On December 11, 2022, Jalen Hurts threw two touchdowns and ran for another as the Eagles clinched their second straight playoff berth and fifth in six years with a 48-22 win over the then-fading New York Giants.
In that matchup, Hurts threw for 217 yards and the Eagles (12-1) scored on their first three possessions.
Fast forward a month later, and the two teams will meet for a third time this season after the Giants upset victory over the Vikings on Sunday in Minnesota. Philadelphia secured a 22-16 win over the Giants in the season finale, in a matchup that the visitors sat key starters with their playoff positioning already set.
Both teams are vastly different since that matchup and we’re looking at three ways that the New York Giants have improved since the last meaningful contest.
Daniel Jones is dealing
If we’re going to talk about all the great things that Jalen Hurts has done this season, then we should certainly highlight Daniel Jones and what he’s meant to the Giants.
In the upset win over the Vikings on Sunday, the Giants were 7 of 13 third downs and averaged 6.3 yards per offensive play.
Jones was 24 of 35 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns, but it’s his legs that will give Jonathan Gannon some concern.
Jones led the Giants in rushing and finished with a combined yardage total of 379.
Wink Martindale is running with some horses
It’s not the Giants’ Super Bowl-winning defenses, but Wink Martindale’s guys are heating up at the right time, and he has some horses in his front seven.
The biggest improvement since the first matchup can be found with the Giants’ front four.
Leonard Williams has returned from injury and the Giants are matching the Eagles’ dominance and pressure with their defensive line.
In Sunday’s win over the Vikings, the Giants pressured quarterback Kirk Cousins 21 times, led by Dexter Lawrence (eight), Leonard Williams (seven), and Kayvon Thibodeaux (six).
Jalen Hurts is not Kirk Cousins, but Martindale’s horses can still pose a problem.
Giants secondary
With Adoree’ Jackson returning to the lineup, the Giants held Vikings All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson to seven catches for 47 yards and no touchdowns after catching six passes for 43 yards in the first two quarters.
Some of that excitement from Sunday stems from Jackson and safety Xavier McKinney returning to the lineup after missing time with injuries.
Jackson and McKinney rejoined a unit that also includes Darnay Holmes, Fabian Moreau, and Julian Love, giving the Giants four solid and versatile contributors in the secondary.
