Philadelphia offense vs. New York defense

	EAGLES OFFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	Run	24
	Pass	30
	Tot. Yds.	30
	Scoring	29
	Int's allowed	14
	Sacks allowed	31
	GIANTS DEFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	vs. Run	6
	vs. Pass	15
	Total yds. allowed	10
	Ints.	14
	Sacks	28
	Turnover differential	+1

In the first quarter of the 1999 season, the Philadelphia offense scored 21 points. In the next 11 quarters, the offense has managed to score only 6 points (the defense also picked up two on a safety). It doesn't get any easier this week, as the Eagles travel to the Meadowlands to face one of the NFL's more talented defenses in the New York Giants.

The Eagles offensive line is a mess and has been unable to gel to the point where the team can protect the passer, or even mount a viable running attack. Eagles' ROT Lonnie Paleilei will have his hands full with Giant LDE Michael Strahan. Paleilei will be starting his first game at ROT and is the Eagles' third different starting ROT this season. Last week's starter Jermane Mayberry is sidelined with a partially torn hamstring. Paleilei has slow feet, which will not serve him well against Strahan in pass-blocking situations, and he will need to compensate for this with his hands, keeping Strahan outside and away from his body.

QB Doug Pederson will be in for a long day, as New York should be able to pressure the passer with its front four, dropping its linebackers and safeties into conservative coverage schemes. Rookie QB Donovan McNabb probably will get some playing time but will be hampered by a below-average receiving corps of WRs Charles Johnson, Torrance Small and Dietrich Jells, along with TE Luther Broughton, really the only receiver to show flashes of big-play potential.

The Birds only chance for success will be to run the ball effectively with RB Duce Staley - forcing the Giants to put 8 men in the box.

The New York defense played a solid game in last weekend's loss to New England, betrayed by an offense that, with the exception of two drives, was non-existent. The Giants held the Patriots to their lowest scoring game so far this season.

New York RDT Keith Hamilton has given the Eagles fits in the past, and that trend should continue in this game. Hamilton will line-up over rookie LOG Doug Brezinski, a promising but raw player. Hamilton will try to bull-rush Brezinski in passing situations -- the youngster will get very little help from OC Steve Everitt, who will be occupied trying to help ROG Jeff Dellenbach with his assignment, Giants LDT Robert Harris. With the defensive tackles wreaking havoc on the inside, the Giants' Strahan, RDE Cedric Jones and LOLB Jesse Armstead should be able to make plays in the Philadelphia backfield.

The return of RDC Jason Sehorn this week gave the Giants' secondary a huge boost against the Patriots. A rusty Sehorn is a significant upgrade over the oft-victimized Conrad Hamilton, who struggled in his starting assignment. Sehorn, lined up opposite LDC Phillipe Sparks, gives the Giants solid cover guys at both corner positions. Sehorn is also an asset because of his solid tackling skills -- he readily peels off coverages to come-up and support the run -- almost like a fourth linebacker.

The New York defense needs to use this game to show that it can consistently put pressure on the QB -- something the unit has been unable to do so far this season, with only three sacks through three games. That should change this week, as the Giants will feast on the undermanned Eagles offensive line.

New York offense vs. Philadelphia defense

	GIANTS OFFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	Run	31
	Pass	20
	Tot. Yds.	28
	Scoring	21
	Int's allowed	13
	Sacks allowed	11
	EAGLES DEFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	vs. Run	11
	vs. Pass	6
	Total yds. allowed	12
	Ints.	2
	Sacks	25
	Turnover differential	-4

After a promising preseason, the Giants offense has been anemic through the first three weeks of the NFL regular season. Many factors have contributed to the team's offensive woes, but the primary reason New York has been such a poor offensive football team is its inability to run the football.

RB Gary Brown, who is expected to be out until Week 6, has been sorely missed and Coach Jim Fassell has shown little faith in Brown's replacement, rookie Shawn Bennett. This week Fassell gave the bulk of the team's carries to LeShon Johnson, who averaged less than two yards per carry.

Giants' QB Kent Graham has been less than impressive so far this year but has certainly played well enough to put the Giants in a position to win each week. Against New England, Graham was 23 of 38 for 216 yards and two touchdowns.

Graham needs his receivers to step-up and begin playing to their potential. TE Pete Mictchell is the perfect example of underachieving in the New York receiving corps. Mitchell is not a good blocker and was brought in to bring a playmaking dimension to the tight end position, but thus far Mitchell has had hardly any impact.

The Giants need to establish the run early in this game, which should soften up the Philadelphia secondary. The Eagles' defense is undersized and tends to overpursue, so look for New York to run some misdirections and counter plays. This will cause the Philly LBs to bite on play fakes and will enable Graham to find Mitchell downfield for some big gainers.

New York also needs more consistent play from WRs Ike Hilliard and Amani Toomer, both of whom were supposed to have breakout years in '99.

The Eagles defense has been the lone bright spot on an otherwise pathetic football team. The play of second-year MLB Jeremiah Trotter and LOLB James Darling has been solid. Both have shown an ability to stuff the run at the point of attack and run with receivers in coverage.

The weakest part of the Eagles defense has been the defensive line, which is undersized and tends to have problems against the run later in games. The defense spends too much time on the field, particularly when an opponent is sitting on a lead, and the front four will wear out in the fourth quarter.

From the get-go, the Eagles need to put eight men in the box and rely on the solid play of RDC Bobby Taylor and LDC Troy Vincent, as well as nickel corner Al Harris, to keep the Giants receivers from producing any big plays.

LDT Hollis Thomas and RDT Bill Johnson (who should finally be recovered from a nagging ankle injury suffered during the preseason) need to take advantage of the middle of the Giants offensive line. LOG Luke Pettigout has been ineffective and Johnson should be able to effectively stack the run, as well as put pressure on Graham up the middle. Eagles LDE Mike Mamula and RDE Greg Jefferson are both undersized, and need to use their quickness to get off blocks and string out the Giants' running plays.

Special teams

	NFL RANK
	Category	PHI	NY
	Punt return avg.	30	23
	Kickoff return avg.	21	8
	Opp. punt return avg.	13	24
	Opp. kickoff ret. avg.	28	22
	Time of possession	29	25

Given the combined offensive ineptitude of these two teams, special teams and defense may be the only way for either squad to score points. The Giants KR combination of David Patten and Tiki Barber has been effective through the first three weeks, and it looks like Barber has been given the nod as the team's PR guy. The Eagles have Allen Rossum, who has not lived up to expectations as return man thus far in his career.

In a game where the offenses are expected to struggle in the red zone, the kicking game takes on paramount importance. Eagles' PK Norm Johnson is solid from 45 yards and in, as is Giants PK Brad Daluiso. Daluiso should have the advantage this week with his better leg strength, particularly if the game is close.

Key matchups