The New York Giants head to Lincoln Memorial Field for a Monday Night Football matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Giants head to this NFC East showdown with a 2-10 record and 8 straight losses. With their season over, the Giants are probably more focused on getting the #1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft more than anything. On the other hand, the Eagles are 5-7 on the season and will miss the playoffs if the postseason starts today. However, they are just one game behind the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional battle and with a relatively easy schedule to close out the year, they still have a good shot at entering the big dance.
Manning on Monday
The New York Giants replaced Eli Manning after Week 2 of the season and allowed rookie Daniel Jones to take over the team. After Jones won his first two games, the Giants have dropped 8 in a row. But with Daniel Jones listed as questionable with a bad ankle, Manning will start for the Giants on Monday night.
Injuries to key position players have not helped the Giants at all. With his key offensive cogs hurt, Jones completed just 56.2% of his passes and averaged 195 passing yards in his last two games. Saquon Barkley has not played well since spraining his ankle in September. Barkley has not scored a rushing touchdown since October 20 and he has rushed better than 4.0 yards per carry in only one game this season.
Golden Tate and Evan Engram are both listed as questionable for this game. Without the pair, Darius Slayton will be Manning’s best option. Slayton has caught 505 yards with five touchdowns this season. On the ground, Barkley has rushed for 544 yards with a pair of touchdowns while also catching 291 receiving yards with one touchdown catch.
Eagles Not Yet Out
This was not how the Eagles planned their season to unfold but at 5-7, the Eagles aren’t out of it yet. Philadelphia currently sits just one game behind the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East standings and they still play the cowboys at home, with another game against the Giants and a road game against the Redskins in their remaining schedule after Monday night. Given the strength ( or lack of it ) of their schedule, Philly is still very much alive this season.
Carson Wentz has thrown for 2,840 passing yards with 20 touchdowns and 7 interceptions on the season. With the Giants allowing an average of 273 passing yards per game, this is a good game for Wentz to get hot with his receivers healthy. Tight end Zach Ertz has 70 catches for 736 receiving yards with seven touchdowns while Alshon Jeffrey has 43 catches for 490 yards with four touchdowns. Nelson Agholor has 363 receiving yards with three touchdown catches.
The Eagles ground game is a double-barreled offense. Jordan Howard leads Philadelphia with 525 rushing yards with six touchdowns. But he has missed the action and is questionable for this contest. Miles Sanders has rushed for 520 yards with one touchdown while also catching a total of 359 yards and three touchdowns.
Who Wins?
The Giants are 0-8 SU in their last eight games played. New York is 1-5 SU in six road games played so far this year. The Eagles are 2-5 SU in their last seven games played. Philadelphia is 3-3 SU in six home games played this season, and they are also 12-4 SU in their last sixteen games played against the NFC East Division. Head to head, the Eagles are 9-1 SU in their last 10 games played against the Giants.
Daniel Jones is nursing an injured ankle and he is likely out of this game. With Jones out, we are going to see Eli Manning back behind center for the first time since week 2. The Giants are fighting for the #1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft while the Eagles are fighting for their playoff lives.
This isn’t the spot where the Eagles wanted themselves to be at this stage of the season. Yet given all their shortcomings this season, they are still in a position where they can make the playoffs. At 5-7, the Eagles are just one game behind the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East team standings.
With a pair of road games against the Washington Redskins and these sam Giants plus a homestand against the Cowboys in their remaining schedule, the Eagles still have a good chance of finishing ahead of the Cowboys if they take care of business. Given their motives, I like the Eagles’ chances here.
Prediction: Philadelphia Eagles
Other Bets to Make
New York is 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games played. The Giants are 3-3 ATS in six road games played this season, and 3-6 ATS in their last nine games played against the NFC East Division. The Eagles are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games played. Philadelphia is 2-4 ATS in six home games played this season, and they are 2-6 ATS in their last eight games played against the NFC Conference. Head to head, the Eagles are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games played against the Giants.
Giants
+9.5 (-105)
Eagles
-9.5 (-115)
Odds from SportsBetting as of 12/05/19
Carson Wentz and his receivers are all healthy and the Giants pass defense has plenty of leaks. Zach Ertz and the receiving corps are going to have a great game and the rushing duo of Howard and Sanders will help finish the job. I expect the Eagles to win by double-digits here and I just can’t trust a team that’s led by Eli Manning.
Prediction: Eagles -9.5
The total has gone over in four out of the last five games played by the Giants. The over is 7-1 in New York’s last 8 road games played, and the over is 10-5 in their last 15 games against the NFC Conference. The total has gone under in four out of the last six games played by the Eagles. The under is 4-1 in Philly’s last five home games played but the over is 13-7 in their last 20 December games. Head to head, the total has gone over in six out of the last seven games between these two teams.
Over
46 (-105)
Under
46 (-115)
Odds from SportsBetting as of 12/05/19
Neither these defenses have been standout this season and the secondaries for both teams haven’t impressed at all. Expect plenty of passing action from Wentz and Manning. I don’t like Manning but he should be able to contribute a pair of touchdowns and Barkley should have a good outing as well for the Giants. The Eagles are likely going to drop more than 30 points here and the Giants will help them breach this total.
Prediction: Over 46