Tonight's much-anticipated divisional clash between the Eagles and Giants will be each team's third appearance this season on "NBC Sunday Night Football." Both teams are 1-1 on Sunday primetime in 2009, and both have had less than sterling marks since NBC took over broadcasting Sunday night games in 2006. The Giants are 3-6 during that span, and the Eagles lost their first seven on NBC Sunday night until their 24-20 road win over the Chicago Bears in week 11.

Whichever team comes out on top will have an inside track to a playoff berth in the NFC. The Eagles, 8-4, are tied with the Dallas Cowboys entering today's games. Meanwhile, the Giants are one game back 7-5, and if all results go their way, they could find themselves locked in a three-way tie atop the NFC East.

But in order for the Giants to do that, they will have to halt two separate three-game winning streaks. After consecutive losses dropped them to the 5-4, the Eagles have ripped off three consecutive victories. And, they've bested the Giants each of the last three times the teams have met, including a playoff victory last season in Giants Stadium.

"Right now the Philadelphia Eagles are playing as well as anybody and they are going to have a chance to put their mark on this division," said NBC analyst Chris Collinsworth, who will call the game alongside play-by-play man Al Michaels and sideline reporter Andrea Kremer.

If the Eagles win tonight, they will be on the precipice of clinching a playoff spot and will still have a chance to earn a first-round bye if everything goes their way down the stretch.

The coverage tonight begins at 7 pm with "Football Night in America," hosted by Bob Costas live from inside Giants Stadium.

-- Posted by Bo Wulf, 11:12 a.m., December 13