The New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles meet on Sunday night with identical 2-1 records, but how they got there couldn't be more different.
The Eagles have turned the ball over 12 times on the year and could easily be 0-3 rather than 2-1 after on-point wins against the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens. Philadelphia was blow out last week 27-6 in Arizona against the Cardinals.
Michael Vick has been far less effective than he was last season, throwing six interceptions and losing three fumbles.
"I'm very concerned about the turnovers," Vick said to the Associated Press. "Being the competitor that I am, I understand that you have to protect the football. I cut back on the interceptions last week and had two fumbles but it's something that I know I can get corrected."
The Eagles offensive line has been a weakness and one result is more hits on Vick from opposing defenses.
"He's taken a lot of hits," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "Too many hits. So, we've got to make sure that we try to fix that."
The Giants lost their first game to Dallas but have looked stellar since then, apart from one half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week two. After throwing three first-half interceptions, Eli Manning led the Giants to a massive comeback, scoring 25 points in the fourth quarter and the throwing for 510 yards, one of the top-10 performances of all time.
Manning is the NFL passing yards leader with 1,105 yards, five touchdowns and only three interceptions. Apart from the three interceptions in the first half in the game against Tampa, Manning hasn't turned over the ball.
"Right now, Eli is playing as good as any quarterback in the National Football League," Reid said. "I mean, these last few games, he's been on fire."
New York enters the game generating a lot of offense, scoring 94 points compared to only 47 by the Eagles. The Dallas Cowboys also have scored 47 points and play the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. The three teams are tied atop the NFC East with 2-1 records.
The Giants are throwing the ball well, and after last week's game against the Carolina Panthers, they may have found a solid ruining game to go along with it.
Ahmad Bradshaw missed the last game with a neck injury, giving Andre Brown the chance to get his first career start. Brown rushed for 113 yards and scored two touchdowns in the Giants 36-7 win.
The Giants are expected to get Bradsahw back this week and will also work Brown into a role on the offense.
Wide receiver Victor Cruz had a breakout game last year against the Eagles in Philadelphia, catching three balls for 110 yards and two touchdowns. Cruz makes a return to the first place he performed his now-signature Salsa dance.
The Giants will rely heavily on Cruz if Hakeem Nicks can't play for the second straight week. Nicks missed the game last week against Carolina with a foot injury, but the Giants didn't miss him, with Ramses Barden making his first start in his place and catching nine balls for 138 yards.
For New York to win the defense will have to shut down Eagles running back LeSean McCoy. Over the last four games against the Giants McCoy has rushed for an average of 104 yards per game.
"It is going to be a huge challenge going down there," defensive end Justin Tuck said. "They are going to be really fired up. That's what you live for. That's why you play the game. You get excited for matchups like this."
The Giants may have one extra advantage since the road team has won 11 of the last 15 games in the series, including in the playoffs.
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