They’d be favorites to reach the Super Bowl.
Surely, the NFL’s hottest team — at that time — could manage a win against the Dallas Cowboys (whose quarterback has been throwing the ball to the wrong guys since he returned to the lineup after an injury) or the New Orleans Saints (who were averaging 11 points in their previous four games).
But then quarterback and MVP candidate Jalen Hurts was driven to the Soldier Field turf and sprained his throwing shoulder, and all hell broke loose.
The Eagles — thanks to four turnovers — lost a shootout to the Cowboys on the road with backup quarterback Gardner Minshew throwing a pair of interceptions — as tackle Lane Johnson tore a tendon in his abdominal area.
No need to worry, though. Even shorthanded, the Eagles — playing at home — would beat the Saints, led by retread quarterback Andy Dalton and slowing running back Alvin Kamara, right?
Uh, no. The Eagles, with Minshew still at quarterback, played their worst game of the season on Sunday and lost, 20-10 — which means all those playoff perks will be at stake in the last-gasp, regular-season finale against the pesky Giants.
But there’s reason for hope: If the Eagles are choking, the Giants might give them the Heimlich.
With the Giants locked into the sixth seed, Sunday’s game means nothing to them, and they’re likely to rest and protect their best players, like quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley. Imagine the back-page furor if head coach Brian Daboll, after getting the Giants to the postseason for the first time since 2016, lost a key player to injury in a worthless final game.
So, will the Giants lay down for the Eagles, who are expected to have Hurts back? Well, here’s how that exchange went between Daboll and the media after the Giants trounced the Indianapolis Colts, 38-10, on Sunday:
You’re locked into the sixth [seed].
“You would know better than me right now.”
Any thought to, “We got to pull back on some guys this week or rest them”?
No.”
When you say no, is it that you haven’t thought about it yet? Or no, you’re going to play all of the starters?
“I haven’t [thought about it yet]. I’m just going to enjoy this one right here – go home and smoke a cigar and hang out with my family.”
When he’s finished puffing (and showering off the Gatorade), here’s what Daboll will realize: The Giants are on track for a rematch with the Vikings in Minnesota in the wild-card round.
The 49ers beat the Raiders in overtime on Sunday, while the Vikings lost to the Packers. Both teams are 12-4. But the 49ers have leaped to the second seed, because they have a better record in conference games (9-2, compared to 7-4).
So, the Eagles should expect to see a lot of the Giants’ backups, especially quarterback Tyrod Taylor and running back Matt Breida. The truth is, the Giants left Jones in the game too long on Sunday. With a 31-10 lead early in the fourth quarter and the playoff spot virtually locked up, Jones scored on a 10-yard run, taking a big hit as he went into the end zone. That could have been disastrous.
He’s probably, not probably – he’s the toughest quarterback in the NFL,” Barkley said. “I really do believe that. … He’ll try to run somebody over. He doesn’t care. He’s a competitor. He’ll do whatever it takes to win a football game. That’s the thing that I love most about him.”
If the Giants want testimony on how one play can torpedo playoff hopes, they can look across the field at the guy who just took his arm out of a sling and now has to rescue his team.
Kevin Msnahan:
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