LeSean McCoy, Darren Sproles too dangerous to take for granted
They were supposed to be the Broad Street Backfield, a pairing of two of the most dynamic players in the NFL who would be able to score from any point on the field and stretch defenses to exhaustion.
So far, all LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles have been able to accomplish for the Eagles is to make them the league's 23rd-best rushing unit at 98.6 yards per game and 3.8 yards per attempt.
The Giants lit the fuse on their NFC East rivalry this past week, and it has sizzled all the way to Philadelphia. It's included true 21st-century taunting in the form of viral photographs on social media and animated videos on the Eagles' website, as well as old-school insults about intelligence and the legitimacy of past wins. Now they're hoping that it doesn't ignite two of the most explosive players they'll face this season.
"The moment you forget about them, they have 100 or so yards in the first quarter," Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul said. "It might seem impossible, but it can happen. At the end of the day, those are two good running backs, and the most I can do is not forget about the run. We're going to play the run first and then we'll get to the quarterback second."
For JPP, who already has had his math skills called into question during the verbal sparring, the only thing worse than being called dumb would be looking it during a prime-time game like this. So what happens if the Giants believe the stats instead of their tape study on these two backs?
"Then you're going to look stupid," Pierre-Paul said. "You don't want to be that guy on TV saying 'Ah [shoot], I should have done this! I should have run more [after the ballcarrier] because I'm on national TV.' I'm not going to be that guy."
At this point last year, the Giants still hadn't won a game. On Sunday night they can slide into first place. They enter the day at 3-2, a game behind the Eagles and the Cowboys (who play at Seattle Sunday afternoon). Perhaps that is what led to the uncharacteristic yapping from the Giants during the week, a release of pent-up bravado that they never had the chance to expel last season.
Even coach Tom Coughlin seemed amazingly amped up for this game. "We could play this one right out there in this parking lot, as far as I'm concerned," he said.
For the Giants to win, though, they have to be more disciplined on the field than they were in their comments and actions entering the game. Their defense ranks 18th in the NFL in yards allowed per game, but that number is slightly skewed by the number of big plays they have allowed. The Giants have given up six plays of at least 40 yards (they allowed five all last season) for a total of 324 yards. Take those half-dozen plays away -- just as every team wishes it had the power to do -- and the Giants would be ranked fourth in the NFL.
Of Sproles' 175 rushing yards, 74 have come on two runs.
"They are obviously a potent offense," defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka said. "They are able to hit the big play. That's what we've got to stop. They can stretch the field on the outside, but for us, it is mainly about gap assignment and alignment, making sure that everybody understands your job and the defense, because that is key."
"This is a must-win game," safety Antrel Rolle said. "We are trying to go out there and get a win at all costs, and I'm sure they are going to be doing the same. We just have to buckle down, lock in and focus in on your keys and get things done."