EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. --The memory of Eli Manning's four touchdown passes in New York's Week 3 win over the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field was fresh in the minds of the Eagles' much-analyzed, much-criticized defense heading into Sunday night's huge NFC East game at MetLife Stadium.
"The first time around, they got us a few times with big plays," said cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. "We were well aware of that. We came into this game knowing we had to stop their big plays."
Mission accomplished. The Eagles, in a dominating defensive performance, limited the Giants to 278 total net yards, sacked Manning 3 times and hit him a dozen other times, and gave up only 10 points in a 17-10, heart-thumping win.
The win wasn't clinched until the very end, until defensive end Jason Babin nailed Manning with a swooping pass rush from edge on a New York first-and-10 snap at the Philadelphia 21-yard line and forced a fumbling that hustling and very productive defensive tackle Derek Landri recovered.
Babin's big play came one snap after Victor Cruz' catch and run gained 47 yards and gave the Giants life with about 1:30 to play in the game.
"What happened was," said elated defensive coordinator Juan Castillo, "somebody stepped up and made the big play for us. That's what we needed at that time."
Playing the Giants in the past meant first focusing on the New York running game. This year's Giants team has struggled running the football, and Sunday night was no exception. The Eagles held New York to 29 rushing yards on 17 carries. Big Brandon Jacobs gained just 21 yards on 12 carries.
The emphasis was on slowing Manning, having, in the words of head coach Andy Reid, "a Pro Bowl-caliber" season. The Eagles did just that, unleashing a ferocious four-man pass rush that belted Manning around the artificial surface in the national spotlight.
Unofficially, by Asomugha's count, the Eagles blitzed just once. They didn't need much help up front as Trent Cole, Babin, Mike Patterson, Cullen Jenkins and Darryl Tapp destroyed the Giants. Trevor Laws provided good inside push when he played.
Behind the front four, the linebackers did a nice job taking away the middle of the field for Manning, while Asomugha, Asante Samuel and Joselio Hanson limited the damage down the field. Hakeem Nicks had 3 catches for 69 yards, Mario Manningham caught just one pass and tight end Jake Ballard, who has been a big part of things, caught one pass.
Cruz caught a touchdown pass against Asomugha and had the big play at the end, but was otherwise pretty quiet.
In all, Manning was 18 of 35 for 264 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The Eagles forced New York into seven three-and-out series, including six in the first half.
"It was good to put it all together for an entire game, to know we can do that and be on the field when the game is on the line," said middle linebacker Jamar Chaney, who had a team-high 6 tackles, 2 passes defensed and an interception. "We had a lot of energy and we kept it that way the entire game."
The biggest play came at the end, when Babin got to Manning and forced the turnover.
"I wanted to get off the ball fast and I did," said Babin, who now has 10 sacks. "We were in a situation where we knew they had to score a touchdown to tie the game. They were going to throw the football and try to get the snap off fast. I just had a chance to make a play and I got home."
The ball popped loose and Landri jumped on it. LeSean McCoy then had a couple of runs, one for 60 yards, to ice the very welcome road victory.
"We got after them up front, played good, physical football," said Jenkins. "It's always a battle with that team. It's a great rivalry. They beat us the first time around and we needed this game to keep our season going. That's how we have to play every week. We have to bring the same energy every week and keep it."
