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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Glenn Erby

10 takeaways from the first half as the Eagles hold a 16-0 lead over the Giants

It wasn’t a perfect first half, but the Eagles are now just 30 minutes away from winning the NFC East and clinching home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

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A.J. Brown broke Mike Quick’s single-season record for yards in a season, and DeVonta Smith passed Irving Fryar for the most catches in a single season by an Eagles wide receiver.

On defense, Philadelphia held the Giants scoreless despite not getting any sacks on quarterback Davis Webb, and they welcomed back C.J. Gardner-Johnson in the secondary.

Here are ten takeaways from the first half.

1. Jalen Hurts is back

Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Hurts was 11-18 passing for 140 yards and 0 touchdowns in the first half, hitting A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith with timely passes.

2. C.J. Gardner-Johnson making his presence felt

Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The versatile safety returned from a lacerated kidney and made his presence felt, logging five tackles in the first and two tackles for loss.

3. Hurts joins Randall Cunningham

Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

4. Boston Scott continues to dominate the Giants

Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

More than half of Scott’s 17 career touchdowns have come against the Giants.

5. Milton Williams emerging

Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

6. Haason Reddick DPOY?

Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Reddick should clearly be in the conversation after logging two quarterback hits, several pressures, and a sack that wasn’t called.

7. Miles Sanders quiet

(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Sanders had the bulk of the carries (8), but it was Boston Scott who logged the lone touchdown of the half.

Scott has 20 yards rushing, while Sanders has 27 in the first half.

8. Jake Elliott to the rescue

(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

With Philadelphia struggling to convert in the red zone, Elliott has been huge going 3-3 on field goal attempts.

9. Shane Steichen struggles continue

Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The Eagles ran 37 plays on offense, and although the run-pass ratio was about even, Steichen failed to recognize pressure off the edge from Wink Martindale.

Philadelphia had 187 total yards on six drives, and his indecisive play-calling led to three sacks on quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Miles Sanders and the rushing attack should be the focus in the first half.

The Eagles are playing uneven football against a division rival that rested key starters on both sides of the football.

10. Random Notes

Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Philadelphia had 13 first downs in the first half.

The Eagles were 3-7 on third downs, signs of an inefficient half.

Kyzir White had two passes defended in the first half, a bright improvement over the past two weeks.

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