD and the seemingly insurmountable 10-0 lead.

Fourth and Woe

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- We're starting to get the feeling here that the only way the Eagles are going to put points on the board is if their defense scores.

Giants 3, Eagles 0

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The Eagles got a little unlucky on this drive. The pass interference call on safety Michael Lewis was probably a bad one. Then Jevon Kearse sacked Eli Manning and caused a fumble that popped right into the arms of Giants offensive lineman Kareem McKenzie. Another unfortuitous bounce for the Birds this season. At least they held the worst 6-3 team in the NFL to only three points.

First Quarter Score: Eagles 0, Giants 0

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- That is the end of the first quarter. Thank god.

Eagles-savior Mike McMahon's numbers thus far: 2 of 9 for 30 yards. He had one decent pass completed to Greg Lewis. It was mostly due to Lewis' fine grab. McMahon also fumbled the ball once and almost threw a interception.

We want Koy Detmer.

ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- ... Wha-What? The Eagles are playing? Oh, that's why I'm here in north New Jersey.

Eagles vs. Giants: Pre-game Notes

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- You're looking live at the Eye on Eagles blog. We're here at the Meadowlands for the Eagles-Giants game.

We can't wait to see how Mike McMahon proves that all the Donovan-haters out there are right - McNabb is overrated.

Here are the Eagles inactives:

McNabb, running back Ryan Moats, cornerback Dexter Wynn, tight end Stephen Spach, linebacker Matt McCoy, defensive tackle Keyonta Marshall, tackle Calvin Armstrong, tackle Todd Herremans