The Eagles will come to MetLife Stadium on Thursday night as an angry bunch — and as a 7.5-point favorite over the Giants.
Philadelphia (4-1) just lost its first game of the season, at home against the Broncos, who erased a 14-point deficit. Meanwhile, the Giants (1-4) suffered a pathetic loss at the winless Saints last week.
So yes, the Giants should be plenty concerned about the Eagles and their old pal Saquon Barkley — who hasn’t exactly lit it up this year — taking out frustration on them. (Barkley is averaging 79 total yards per game through five weeks, compared to a 142-yard clip last year.)
But perhaps the bigger issue for the Giants entering this must-win, short-turnaround showdown is something the Eagles should be licking their chops over — rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart’s ailing hamstring.
Dart surely will play Thursday night, but it seems unlikely he will be 100%. He clearly tweak his his hamstring in Week 4, while boosting the Giants to a shocking win over the Chargers. The injury seemingly only got worse Sunday in New Orleans.
And then, on Monday, Dart was officially listed as a limited participant, because of that hamstring, on the Giants’ injury report. They didn’t practice Monday, so that was just an estimation. But Dart obviously doesn’t have long to get right before the Eagles come to town.
Leading into the Saints game, Dart popped up on the injury report — with that hamstring injury — but he fully participated all three days.
Of course, the health of Dart’s legs matters a lot for Brian Daboll and Co., because the quarterback’s mobility is a big part of his game — especially with No. 1 wide receiver Malik Nabers out for the year.
Yes, the Giants will lean on their Cam Skattebo-led rushing attack. (And maybe Tyrone Tracy returns this week from his shoulder injury.) Yes, they will try — as best they can — to get something, anything, out of this significantly limited pass-catching group, amid life without Nabers.
But it is Dart’s legs — on designed option plays or scramble situations — that have the potential to keep defenses off balance. Against the Chargers, Dart ran 10 times for 54 yards, with a 15-yard touchdown. Against the Saints, he ran seven times for 55 yards, with a long of 20.
So you don’t think Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was thrilled to see Dart limping around at times in New Orleans? Dart’s sore hamstring would give Fangio one less (very significant) thing to worry about, as he plans for an offense that is already down its best playmaker.
It all adds up to the Giants facing major hurdles as they try to avoid falling to 1-6 against the Eagles in the regular season under Daboll. Since 2014, the Giants are 4-19 versus Philadelphia, including a playoff loss.
There’s no doubt Dart is a tough kid. He has proven that plenty of times already, through just two weeks as the Giants’ starter. But you have to wonder about the health of his hamstring this week, as the Giants try to avoid sending yet another season down the drain before Halloween.
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