Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J. (FieldTurf, outdoors)
When: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (Fox)
Spread: Giants -9
Forecast: Partly cloudy, mid-to-low 30s.
Records: Giants (8-7; NFC East 2-3); Eagles (4-11; NFC East 1-4)
Past results: The Eagles beat the Giants in Philadelphia, 19-17, back in Week 4. The Eagles are actually undefeated (2-0) at MetLife Stadium. Series record: The Giants lead the all-time series, 83-76-2.
What matters: Everybody has something to play for. With a win, the Giants give themselves a chance at making the playoffs. They’ll also need the Cowboys to lose or tie and the Vikings and Bears will both have to lose, but it is a possibility. The Eagles, on the other hand, will have one last chance to win for coach Andy Reid, who will likely be fired after the season, and it’s always a good time to beat the Giants.
Who matters: The Giants are 5-0 when S Stevie Brown has an interception and just 3-7 when he doesn’t; he has seven picks this season. And it’s been the absence of big plays that have killed New York as the season has dragged on. Obviously, the pressure is on everyone to make an impact on defense, but Brown has been the most reliable when it comes to big plays. “We haven’t made a football play for the last couple of weeks,” defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said. “We’ve been in position to make football plays, but it hasn’t gone our way.”
The Giants could be without CB Prince Amukamara (hamstring) and CB Jayron Hosley (quad) on Sunday, so Brown -- and the rest of the defensive backs -- have to step up.
Key matchups: Eagles QB Michael Vick hasn’t played since a loss to the Cowboys on Nov. 11, but he’s catching the Giants linebackers at a vulnerable time. LB Jacquian Williams has battled knee injuries, LB Michael Boley has seen his playing time diminished because of injuries, MLB Chase Blackburn is banged up and SLB/DE Mathias Kiwanuka has primarily played on the defensive line lately.
What that means for Vick is that he could be presented with more opportunities to scramble. Let’s face it, he’s looking for a new job next season, and showing teams that he still has wheels to avoid the rush and get down field would go a long way toward a new contract.
The linebackers -- and cornerbacks -- will be hard-pressed to contain Vick, particularly with so many injuries.
Injuries of note: Amukamara, Hosley and DT Chris Canty (knee) are all doubtful, and WR Hakeem Nicks (knee), S Kenny Phillips (knee) and DE Justin Tuck (shoulder) are questionable. C David Baas (hip/shoulder), RG Chris Snee (hip), S Tyler Sash (hamstring) and RB Ahmad Bradshaw (knee/foot) are probable. ... For the Eagles, DT Fletcher Cox and LB Mychal Kendricks are both out with concussions, and TE Evan Moore (back) is listed as “doubtful.” RB Chris Polk (toe) is questionable and WR Jason Avant (calf/hamstring), RB Stanley Havill (hamstring), WR Jeremy Maclin (knee) and OG Evan Mathis (ankle) are all probable.
Inside stuff: Look for Fewell to experiment with defensive formations. He has used a three-safety formation, a four-safety formation and a 4-4 lineup so far this season, and given the significant injuries at cornerback and linebacker, he could use almost any formation under the sun on Sunday. Phillips’ health will determine what the Giants can do in that capacity, but the team could also give S Will Hill more responsibilities. He has tackled well lately (21 tackles over his last three games) and hasn’t done too poorly in coverage.
Connections: Giants coach Tom Coughlin was previously a wide receivers coach for the Eagles in 1984, and Giants cornerbacks coach Peter Giunta held the same position with Philadelphia from 1991 until 1994. Eagles CB Brandon Hughes was once on the Giants’ practice squad.
Hill and Eagles WR Riley Cooper were college teammates at Florida, and Avant and Giants C David Baas went to Michigan together.
Stats you should know: The Giants rank ninth in the NFL with a 4.5 yards per carry average, but they rank just 17th in total rushing yards because they’ve had only 374 attempts this season (23rd in the NFL). A lot of that has to do with the fact that the Giants have been playing from behind a lot this season. Also, RB Ahmad Bradshaw needs 92 rushing yards for his second 1,000-yard season in the last three years.
Prediction: Eagles 17, Giants 13
Follow the Giants and Alex Raskin @CBSGiants and @AlexRaskinNYC.
