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Thursday, September 30
 
Baxter Bits: Eagles vs. Giants

By Russell S. Baxter
Special to ESPN.com

The Eagles head to Giants Stadium looking to rebound in this streaky series as these clubs renew their bitter NFC East rivalry.

The Giants have now won four straight and own a 69-58-2 overall edge (including playoffs) in the series standings.

A year ago, the Giants swept the Eagles for the second straight season and the fourth time in six years. In Week 12 at East Rutherford, Giants RB Gary Brown ran for 96 yards and a touchdown while the New York defense forced a pair of turnovers and came up with six sacks of since-departed Eagles QB Bobby Hoying as Jim Fassel's club blanked the Birds, 20-0.

Five weeks later in the regular-season finale at Veterans Stadium (Week 17), Brown rushed for 112 yards and Giants QB Kent Graham threw a pair of touchdown passes as New York rallied for a 20-10 win.

The Eagles have lost two straight and are 4-4 in their last seven visits to Giants Stadium dating back to 1991.

Worth noting is that the last eight regular-season series between these clubs (1991-98) have resulted in a sweep.

Numbers:In their last four meetings (1997-98) with Philadelphia (4-0), the Giants have totaled 1,235 yards and 10 offensive touchdowns, allowed just nine sacks and committed three turnovers, this after totaling just 702 yards (175.5 YPG), scored just 2 offensive touchdowns, committed 14 turnovers and allowed 27 sacks in their previous four games (1995-96) vs. Philadelphia (0-4). In their last 13 visits to the Meadowlands (11 games vs. Giants, 2 games vs. Jets) dating back to 1988, Eagles' defense/special teams have scored nine touchdowns (8 vs. Giants, 1 vs. Jets). In the Eagles' last 22 games with the Giants dating back to 1988, Philadelphia's offense has scored 41 touchdowns (including an offensive fumble recovery) and the defense/special teams have scored 10 touchdowns. Also, the Eagles have forced 49 turnovers (including 30 interceptions) and totaled 86 sacks in those 22 contests (1988-98).

After scoring 21 points in the first quarter in Week 1 vs. the Cardinals, the Eagles have scored just five points in their last 11 quarters in '99. The Eagles have scored just 190 points in their last 19 games dating back to '98. The Eagles have allowed 135 sacks in their last 35 games (1997-99), including 106 sacks in their last 26 contests dating back to '97. They have been limited to 17 or fewer points in 17 of their 19 contests dating back to '98. Philadelphia has allowed 120 or more yards rushing in 16 of its last 19 contests dating back to '98. The Eagles have allowed 138 points in nine wins (15.3 avg.), 648 points in 25 losses and a tie (24.9 avg.) dating back to '97.

After rushing for 120 or more yards in each of their final six games in '98 (5-1), the Giants have been limited to fewer than 100 yards rushing in each of their first three games in '99. Since 1996 (including playoffs), the Giants have committed just 22 turnovers in 25 wins, 61 turnovers in 26 losses and a tie. The Giants have scored 227 points and committed just seven turnovers in nine wins, while scoring just 112 points and committing 21 turnovers in 10 losses dating back to '98. The Giants have forced 26 turnovers and totaled 37 sacks in nine wins, while totaling just five takeaways and 20 sacks in 10 losses dating back to '98.

Things To Look For: Off last year's horrific showing, it didn't seem possible that Philadelphia's offense could be more pathetic. But thanks to an offensive line that is making changes on a weekly basis, the Birds are digressing in a hurry. Jim Fassel's attack hasn't looked much better to date, but the Giants' defense figures to take matters into its own hands, meaning another long day for Andy Reid's club.

Etc.: The Eagles are 0-3 for the second straight year and they have lost six straight games dating back to '98. The Eagles are winless (0-16-1) in their last 17 regular-season road games dating back to '97 (0-17-1, including the 1996 NFC Wild Card Game at San Francisco). Including playoffs, the Eagles are 12-30-1 in their last 43 games after opening 7-2 in '96. PK Norm Johnson has converted an NFL-record 279 consecutive PATs.

Including playoffs, the Giants are 12-4-1 vs. NFC East opponents and just 7-12 (0-1 in playoffs) vs. the rest of the NFL under head coach Jim Fassel (1997-99).





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