Fansided

Giants at Eagles: Preview and prediction

By Matt Verderame

Oct 11, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) carries the ball as San Francisco 49ers cornerback Tramaine Brock (26) chases during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim O
Oct 11, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) carries the ball as San Francisco 49ers cornerback Tramaine Brock (26) chases during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim O /
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The Philadelphia Eagles are hosting the New York Giants on Monday Night Football at Lincoln Financial Field, with the power of the NFC East hanging in the balance.

Philadelphia was supposed to be the co-favorite with the Dallas Cowboys to take the crown, but nothing has gone to script. For Dallas, injuries to Tony Romo and Dez Bryant have threatened the season, while the Eagles are relatively healthy but struggling to find any continuity after head coach Chip Kelly dismantled and then rebuilt the roster.

Thus far, running back DeMarco Murray has rushed for 130 yards on 2.7 yards per carry, one year after eclipsing 1,800 rushing yards with Dallas and leading the National Football League. Meanwhile, quarterback Sam Bradford is completing a career-high 63.2 percent of his passes for 1,281 yards, albeit with six interceptions.

New York looked to be awful at the beginning of the campaign, losing to both the Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons because the coaching staff could not figure out clock management. However, the team has turned its fortunes around, winning three consecutive games to earn first place in the NFC East. Should New York be able to topple Philadelphia, it will be a game and a half ahead of second-place Dallas.

The key matchup tonight will be on the outside, with Odell Beckham Jr. going against Byron Maxwell. Maxwell was brought over from the Seattle Seahawks on a six-year, $63 million deal in hopes of becoming a shutdown corner. He will be severely tested on Monday, facing perhaps the best receiver in football.

Beckham has been a force once again in his second season, with 428 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Last year against Philadelphia, Beckham caught 12 passes for 185 yards with a touchdown in the regular-season finale.

Prediction: New York 23, Philadelphia 20

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