Terrible Two

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – As far as short weeks go, at least on paper, it seemed the Eagles had drawn a favorable opponent as they looked to get back on track after dropping their first game of the season against the Denver Broncos four days earlier.

Entering the game as heavy underdogs, the Giants quickly proved they were motivated and unmoved, striking first and powering past their NFC counterpart, 34-17, in a stunner.

Down 10 in the fourth quarter, it appeared the Eagles had a bit of life, leading a march that brought them to the Giants’ 15-yard line. But on a 2nd-and-10, Giants cornerback Cordale Flott jumped the route, intended for wide receiver Jahan Dotson, securing the football and returning it 68 yards the other way before being knocked out of bounds.

What appeared destined to cut the Giants’ lead to three with plenty of time remaining resulted in a 17-point deficit for plays later, as Giants rookie running back Cam Skattebo punched it in from a yard out for his third touchdown of the evening.

Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart completed 17 of 25 pass attempts for 195 yard and a touchdown. He also rushed for 58 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.

Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (1) was picked off and overthrew a wide open DeVonta Smith on a potential TD pass in a 34-17 loss to the Giants.

Let’s get to the observations.

Inactive for the Eagles were QB Sam Howell (3rd QB), CB Mac McWilliams, LG Landon Dickerson, TE Grant Calcaterra, WR Xavier Gipson and DT Jalen Carter.

Carter popped up on Wednesday’s injury report with a heel injury and was listed as questionable. He was spotted on the field during pregame warmups talking with head coach Nick Sirianni, general manager Howie Roseman, defensive line coach Clint Hurtt, and trainers. Following the huddle around the five-yard line, Carter dapped up his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, and signed a few autographs before heading for the tunnel.

With Carter sidelined, the active defensive tackles included Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Byron Young, Gabe Hall and Ty Robinson.

Ahead of Thursday Night Football, the Eagles activated LB Nakobe Dean from the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list. The team also elevated DT Gabe Hall from the practice squad ahead of tonight’s game.

* The Giants won the opening coin toss, electing to defer for the second half and bringing on the Eagles’ kick return unit. Dean, in his season debut, was part of the kick return personnel. What appeared to be a drive that was well at hand, with RB Saquon Barkley ripping off runs of 18 and 13 yards, respectively, resulted in only a field goal.

For perspective, on a 3rd-and-10 from the Giants’ 29, Jalen Hurts threw short of the sticks, completing a pass to TE Dallas Goedert for 5 yards and settling for the field goal. Would have liked to see the Eagles offense be a little more aggressive there following the early momentum. As an aside, I thought LG Brett Toth – starting in place of Landon Dickerson (ankle) – held his own.

* There was a lot of early rotation at edge rusher. Fourth-year pro Azeez Ojulari, a former New York Giant, got the start in his second game active with the team. A few plays in, veteran Za’Darius Smith subbed in. Still, it’s notable that Fangio opted to go with Ojulari, rewarding the 25-year-old for his play Sunday against the Broncos, when Ojulari compiled a tackle for loss and quarterback hit. All that being said, Ojulari missed an opportunity to bring down Giants QB Jaxson Dart but whiffed.

* It took a couple starts before he was truly tested, but Kelee Ringo, on a 3rd-and-12 from the Giants’ 44, surrendered a 34-yard completion to WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey. He was unable to affect the catch point. Ringo also missed some tackles on defense and special teams. He was also flagged twice, one being a defensive pass interference in the fourth quarter on an end zone shot to WR Jalin Hyatt. Complicating matters is that CB Quinyon Mitchell spent an extended period in the medical tent and did not re-enter the game. Replacing Mitchell at corner was Adoree’ Jackson, and the Giants — as effectively as they could, given their shortage at wide receiver — took advantage. One could make an argument that Mitchell is among the top contenders for players the Eagles’ could least afford to lose. His absence was felt almost immediately.

* The Giants might not have had all that much in the way of offensive firepower, but credit the rookie Dart for elevating the play of those around him and giving them opportunities. Dart himself showed wizard-like pocket awareness at times, weaving his way out of sacks and extending plays. Dart rushed for 49 yards on six carries.

To put their first-half offensive efficiency into perspective, the Giants were 5 of 6 on third down.

* Giants rookie RB Cam Skattebo was also impressive, rumbling full steam ahead with tremendous physicality and accruing three touchdowns on the ground, fueling the Giants’ offense. The fourth-round pick posted career highs on Thursday night, rolling up 98 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries.

* The Eagles continue to compile miscues on kickoff returns, this time it was RB Tank Bigsby muffing a kick just before the break, bringing out to the six-yard line as a result. Bigsby, who had difficulties handling the knuckleball kicks of Rams K Joshua Karty, was brought in to provide a jolt on returns, which hasn’t happened yet. And to be fair, A.J. Dillon also muffed one later, setting the offense up at the 5-yard line. Less-than-ideal starting field position has become a recurring issue. Perhaps the team will consider giving an opportunity to WR/RS Xavier Gipson, who has been inactive over his first three weeks with the team.

Speaking of special teams, S Sydney Brown was tagged for an unnecessary roughness penalty early in the third quarter and then nearly drew another later in the quarter, when he gave Giants punt returner Gunner Olszewski a late pop along the sideline. Brown’s tenacity and physicality makes him an asset and enforcer of sorts on teams, but it can work against him at times.

* Late in the third quarter, when S Reed Blankenship and DB Cooper DeJean collided, Blankenship briefly left the game. Surprisingly, though, it wasn’t Brown who came on in relief … it was veteran Marcus Epps. Perhaps something to file away…

* Brutal missed opportunity early in the third quarter for the Eagles’ offense. For the second consecutive week, an Eagles wide receiver slipped behind the secondary and appeared poised for a long touchdown. Against the Broncos, Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown were unable to connect, and this week – on 3rd-and-6 from the Eagles’ 11 – WR DeVonta Smith blew past Giants CB Cordale Flott and was streaking down the left side. The protection up front, particularly by Toth, was strong, but the pass was overthrown. Explosive plays have been there, but as Hurts himself has said, the lack of execution has been a major factor in the offense’s turbulence.

*Rookie fourth-round DT Ty Robinson, who came into the game having played just three defensive snaps, worked into the rotation throughout the game. Didn’t notice him all that much, but I’m interested to see what the snap share indicates Friday morning.

* EDGE Patrick Johnson’s third-quarter sack of Dart made him just the second Eagles’ edge rusher to compile a register a sack through six games. The Eagles rotated all of their edge rushers.

* Big mistake late in the game for the Eagles’ offense. Down 27-17 in the fourth quarter and driving, Jalen Hurts, on a 2nd-and-10 from the Giants’ 15, attempted a short pass to the left to WR Jahan Dotson. But the pass never made it to Dotson, as Giants CB Cordale Flott snared the pass at the 9-yard line and sprinted 68 yards in the opposite direction before being knocked out of bounds by Barkley. Skattebo scored four plays later for his third touchdown of the evening.

— Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com