PHILADELPHIA EAGLES @ NEW YORK GIANTS 
Vegas Line: Eagles + 5.5
Rob’s Line: Eagles + 5.5
I initially had Philadelphia pegged plus 4.5, but pushed the spread out a little as the Eagles will be without both Michael Vick and wide receiver Jeremy Maclin. Both are a huge loss and Vick not just from a quaterbacking standpoint as he’s also second on the team in rushing with 535 yards at 8.2 yards a pop. Those stats are a huge reason why Philly boasts the league’s number one running game, but LeSean McCoy will need to do it all on his own this week.
Maclin leads the Eagles in both receptions and yards and back up QB Vince Young (he who anointed this the “Dream Team”) will need to rely on DeSean Jackson, Jason Avant, Brent Celek and McCoy for help this week. In fact, McCoy may see a lot of the ball in the flat as Young’s release valve. Interestingly, Young’s thrown one pass this season…an interception against the Redskins so he goes into the cauldron of MetLife Stadium on Sunday night a little rusty.
It’s difficult to gauge how Philly approaches this one. They have absolutely nothing to lose and have lost all of the games they could afford to so you might argue that, for them, the playoffs begin here. It’s elimination football all the way now, which makes them dangerous. This is also the first time all season that they’ve been underdogs so the pressure’s now finally off.
The Giants are in the middle of a brutal part of their schedule, which at least means they’ll remain focused week on week. After this comes games against the Cowboys (twice), Saints, Packers and Jets. With a 6-3 record they sit one game clear of Dallas atop the NFC East and yet despite leading the division, statistically you’d never think so. They rank 29th offensively in rushing, 20th defending the rush (the Cowboys will be salivating reading that) and 17th against the pass.
They rank fifth in passing offense and that’s down to a mature Eli Manning at quarterback and a fine receiving corps of Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, Mario Manningham and Jake Ballard. You know what I love about that group? Both Cruz and Ballard went undrafted. To leave college with your football career in limbo and go to the craziness that is New York and fight hard enough for a roster spot in a city where the media glare shines brightest is testament to strong characters and both men have become invaluable to Manning.
I have no love for the Giants, but I’m a Draft nut and like nothing better than reading stories like that. The same thing is almost happening to receiver Doug Baldwin in Seattle.
So, is Philadelphia good value? I can make a case for both teams, even taking into account the Eagles’ injuries, as they possess a ton of talent elsewhere, if not the required chemistry and am wary of writing them off. The Giants will be wary of Dallas breathing down their necks and can’t afford to let up even once here. Based purely on the fact that Philly have the shackles off, I see them being the most dangerous they’ve been all season so I take them and the points on offer.
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