PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — On Sunday, the Eagles will face a Giants team they just faced a few weeks ago. The team could be getting multiple players back this weekend on offense.
It’s not lost on Doug Pederson’s Eagles that the Giants almost won in Week 7.
“Quite frankly, they had us beat. It was 21-10 with under five minutes to go in this game and this is a good football team and we've got to learn from that game,” Pederson said Wednesday.
What did Carson Wentz learn from studying the Giants even prior to this week?
“Thinking back to the first time we played them, I was very impressed with their defense on film,” Wentz said.
94WIP’s Ray Didinger believes the Eagles are the best team in the division, but said they’re not playing like it.
“To me the team that’s playing the best football right now is the Giants,” he told KYW Newsradio Friday.
Last week against Washington, the Giants intercepted quarterback Alex Smith three times. Wentz is going to have to cut down on his propensity for giveaways if the Eagles are going to pick up their fourth win of the season.
“Turnovers are gonna happen and I’m aware of that, but there’s definitely a handful of them that I can look introspectively at and say, ‘OK, just eat that,’” Didinger said.
Fletcher Cox recognizes New York is playing better and cannot be taken for granted. Their five games have each been decided by three points or less, and they almost beat the Buccaneers, as well as the Eagles.
“They get paid to play also,” Cox said Wednesday.
More players might be coming back on offense this week, including Miles Sanders, Alshon Jeffery and Lane Johnson.
Sanders, who has been nursing a knee issue, was a full participant at Thursday’s practice after being limited Wednesday.
Jeffery has been a full participant all week, trying to come back from a calf injury after recovering from foot surgery. He has not played this season. Johnson has been limited all week with an ankle problem. Based on his tendency to play through injury, and the team coming off the bye week, it wouldn’t be surprising if Johnson suits up even though he’s been limited.
Jeffery hasn’t played all season, but rookie wide receiver Jalen Reagor said he’s still been helpful.
“The day I got drafted, Alshon texted me, letting me know I can ask him anything. Even in the meeting rooms, even on the field or anything. I’ll go run a route. He’ll be like, ‘Nephew, you could’ve done this better, or that was a good route,” Reagor said.
Even though Jeffery hasn’t played all season, Wentz acknowledged that they have a lot of reps with each other over the years, and are confident in one another.
The question is if Jeffery plays, how much time will he get?
“That’s something that we’re gonna keep exploring as we go. I don’t make the decisions at the end of the day on those things, but I think as he continues to work back in and everything we kinda see where he’s at, see where he’s at within our offense and how we can use him and mix him in with these other guys,” Wentz said Wendesday.
“These other guys” are emerging wide receiver Travis Fulgham, Reagor, Ward and rookie John Hightower. Wentz is looking forward to building continuity with the Eagles young receivers.
“He's been one of our starters, and we've got a plan if he's ready to go to get him in the game. Obviously, he’s a big receiver that can help and he knows the offense and what we're doing,” Pederson said when asked how the team plans on getting Jeffery into the lineup.
This is also another week for Carson Wentz to build continuity with players like rookie wide receiver Reagor and tight end Dallas Goedert, who missed a lot of time this season, but returned right before the bye.