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NFL: Monday Night Football Desk

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N.Y. Giants at Philadelphia Eagles

When: 8:15 PM ET, Monday, December 9, 2019
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Preview for Digital Sports Desk by Gracenote

PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Eagles have lost three in a row to plummet two games under .500 after 13 weeks of the NFL season, a damning predicament for most teams but not in the NFC East. The Eagles bid to move into a first-place tie atop the moribund division on Monday night when they host the free-falling New York Giants.

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“I’m disgusted, I’m mad, I’m angry and I’m probably more so mad at myself,” Eagles coach Doug Pederson told 94WIP in Philadelphia on the heels of the team’s 37-31 setback to Miami last weekend.

The three-game skid of the Eagles, however, has coincided with that of Dallas, allowing the former to reside a half-game behind the Cowboys as it kicks off the final quarter of the season with four games against NFC East foes — including two versus the Giants. New York, which has lost five in a row in the series and eight straight overall, hopes to turn back the clock by sending two-time Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Eli Manning under center to replace rookie Daniel Jones (ankle).

“Just take it one game at a time,” the 38-year-old Manning said of his playing career. “You never want to try to make decisions about your future while you’re still living in the present and don’t know the circumstances of what could happen.”

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Eagles -9.5. O/U: 46

ABOUT THE GIANTS (2-10): Saquon Barkley showed signs of returning to form with 115 scrimmage yards (83 rushing, 27 receiving) in Sunday’s 31-13 setback to Green Bay, and a date with Philadelphia could prove beneficial if last season is any indication. The second-year pro erupted for 231 yards rushing with two touchdowns and 16 receptions for 140 yards and a score against the Eagles in 2018, but this year’s rush defense ranks fourth in the NFL. Rookie Darius Slayton continues to show promise after recording 20 catches for 232 yards in his last three games overall and four touchdowns in his last five. Fellow wideout Sterling Shepard reeled in Jones’ lone touchdown pass last week and has at least seven catches and a score in two of his last three encounters with Philadelphia.

ABOUT THE EAGLES (5-7): Carson Wentz collected his third three-touchdown performance of the season last Sunday, while his 310 yards passing fell three shy of matching his best output of 2019. Alshon Jeffery returned from a two-game absence (ankle) and hauled in nine of 16 targets for 137 yards and a score versus Miami, and looks to feast on a generous Giants pass defense that ranks 25th in the NFL. Tight end Zach Ertz, who leads the team in receptions (70) and receiving yards (736), will look to atone after dropping a pair of touchdown passes against the Dolphins in what he called “probably one of the worst games I’ve played in a long time.” Rookie Miles Sanders has made the most of the absence of Jordan Howard (shoulder), rushing for a career-high 83 yards against Miami while highlighting his personal-best five receptions with a touchdown.

EXTRA POINTS

  1. Philadelphia DE Brandon Graham leads the team with 7.5 sacks, including 5.5 in his past four home games.
  2. New York’s minus-14 turnover differential is tied with Miami for the worst in the NFL.
  3. Eagles S Malcolm Jenkins had an interception and forced a fumble in the last meeting, a 25-22 victory over the Giants on Nov. 25, 2018.

PREDICTION: Eagles 24, Giants 17

Romp in the Swamp

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N.Y. Giants at N.Y. Jets

When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, November 10, 2019
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Preview for Digital Sports Desk by Gracenote

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EAST RUTHERFORD– The Big Apple has seen some pretty bad football this season and on Sunday both of the city’s culprits will be on display on the same field when the Jets “host” the Giants at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The New York-area teams are a combined 3-14 after both dropped games against division rivals last week, with the Jets seeming to bottom out with a 26-18 setback at previously winless Miami.

Welcome to the “Irrelevance Bowl.”

“They’re not going to cancel our season.” embattled Jets coach Adam Gase told reporters. “We’ve got to go back to work.” The Giants have lost five in a row — their longest slide since a seven-game skid in 2014 — after dropping a 37-18 decision to Dallas at home Monday night.

Seeing that skid extend to six against a city rival while going into a bye week could make for a long, painful stretch for the Giants, and the sense of urgency is there. “In the worst way,” safety Michael Thomas told reporters of the need for a win. “For everybody in this organization. Facility, players, coaches, front office. For everybody. We need it and we’re going to find a way to get it.”

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Giants -2.5. O/U: 43.5

ABOUT THE GIANTS (2-7): Struggling rookie quarterback Daniel Jones had three more turnovers in the loss to the Cowboys and he has eight interceptions and eight fumbles in his eight games (seven starts). “Anytime you turn the ball over, it’s costly to the team,” Jones told reporters. “I have to work on that and making sure I’m securing the ball.” Star running back Saquon Barkley has just 92 yards on 33 carries over his last two games, but he’s made 14 catches for 146 yards and a touchdown in that span.

ABOUT THE JETS (1-7): Quarterback Sam Darnold has struggled to take the next step this season, but he’s trying take some positives from a relatively solid 27-of-39 performance versus the Dolphins, against whom he threw one interception after getting picked off seven times over the previous two games. “My confidence is never going to waver,” Darnold told reporters. “I’m very, very confident in myself and this team. We have flashes of going down there and scoring. We just have to do it every single drive.” Veteran running back Le’Veon Bell, who has yet to have a run longer than 19 yards on the season, is battling a knee issue but hopes to be ready Sunday.

EXTRA POINTS

  1. The Jets enter Week 10 ranked last in the NFL in total offense (223.5 yards per game), passing offense (157.3) and scoring (12.0 points per contest).
  2. Giants TE Evan Engram, who leads the team with 44 catches and 467 receiving yards, is out with a foot injury.
  3. The teams have not met since the Jets won 23-20 in overtime in 2015.

PREDICTION: Giants 21, Jets 20

NFL Monday Night Desk:

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Dallas Cowboys at N.Y. Giants

When: 8:15 PM ET, Monday, November 4, 2019
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Preview for Digital Sports Desk by Gracenote

EAST RUTHERFORD – The Dallas Cowboys are clinging to a narrow advantage atop the NFC East due in large part to their strong showings against the division rivals. The Cowboys look to remain perfect within the NFC East and record their third straight season sweep of the New York Giants on Monday night when the clubs meet in New Jersey.

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Dak Prescott has been under center for each of Dallas’ last five starts against New York, including throwing for 405 yards and a career high-tying four touchdowns in a 35-17 victory on Sept. 8. The 26-year-old Prescott tossed for three more scores the following week in a win over Washington before the Cowboys improved to 3-0 in the division after he threw for a touchdown and ran for another in a 37-10 romp over Philadelphia on Oct. 20. While Dallas entered its bye with momentum, New York has lost four in a row after dropping a 31-26 decision to Detroit on Sunday. Star running back Saquon Barkley has scored a touchdown in each of his last two games after missing the previous three with an ankle injury.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Cowboys -7. O/U: 48

ABOUT THE COWBOYS (4-3): Ezekiel Elliott ended his preseason holdout in time to find the end zone in the opener versus New York, a common occurrence this season as the two-time NFL rushing leader scored for the sixth time in seven games following a 111-yard performance against the Eagles.

“I think I’ve gotten into the groove,” Elliott said. “The last game was the best I felt this season, so build on top of that and keep that thing going.” Veteran tight end Jason Witten has scored in each of his last three meetings with the Giants, while Amari Cooper had 106 receiving yards in both the first contest against New York as well as the encounter versus Philadelphia. Cooper, in fact, participated in a full practice on Thursday for the first time in nearly four weeks, a sign that indicates his troublesome ankle and quadriceps are on the mend.

ABOUT THE GIANTS (2-6): Daniel Jones joined Prescott as the lone rookie quarterbacks with two games of 300-plus yards, two-plus touchdowns and zero interceptions in NFL history after he threw for 322 yards and four scores versus the Lions. That’s quite a turnaround from Jones’ previous four contests, when the sixth overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft averaged 197.8 yards while totaling four passing touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Two of Jones’ touchdown passes on Sunday landed in the outstretched arms of fellow rookie Darius Slayton while another was reeled in by tight end Evan Engram, who has found the end zone three times in his past three games against Dallas. Wideout Sterling Shepard and cornerback Corey Ballentine are in line to return to action, with both serving as full participants in practice this week as they work their way back from respective concussions.

EXTRA POINTS

  1. The Giants made a rare trade with the rival Jets on Monday by acquiring former Pro Bowl DE Leonard Williams in exchange for a third-round pick in 2020 and a fifth-rounder in 2021.
  2. While Dallas is averaging an NFL-high 437.9 yards on offense, its defense is permitting a league eighth-best 324.9 yards and surrendering just 17.7 points per contest.
  3. New York has recorded a turnover in 14 consecutive contests, tied with Pittsburgh for the longest active streak in the NFL.

PREDICTION: Cowboys 28, Giants 20

Six and Oh!

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New England Patriots 35, N.Y. Giants 14

When: 8:20 PM ET, Thursday, October 10, 2019
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxboro
Attendance: 65,878
By Field Level Media

FOXBORO – Tom Brady threw for 334 yards to move into second place on the NFL’s all-time passing-yardage list, and the New England Patriots remained unbeaten with a 35-14 victory over the New York Giants on a cold, damp Thursday night.

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The Patriots (6-0) forced four turnovers and scored touchdowns on a blocked punt and a fumble return in the same game for the first time since Nov. 30, 1986, against the New Orleans Saints. Brady scored twice on quarterback sneaks to notch two rushing touchdowns in a game for the third time in his career.

Rookie Daniel Jones was intercepted three times while completing 15 of 31 passes for 161 yards and one touchdown for the Giants (2-4), who were outgained 427-213 in total yards.

New York played without star running back Saquon Barkley (high ankle sprain) and three other key offensive players — backup running back Wayne Gallman and receiver Sterling Shepard, both out with concussions, and tight end Evan Engram (knee). 

Still, the Giants were in the game in the fourth quarter until the Patriots opened up a two-touchdown lead on Kyle Van Noy’s 22-yard fumble return with 8:26 left in the contest.

Jamie Collins forced the ball out of the hands of New York running back Jon Hilliman on the third-down pass play, and Van Voy picked it up and ran down the left side and hit the ball with the pylon to make it 28-14 as Jones tried to make the tackle.

New England put the game away on Brady’s 1-yard sneak with 3:49 remaining.

Brady, who completed 31 of 41 passes with one interception, reached the passing-yards milestone with a 19-yard completion to Sony Michel on his first toss of the game. The opening-minute play pushed him past Peyton Manning (71,940 passing yards).

Brady finished the game with 72,257 passing yards. Drew Brees is the all-time leader with 74,845.

New England scored its first points on special teams as a punt by New York’s Riley Dixon hit the back of the helmet of blocker Nate Stupar. Chase Winovich caught the deflection at the New York 6-yard line and went in for the score with 1:41 remaining in the opening quarter.

The Patriots increased the lead to 14-0 on Brandon Bolden’s 1-yard touchdown run with 7:11 left in the second quarter.

New York responded 66 seconds later as Jones teamed with Golden Tate on a 64-yard touchdown play.

The Giants carried the momentum over to the defensive side as Lorenzo Carter sacked Brady and forced a fumble. Markus Golden picked up the ball and raced 42 yards to knot the score at 14 with 4:38 left in the half.

Brady rebounded by leading a 11-play, 75-yard drive. The 42-year-old executed a quarterback sneak from the 1 to give the Patriots a 21-14 lead with 36 seconds remaining before halftime.

–Field Level Media

Patriots Desk: Thursday Night Scout

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N.Y. Giants at New England Patriots

When: 8:20 PM ET, Thursday, October 10, 2019
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxboro
Special to Digital Sports Desk by Gracenote

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FOXBORO – The New England Patriots are among two teams with a perfect record, but the reigning Super Bowl champions haven’t exactly faced a murderer’s row during their 5-0 start. The Patriots have vanquished three opponents that have yet to win a game and will play another team with a sub-.500 record when they host the New York Giants tonight.

Bidding to make its fourth consecutive appearance in the Super Bowl, New England also is seeking its fourth 6-0 start under Bill Belichick thanks to a defense that has allowed a league-low 34 points. “We’ve had our moments. Right now, it’s about focusing on the challenge ahead with the Giants,” Belichick said. “The Giants have so many weapons on offense, a great tight end, two great quarterbacks, probably the best running back in the league, very good receiving group.” 

The running back Belichick referenced is Saquon Barkley, who has missed the past two games due to a high ankle sprain but is “getting much closer” to a return, New York coach Pat Shurmur said. The Giants’ modest two-game winning streak, sparked by first-round draft pick Daniel Jones, came to a crashing halt in a 28-10 home loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

TV: 8:20 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Patriots -16.5. O/U: 42

ABOUT THE GIANTS (2-3): New York could desperately use Barkley because of a slew of injuries to key offensive players — backup running back Wayne Gallman and wide receiver Sterling Shepard will miss the game due to concussions while tight end Evan Engram is dealing with a sprained medial collateral ligament. Jones, the No. 6 overall pick in this year’s draft, came back to earth after winning his first two starts by throwing for 182 yards with a touchdown and an interception while getting sacked four times by Minnesota. While the Giants have 13 sacks, they are getting gouged through the air, ranking 28th in the league at 279.4 yards per game.

ABOUT THE PATRIOTS (5-0): Aside from permitting a scant 6.8 points, New England also leads the NFL in sacks (24) and interceptions (11) while becoming the first team to not allow a passing touchdown through five games since the Cleveland Browns in 1988. Tom Brady rebounded from a lackluster performance in a Week 4 win at Buffalo to throw for 348 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-7 victory at overmatched Washington last week. Julian Edelman was slowed by a chest injury at Buffalo but had season highs with eight catches for 110 yards and a score. Sony Michel also is coming off his best game, scoring his third TD and rushing for a season-high 91 yards on 16 carries.

OVERTIME

  1. Brady needs 18 passing yards to surpass Peyton Manning (71,940) for No. 2 on the all-time list.
  2. Giants LB Markus Golden has 4.5 sacks in his last four games.
  3. Patriots LB Jamie Collins is the only player with at least four sacks and three interceptions.

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