The Philadelphia Eagles visit the New York Giants on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium. Kickoff is set for 8:15 PM ET. Philadelphia enters at 4-1 after a close loss to Denver, while New York is 1-4 and sitting last in the NFC East.
This is the first of two matchups between these teams this season. The Eagles won seven of the last eight meetings, including a 20-13 win in January. Philadelphia has also won three straight Thursday games under coach Nick Sirianni. The Giants have not won on a Thursday night since 2015, losing 10 straight on the short week.
NYG Preview – Can the Rookie Steady the Offense?
Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart makes his first divisional start. He’s been solid through two starts, winning his home debut over the Chargers before falling at New Orleans. Dart has shown flashes of poise, completing over 65% of his passes this year, but New York’s offense ranks near the bottom of the league in yards per game and points per drive.
The Giants offense averages just 261.6 yards per game, ranking 30th in the league. They are averaging 99.8 rushing yards per game, and only 161.8 through the air. Poor pass protection and penalties have made it hard for the unit to stay on schedule. With multiple offensive linemen on the injury report, including Jermaine Eluemunor (back), protection against Philadelphia’s front could be a problem.
Running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. could return after missing two games. His speed could add a spark to a run game averaging just 3.5 yards per carry. Wideout Darius Slayton is out with a hamstring injury, leaving Wan’Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt as the top targets. The Giants defense, ranked 26th in yards allowed, will need to limit Saquon Barkley and the Eagles’ balanced offense to stay competitive.
PHI Preview – Barkley Returns to MetLife
The Eagles enter this one after a 21-17 loss to Denver, their first defeat since last December. Philadelphia had won 10 straight games before that setback. The offense has been efficient, averaging 25 points per game, with Jalen Hurts throwing seven touchdowns and no interceptions. Hurts has been excellent in short passing situations, completing 68% of his throws for 889 yards.
Saquon Barkley makes another return to his old home stadium, where he starred for the Giants from 2018 to 2024. Last time he played in MetLife, he rushed for 176 yards and a touchdown against his former team. This year, Barkley has 267 rushing yards but remains a key part of the passing attack, shown by his 47-yard touchdown catch last week. His ability to produce chunk plays could open up the Eagles’ passing game for A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.
Defensively, the Eagles are one of the most physical teams in the NFC. They rank top-10 in quarterback rating allowed (85.5) and have limited teams to under 100 rushing yards in four of five games. The front seven remains strong even with some injuries. Jalen Carter (heel) and Nakobe Dean (knee) are listed as questionable but both have a chance to play. Philadelphia’s secondary has tightened up after early struggles, allowing just one passing touchdown in their last three wins.
Betting Prediction
The Eagles are a 7.5-point favorite on the road, with a total set at 40.5. The Giants are 2-3 against the spread this season and 1-4 to the Under. Philadelphia is 3-2 ATS and 2-3 to the Over. The Eagles have dominated this series, winning seven of the last eight, and they are 2-0 on the road this season.
On paper, Philadelphia has the edge in almost every key area — quarterback play, offensive efficiency, and defensive consistency. The Giants’ rookie quarterback will face one of the toughest defensive fronts in football on a short week, which is rarely a good setup for an upset. Expect the Eagles to control the line of scrimmage and use Barkley’s energy to jumpstart the run game.
The total looks low, but both teams have leaned to the Under. Philadelphia’s defense should limit New York’s scoring, and their offense will likely play conservatively with a lead. A reasonable projection is Eagles 24, Giants 13 — enough for a cover and the Under.
Pick: Eagles -7.5 and Under 40.5
