Giants (9-6-1) at Eagles (13-3)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia TV: CBS
Tipico Sportsbook line: Eagles by 13 ⁄2
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Giants’ keys to victory: The Giants clinched the NFC No. 6 seed with a Week 17 win, and a major question is whether they will rest starters with their playoff position locked in. They’ll need to adopt the recent game plan of sitting on the ball, using a strong running game with RB Saquon Barkley and converting on third downs. The Giants will look to be physical with QB Jalen Hurts, who could return from a shoulder injury that kept him out the past two weeks.
Eagles’ keys to victory: Entering Week 16 against Dallas, Philadelphia had to win one of the final three games to secure the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC and a firstround bye. But after two losses, the Eagles might need Hurts to save the day. For Philadelphia to win, it will need to return to its formula of running the football, converting on third down and red-zone opportunities. For the defense, it’ll be on DC Jonathan Gannon to generate pressure up front while stifling the New York running game. Forcing New York to throw the ball is the Eagles’ best strategy.
Matchup to watch: Eagles RT Jack Driscoll vs. Giants DE Kayvon Thibodeaux. After watching the debacle against the Saints – in which Eagles QB Gardner Minshew took six sacks – the Giants will likely line Thibodeaux up over Driscoll and force the backup to contain him. Thibodeaux has stepped up play the past month.
Who wins? The Eagles badly need to get back on track and would welcome the return of Hurts, while the Giants are unlikely to risk serious injury to key players. Philly regains its swagger.
Eagles, 31-17