The New York Giants (5-9) head down the New Jersey Turnpike to face the Philadelphia Eagles (10-4) on Christmas afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field in the first of two meetings between the two teams scheduled to take place over the next three weeks.
This will be the first time in the 99-season history of the Giants that they will play on Christmas Day.
Here are five things to know before the Week 16 kickoff.
The series
The Giants are 85-89-2 in the regular season against Philadelphia (2-3 in the postseason) going back to 1933.
The Eagles have won 12 of the last 14 meetings, including the most recent four, going back to 2016.
Philadelphia swept Big Blue in both regular season games last season and also clobbered them in the NFC Divisional playoffs, 38-7.
The Giants are 2-2 against their NFC East opponents this season.
State of the Eagles
The Eagles are 10-4 and sit in second place behind the 10-4 Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East. They currently hold the 5th seed in the NFC Playoff picture.
Both Philadelphia and Dallas clinched playoff berths last week.
Philadelphia began the season with 10 wins in their first 11 games before losing their most recent three.
Since defeating the Buffalo Bills, 37-34, in overtime in Week 12, the Eagles have been outscored, 95-49, in their last three games.
State of the Giants
The Giants began the season 2-8 and then rattled off three straight wins to improve to 5-8 and get themselves into the NFC Playoff picture.
Last week they fell flat in New Orleans, losing the Saints, 24-6, which all but dashed their postseason dreams as they fell to 5-9.
The Giants are currently 12th in the NFC and would hold the 6th overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft if the season were to end today.
Another week of DeVitomania
Undrafted rookie Tommy DeVito will start again this week at quarterback for the Giants despite taking another physical beating behind the Giants’ porous offensive line last Sunday in New Orleans.
DeVito was hit nine times and sacked seven along while taking some serious shots in the open field. He was evaluated for a concussion but returned to the game.
This week, head coach Brian Daboll didn’t flinch when asked if DeVito would start this week despite being ‘sore’.
“He’s earned it,” said Daboll. “I’m not going to make a week-to-week change. He’s earned it. It’s not always going to be perfect, but he’s earned the opportunity to play.”
Eagles' offense hitting the skids
Last season, the Eagles were fourth in the NFL in rushing, averaging 152.0 yards per game.
This year, they are eighth, with a 128.3 YPG average but have slipped even further as the season has barreled on. Over their last three games — all losses — they have averaged just 110.0 YPG on the ground.
Over their first 11 games, the Eagles were third in the NFL in scoring with a 28.7 PPG average. Over their last three, they have averaged just 16.3 PPG.
The Eagles have a -6 turnover ratio this season as opposed to a +8 last season.
