For a brief moment, it looked like there could be a Miracle at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Eagles' streak of quarters without a touchdown ended at seven when Zak DeOssie's botched snap on a punt in the fourth quarter bounced to the 2-yard line where it was picked up by linebacker Najee Goode and returned for the game's only touchdown. But the offense never got on track - with either Michael Vick or Matt Barkley at quarterback - as a sterling defensive effort was wasted in Sunday afternoon's 15-7 loss to the New York Giants.
With the loss, the Eagles fell to 3-5 on the season and the team's winless streak at home extended to 10 games. The Giants improved to 2-6 by winning their second straight game as they snapped their eight-game road losing streak.
Following Goode's touchdown, with 4:11 remaining in the game, head coach Chip Kelly decided to go for the onsides kick. The Eagles had one timeout and the two-minute warning at their disposal. The Giants easily recovered and sealed the game with a 10-yard catch by tight end Brandon Myers on third-and-8.
Vick returned to action after injuring his hamstring in the second quarter of the Week 5 matchup against the Giants. From the first offensive drive, it did not look like Vick was in sync as he threw an interception on third-and-6 to Giants safety Antrel Rolle.
Vick was unable to carry the offense with neither his arm nor his legs. At the end of the first quarter, Vick scrambled out of bounds for a 1-yard gain and was shaking his head in apparent disappointment as he returned to the huddle. In the second quarter, Barkley began to warm up on the sidelines and with 2:24 left in the first half the rookie went in for Vick.
Vick finished 6-of-9 for 31 yards with the interception.
Barkley showed signs of promise early. On his first drive, Barkley marched the Eagles down the field completing six of his first seven passes to get the ball to the Giants' 2-yard line. On first-and-goal, however, Barkley held onto the ball too long and it was stripped near the sideline by cornerback Terrell Thomas and recovered by linebacker Jacquian Williams.
That's the closest the offense came to scoring. Barkley finished 17-of-26 for 158 yards with an interception, which came on a last-gasp drive at the end of the game. Running back LeSean McCoy was bottled up for the second straight week gaining 48 yards on 15 carries. Wide receiver DeSean Jackson led the receivers with 63 yards on eight catches.
For the second straight week, the Eagles defense held an opponent to coordinator Bill Davis' goal of 17 points or fewer. Eli Manning was efficient completing 25-of-39 attempts for 246 yards. Peyton Hillis came off the bench to rush for a game-high 70 yards on 20 carries. Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks combined for 14 catches and 137 yards. The Eagles defense held the Giants to no touchdowns as Josh Brown hit all five of his field goal attempts. The Giants were 0-of-2 in the red zone.
EAGLES STATS:
QB: Matt Barkley - 17-of-26, 158 yards, 1 INT, 65.9 QB rating
RB: LeSean McCoy - 15-48, 3.2 YPC
WR: DeSean Jackson - 8-63
DEF: Mychal Kendricks - 12 tackles
GIANTS STATS:
QB: Eli Manning - 25-of-39, 246 yards, 81.8 QB rating
RB: Peyton Hillis - 20-70, 3.5 YPC
WR: Victor Cruz - 7-86; Hakeem Nicks - 7-51
DEF: Terrell Thomas - 11 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF
