By BARRY WILNER
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Tom Coughlin didn’t mince words.

“This is as big a disappointment as we have had around here in a long time,” Coughlin said after his New York Giants’ poor showing in a 17-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles that dropped his team into a tie with Dallas atop the NFC East. “I didn’t like the way we played.”

New York (6-4) was outplayed on both lines, allowed the Eagles (4-6) to drive 80 yards on 18 plays, taking up 8:51, to get the winning touchdown in the fourth quarter, and rushed for all of 29 yards Sunday night.

“We have no first downs to show, no yardage to show, we have no rushing average with 29 yards, which is about as pathetic as it can get.”

Their second straight loss came against an undermanned Eagles squad missing Michael Vick and Jeremy Maclin. Even though the Giants had three interceptions of Vince Young, they couldn’t slow him or the Eagles on that final drive, when Philly converted six third downs, including on the winning 8-yard pass to Riley Cooper with 2:45 remaining.

The Giants also couldn’t protect Eli Manning, who was sacked three times and hurried on many other throws.

“We just never got a rhythm at all,” said Manning, who is having an outstanding year but struggled all night against Philly. “It wasn’t a good game. We didn’t have our best effort out there.”

Philadelphia blew five games in the fourth quarter this season, but was the better team down the stretch this time. But even after that lengthy drive, the Giants had a shot to tie it. Manning, who tied it with a 24-yard TD pass to Victor Cruz earlier in the quarter, drove the Giants from their 10 to the Eagles 21, with the final 47 yards coming on a catch-and-run by Cruz with 1:25 to play.

Manning stepped out of the pocket on the next play and was hit from behind by Jason Babin and fumbled. Derek Landi recovered at the 26, sending the Giants to their second straight excruciating loss at the Meadowlands to the Eagles.

“As I was going through that thinking process,” Manning said of looking for his secondary receivers, “that is when I got hit from behind. I need to do a better job holding onto the ball in that circumstance.”

Young overcame his mistakes with a decisive, memorable drive.

“It’s definitely a big win,” said Young, who went 23 of 36 for 258 yards, two touchdowns and those three interceptions. “You see the excitement and the smiles on the guys and that’s what we need, what we have to have.”

Philadelphia converted six third-down plays with DeSean Jackson setting up the first-and-goal with a 10-yard catch to the 10, and Young capping it with his second touchdown pass of the game to a wide-open Cooper, who came in without a catch this season.

“We were taking our time, making plays and the guys came up with big plays on third down,” Young said.

Jackson, benched for last week’s game for missing a team meeting, finished with six catches for 88 yards. Cooper had five receptions for 75 yards, while LeSean McCoy added 113 yards rushing, 60 coming on a late run that iced the game.

“Vince, stepping in for the great Michael Vick, that’s a tough thing to do and he did it and the guys rallied around him,” coach Andy Reid said. “The offensive line and defensive line played well, the offensive line had a huge challenge when it counted and they were able to put some things together.”

Last December, the Eagles rallied late to beat New York 38-31 in a game that Philadelphia rallied from 21 points down.

While Young made several big plays, his third interception was the most costly. Aaron Ross picked it off in the end zone on a second-and-9 from the New York 16 with Philadelphia up 10-3 late in the third quarter.

Cruz’s tying TD was set up when Manning rolled out and found Hakeem Nicks for a 47-yard gain on third down to the Eagles 24.

Manning was 18 of 35 for 264 yards, and Cruz had six catches for 128 yards.

The first half was typical of an Eagles-Giants meeting: chippy, intense, hard-fought and, not surprisingly, ugly.

The defenses dominated, and Jackson was caught taunting the Giants in more ways than one, including a penalty that cost the Eagles a 50-yard pass completion.

Jackson set up both Eagles scores in the first half. He caught a 32-yard pass early in the second quarter to set up a 33-yard field goal by Alex Henery and then brought back excruciating memories from last season with a 51-yard punt return that was a carbon copy of his winning 65-yard punt return on the final play of the Eagles’ 38-31 Meadowlands Miracle.

What made the return so eerie was that Jackson fielded Steve Weatherford’s punt at his 35, circled right and then ran down the sideline in front of the Giants’ bench — the same thing he did last season. The only difference was Weatherford pushed him out of bounds at the 14, and Matt Dodge was the punter last season.

It didn’t matter. One play later, Young found former Giants receiver Steve Smith cutting under the zone and he easily outran linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka into the end zone.

Manning had enough time to get the Giants on the board. A 21-yard pass to Cruz and 10-yarder to D.J. Ware on a play in which he suffered a concussion set up Lawrence Tynes’ 48-yard field goal.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP)—Tom Coughlin didn’t mince words.

“This is as big a disappointment as we have had around here in a long
time,” Coughlin said after his New York Giants’ poor showing in a 17-10 loss to
the Philadelphia Eagles that dropped his team into a tie with Dallas atop the
NFC East. “I didn’t like the way we played.”

New York (6-4) was outplayed on both lines, allowed the Eagles (4-6) to
drive 80 yards on 18 plays, taking up 8:51, to get the winning touchdown in the
fourth quarter, and rushed for all of 29 yards Sunday night.

“We have no first downs to show, no yardage to show, we have no rushing
average with 29 yards, which is about as pathetic as it can get.”

Their second straight loss came against an undermanned Eagles squad missing
Michael Vick(notes) and Jeremy Maclin(notes). Even though the Giants had three interceptions
of Vince Young(notes), they couldn’t slow him or the Eagles on that final drive, when
Philly converted six third downs, including on the winning 8-yard pass to Riley
Cooper(notes) with 2:45 remaining.

The Giants also couldn’t protect Eli Manning(notes), who was sacked three times and
hurried on many other throws.

“We just never got a rhythm at all,” said Manning, who is having an
outstanding year but struggled all night against Philly. “It wasn’t a good
game. We didn’t have our best effort out there.”

Philadelphia blew five games in the fourth quarter this season, but was the
better team down the stretch this time. But even after that lengthy drive, the
Giants had a shot to tie it. Manning, who tied it with a 24-yard TD pass to
Victor Cruz(notes) earlier in the quarter, drove the Giants from their 10 to the Eagles
21, with the final 47 yards coming on a catch-and-run by Cruz with 1:25 to play.

Manning stepped out of the pocket on the next play and was hit from behind
by Jason Babin(notes) and fumbled. Derek Landi recovered at the 26, sending the Giants
to their second straight excruciating loss at the Meadowlands to the Eagles.

“As I was going through that thinking process,” Manning said of looking
for his secondary receivers, “that is when I got hit from behind. I need to do
a better job holding onto the ball in that circumstance.”

Young overcame his mistakes with a decisive, memorable drive.

“It’s definitely a big win,” said Young, who went 23 of 36 for 258 yards,
two touchdowns and those three interceptions. “You see the excitement and the
smiles on the guys and that’s what we need, what we have to have.”

Philadelphia converted six third-down plays with DeSean Jackson(notes) setting up
the first-and-goal with a 10-yard catch to the 10, and Young capping it with his
second touchdown pass of the game to a wide-open Cooper, who came in without a
catch this season.

“We were taking our time, making plays and the guys came up with big plays
on third down,” Young said.

Jackson, benched for last week’s game for missing a team meeting, finished
with six catches for 88 yards. Cooper had five receptions for 75 yards, while
LeSean McCoy(notes) added 113 yards rushing, 60 coming on a late run that iced the
game.

“Vince, stepping in for the great Michael Vick, that’s a tough thing to do
and he did it and the guys rallied around him,” coach Andy Reid said. “The
offensive line and defensive line played well, the offensive line had a huge
challenge when it counted and they were able to put some things together.”

Last December, the Eagles rallied late to beat New York 38-31 in a game that
Philadelphia rallied from 21 points down.

While Young made several big plays, his third interception was the most
costly. Aaron Ross(notes) picked it off in the end zone on a second-and-9 from the New
York 16 with Philadelphia up 10-3 late in the third quarter.

Cruz’s tying TD was set up when Manning rolled out and found Hakeem Nicks(notes)
for a 47-yard gain on third down to the Eagles 24.

Manning was 18 of 35 for 264 yards, and Cruz had six catches for 128 yards.

The first half was typical of an Eagles-Giants meeting: chippy, intense,
hard-fought and, not surprisingly, ugly.

The defenses dominated, and Jackson was caught taunting the Giants in more
ways than one, including a penalty that cost the Eagles a 50-yard pass
completion.

Jackson set up both Eagles scores in the first half. He caught a 32-yard
pass early in the second quarter to set up a 33-yard field goal by Alex Henery(notes)
and then brought back excruciating memories from last season with a 51-yard punt
return that was a carbon copy of his winning 65-yard punt return on the final
play of the Eagles’ 38-31 Meadowlands Miracle.

What made the return so eerie was that Jackson fielded Steve Weatherford’s(notes)
punt at his 35, circled right and then ran down the sideline in front of the
Giants’ bench—the same thing he did last season. The only difference was
Weatherford pushed him out of bounds at the 14, and Matt Dodge(notes) was the punter
last season.

It didn’t matter. One play later, Young found former Giants receiver Steve
Smith cutting under the zone and he easily outran linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka(notes)
into the end zone.

Manning had enough time to get the Giants on the board. A 21-yard pass to
Cruz and 10-yarder to D.J. Ware(notes) on a play in which he suffered a concussion set
up Lawrence Tynes’(notes) 48-yard field goal.

The Philadelphia Eagles have ruled out quarterback Michael Vick and wide receiver Jeremy Maclin for Sunday night’s game against the New York Giants, the team announced Saturday.

Vick was not expected to play and was listed as questionable on the team’s Friday injury report because of two broken ribs. Maclin, who missed his third consecutive practice on Friday, was also listed as questionable with shoulder and hamstring injuries.

Vick and Maclin were ruled out after Saturday’s walkthrough and did not travel with the team.

Vick didn’t practice this week because he broke his two lower ribs on the second play of the Eagles’ 21-17 loss to Arizona in Week 10. He got up slowly after taking a hard hit to the side, but didn’t tell anyone the extent of the injury and played the rest of the game. He was off target most of the game and finished 16 of 34 for 128 yards and two interceptions.

Vince Young will make his first start with the Eagles after working with the first-team offense all week.

Young was 30-17 as a starter and went to two Pro Bowls in five seasons with the Tennessee Titans. He was one of several high-profile players Philadelphia signed after the lockout. So far, though, Young’s only contribution was labeling the Eagles a “Dream Team” at his first news conference at training camp.

Second-year pro Riley Cooper will likely start in Maclin’s place. Cooper doesn’t have any catches this season.

The Eagles desperately need a victory over the first-place Giants to avoid being all-but-mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. The defending NFC East champions began this season with Super Bowl aspirations, but have failed to live up to those enormous expectations.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Eli Manning completed 16 of 23 passes for 254 yards and four touchdowns as New York improved to 2-1 on the season.

The Eagles led 16-14 entering the final quarter but had left points in the board, settling for field goals twice inside the New York 2-yard line.

Vick injured his hand late in the third quarter on a quarterback sneak on the second of the Giants’ goal-line stands. He went to the Eagles’ locker room for X-rays, returned for a series, but then left for good.

The Eagles, looking for the clinching score, were stopped on fourth-and-1 from the Giants’ 43 when linebacker Michael Boley tripped up LeSean McCoy (24 carries, 128 yards, 1 TD) for a loss.

Manning then marched the Giants for the winning score on a 28-yard TD pass to Victor Cruz who hauled in the ball despite double coverage by Eagles’ safety Jarrad Page and cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.

Manning then converted a Aaron Ross interception of Mike Kafka into a 18-yard TD pass on a screen to Ahmad Bradshaw for the clinching score.

The Giants jumped out to a  14-0 lead on two long touchdown passes by Manning, 40 yards to a wide-open Brandon Jacobs out of the backfield and 74 yards to Cruz on a short sideline that Cruz turned into a huge gainer by shedding tackles.

But the Giants, who posted 155 yards of offense in the first quarter, stalled after that with just 85 total in the next two periods as the Eagles got three field goals from Alex Henery and an 11-yard rushing TD from McCoy.

The Eagles also lost wide receivers Riley Cooper to a concussion and Jeremy Maclin to a hamstring injury.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress(notes) left Oneida Correctional Facility in Rome, New York on Monday morning wearing mostly black, but there was nothing but happiness in his heart.

“It’s a beautiful day,” Burress said in a brief statement to reporters. “It’s a beautiful day to be reunited with my family … As far as football is concerned, if and when everything is settled and when they get back on the field, I’ll be ready.”

Burress served almost two years in prison after pleading guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon. In November of 2008, Burress accidentally shot himself in the thigh when a weapon he was holding in his sweatpants discharged in a New York nightclub, and that started a downward spiral that now has him as an interesting NFL comeback story. Between the recent rehabilitation story of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick(notes) and the currently slow NFL news cycle, we can expect to hear all sorts of football options for Burress, who is reportedly heading down to Florida to begin training for his own comeback.

Of course, if you ask his agent Drew Rosenhaus, Burress is already set to go.

“We are going to be open to all 32 teams,” Rosenhaus said on Monday. “Ultimately, this will be Plax’s decision, not mine. I am here to help him pick the best spot and get the very best contract. And that is what we will do … Before the lockout started and during that very brief window, right around the time of the draft, the feedback was excellent. Plaxico is going to be a top free agent, there are going to be multiple teams interested in signing him. I expect him to get a good contract, I expect him to absolutely be playing. I think he’ll be coveted. He’ll be one of our top free agents.”

Of course, Rosenhaus isn’t allowed to talk with teams about his client until the lockout is resolved. The Giants released Burress in 2009, and former teammate Brandon Jacobs(notes) was quoted as saying that there was “no way” Burress would be asked to return to the Giants. Vick, on the other hand, recently said on Philadelphia talk radio that Burress would be an interesting fit on an Eagles team that’s already full of weapons.

“Plaxico is going to come out with a chip on his shoulder the same way I did, and he’ll go out and help this football team to whatever capacity he can,” Vick said. “I think the guys would be willing to embrace him and bring him in. If that happens? Who knows? [Are] we talking about ‘what ifs’ now? It would certainly be a good thing.”

Burress was wearing a Philadelphia Phillies hat upon his release, and that will certainly be interpreted by some as a definitive sign that he wants to play in the City of Brotherly Love. It’s also possible that the New York Jets may take a look at him as a possible replacement for Braylon Edwards(notes). The St. Louis Rams desperately need receivers for second-year quarterback Sam Bradford(notes) … you can expect that Burress will be tied to just about every NFL team over the next few weeks.

Right now, for Burress, it’s just about getting his head around freedom and acclimating to a new chapter in his life. As for football, he’ll have to wait for an opening just like everyone else.

Follow Yahoo! Sports on Facebook and be the first to know about the most interesting stories of the day.

Other popular Yahoo! Sports stories:
• HS basketball star murdered at party
• Video: LeBron doesn’t care for reporter’s question
• Controversial non-call costs Mavericks Game 3

Related: Brandon Jacobs, Braylon Edwards, Sam Bradford, Michael Vick, Plaxico Burress, New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, St. Louis Rams

Read More: Michael Vick (QB – PHI), Plaxico Burress (WR – NYG), New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, St. Louis Rams

Plaxico Burress has been rumored to go to the St. Louis Rams, among other receiver-poor teams, following his extended stint in for-real prison, but it could be that the New York Giants end up saving the Rams from themselves by welcoming Burress back to their own receiving corps, per rumors on Twitter. I would think that the last team on earth that would want Plaxico Burress is someone who’s already had to deal with him, but the NFL—particularly during the lockout—moves in mysterious ways. 

Of course, other options still exist. Michael Vick has, somehow, decided it was in his best interest to officially endorse Burress for the Philadelphia Eagles, which—if nothing else I have to give him credit for his refusal to give into public pressure. The Giants themselves have said they’re not sold on Burress, although Eli Manning believes he’s served his time and then some and is excited he’s getting out. 

So far it seems like interest in Burress’s return has divided mostly along NFL Lockout lines—the players are interested, the owners not so much. We’ll see whether this debate goes in a direction other than longterm stalemate. 

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton addressed the rumors following news of the decision to move his family to Dallas.

The Cowboys brought in Mike Woicik to discuss a position as the team’s strength and conditioning coach.

New York Giants

Giants.com takes a closer look at Tom Coughlin’s 133-107 record as a head coach.

Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia Daily News columnist Paul Domowitch is convinced that new Eagles offensive line coach Howard Mudd will keep quarterback Michael Vick protected.

Don’t expect to see defensive end Trent Cole dropping into pass coverage next season.

Washington Redskins

The Redskins are exploring the idea of moving their training camp away from team headquarters. George Mason University’s campus is reportedly one option the team is investigating.

Examiner.com’s Mike Frandsen says media and fans should stop piling on Redskins owner Daniel Snyder.

Cheer up, New York Giants. You are not out of the playoff picture.

Ditto for the Green Bay Packers and for three-fourths of the NFC West.

With two weeks left, the Giants and Packers must focus on what’s ahead and leave Week 15 behind. In the NFC West, well, someone must win.

Week 16 will feature a host of games with playoff implications, led by the Giants-Packers showdown in Green Bay. The Giants took a devastating loss Sunday to the rival Philadelphia Eagles but can cement a playoff spot by beating the Packers.

“We screwed up — it’s over,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said, reflecting on Sunday’s shocking 38-31 defeat, in which the Eagles scored four touchdowns during the final eight minutes. “There are two games remaining: You win this weekend and we’re in the playoffs.”

Bouncing back is easier said than done. Monday was a start. Quarterback Eli Manning gave the team a pep talk, in case players still had visions of DeSean Jackson and Michael Vick dancing in their heads.

Coughlin even showed a sense of humor Monday when asked who he talks to after a difficult defeat.

“My wife ignores me, and I don’t have a dog,” Coughlin said.

The Packers, too, are coming off a tough loss, dropping a 31-27 road decision to the New England Patriots, despite a solid performance from backup QB Matt Flynn.

“It doesn’t make the loss feel any better,” Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk said, “but it’s good to know we are still alive.”

A closer look at some playoff contenders who must recover from a lost weekend:

New York Giants

The challenge: shaking off Sunday’s collapse, which might leave the players with a fragile psyche heading to Green Bay and Washington.

“We have a real sour taste in our mouth now,” cornerback Corey Webster said. “We have to be tough.”

Green Bay Packers

The challenge: finishing close games. All six of the Packers’ losses have been by four points or fewer. Even if starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers returns from a concussion this week, the Packers are going nowhere unless they can figure out how to win close games.

The NFC West

The challenge: winning a game. Three teams remain alive for the playoffs despite all have losing records. The St. Louis Rams (6-8), Seattle Seahawks (6-8) and San Francisco 49ers (5-9) are giving new meaning to the phrase “backing into the playoffs.”

At some point, dogs won’t be the first thing that headline writers think about when titling an article about Michael Vick(notes). Thankfully, that day has yet to come.

This is the front page from Monday’s edition of The New York Post:

The cover, like Mary Poppins, is practically perfect in every way. The headline “Giants Dog It” is an excellent dig at both Vick and the Giants, even though a tad predictable. The way Vick is positioned directly under the word “dog,” as if it’s a coincidence is a nifty and subtle trick is also good. And then, of course, the Photoshopped dog heads on the Giants players pursuing the dangerous quarterback take the cover to another level.

Take some time to appreciate the craftsmanship that went into Photoshopping those heads on and, while you’re at it, savor the many levels with which the sight gag works.

If the cover wasn’t bitter enough, also notice how there’s no credit given to the Eagles for the comeback victory. Reading the Post’s cover, you’d think it was a complete meltdown by the Giants and had nothing to do with Vick and DeSean Jackson’s(notes) heroics. It’s a perfect blend of snark, defiance and delusion. (The back page was a bit more tame.)

But don’t complain, Philadelphians. Your city’s newspapers have been even worse with the dog-related puns about Vick. 

Related: DeSean Jackson, Michael Vick, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles

By GEORGE O’GORMAN
Staff Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD — Osi Umenyiora came within an inch or two of making the defensive play that might have won the Giants their last meeting with the Eagles.

“I don’t think about it,” the Giants defensive end says. “Sometimes you make those plays and sometimes you don’t. That was a situation I wasn’t able to make the play.”

That fourth quarter play at The Linc back on Nov. 21 when Andy Reid gambled on 4th-and-1 at the 50 and had Michael Vick toss the ball over Umenyiora’s reach to LeSean McCoy turned into a heartbreaker for the G-Men.

It resulted in eight points — a TD and 2-point conversion — that rallied the Eagles from a 17-16 deficit to a 24-17 lead and a win that put them alone atop the NFC East race – for one week.

They lost the next Sunday in Chicago while the Giants were beating Jacksonville to start a 3-game win streak that now finds them tied for first in the division heading into another classic Eagles/Giants showdown.

It kicks off at 1 p.m. today (FOX Channels 5-29) with the winner going a game up in the NFC East race with two weeks to go in the regular-season.

The Eagles have won five in a row over the G-Men, with three of the five coming at old Giants Stadium where Philly had a history of handing Big Blue many hard-to-swallow losses.

Today they meet for the first time in new Meadowlands Stadium where Tom Coughlin’s team wants to make the Eagles’ first appearance there one that could spoil their hopes of starting a late-season run that will get them to the Super Bowl in the 50th anniversary season of their only world championship.

Containing Eagles QB Michael Vick better than they did last month is key to a Giant win. They kept Vick in the pocket that night as he gained only 34 yards on 11 runs, with the longest going for nine yards and a TD. But he eluded a strong pass rush to complete 24 of 38 passes for 258 yards to earn his second win in three career starts against the Giants.

The Giants promise they will be attack him with the same plan coordinator Perry Fewell used last month, but with a few new wrinkles. Continued…

“We’re going to adjust some of the things we did, and they’re going to adjust some of the things they did also,” Umenyiora says. “We’re going to do some different things. We did give up a lot of yards, and we don’t want to give up that many this time.”

Jeremy Macklin caught nine balls for 120 yards and DeSean Jackson five for 50, while LeSean “Shady” McCoy was 14-for-111 with his longest the one that Umenyiora almost prevented.

“I was frustrated because I thought we should have won and we gave them the last game,” says Umenyiora. “I know how tough it is to win in this league and you don’t want to give anyone the game, and that’s what we did. Hopefully, if we limit a lot of the mistakes we made last time, we’ll be alright.

“That was a game we shouldn’t have lost, but we did. We get them back on home turf this time and hopefully it’s different.”

“We win this game and hopefully we win the NFC East, but you never know because we’ll still have two games left (at Green Bay and Washington),” says cornerback Terrell Thomas.

“We’re a healthier team now, and not on a losing streak. After all the adversity we had in getting to play last week against the Vikings we’re a hungrier team. We showed our mental toughness last week, and we know this is our season on the line,” said Thomas. “We’re surging at the right time and getting healthy.”

The Giants defense doesn’t anticipate Reid will make a major overhaul in his game plan and run more so Vick isn’t in the pocket trying to avoid the rush waiting for receivers to get open.

“That’s not their game. What they do, they do it well and they’ve done it well for a number of years,” Umenyiora says.

“ If he tries to do that, he’s going to be getting away from his game plan and it might come back to bite him. I think he’s going to stick to what he does and what they’ve been successful with.”

Umenyiora hopes he and Justin Tuck at the other defensive end spot can overpower their blockers and double-team Vick. And should be try to run inside they believe Barry Cofield. Chris Canty and even rookie Jason Pierre-Paul can stop him. Continued…

“You just have to take your shot at him. I think most people try to play a little tentative when they’re playing against him. We have the option that everybody will cover, so hopefully if you take a shot and miss, your friends back there will be able to recover,” said Umenyiora.

The Giants realize Vick may have more weapons at his disposal than they can shut down effectively.

The Eagles that, too. Especially ‘Shady’ McCoy.

“He’s an awesome player, but it comes to DeSean, myself and Maclin,” says McCoy. “Just call us his weapons.”

“He’s the big gun and we’re his weapons with DeSean and Maclin’s big play capability and so much speed. Throw in Celek and Avant, guys that are kind of sure.

“You can count on them. They are all clutch players along with myself and help Mike out,” added Jackson. “Like they say we’re a young group and definitely playing big lately.”

The Giants realize that, but expect to have the defensive scheme to derail the NFC’s most productive offense today.

By GEORGE O’GORMAN
Staff Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD — Osi Umenyiora came within an inch or two of making the defensive play that might have won the Giants their last meeting with the Eagles.

“I don’t think about it,” the Giants defensive end says. “Sometimes you make those plays and sometimes you don’t. That was a situation I wasn’t able to make the play.”

That fourth quarter play at The Linc back on Nov. 21 when Andy Reid gambled on 4th-and-1 at the 50 and had Michael Vick toss the ball over Umenyiora’s reach to LeSean McCoy turned into a heartbreaker for the G-Men.

It resulted in eight points — a TD and 2-point conversion — that rallied the Eagles from a 17-16 deficit to a 24-17 lead and a win that put them alone atop the NFC East race – for one week.

They lost the next Sunday in Chicago while the Giants were beating Jacksonville to start a 3-game win streak that now finds them tied for first in the division heading into another classic Eagles/Giants showdown.

It kicks off at 1 p.m. today (FOX Channels 5-29) with the winner going a game up in the NFC East race with two weeks to go in the regular-season.

The Eagles have won five in a row over the G-Men, with three of the five coming at old Giants Stadium where Philly had a history of handing Big Blue many hard-to-swallow losses.

Today they meet for the first time in new Meadowlands Stadium where Tom Coughlin’s team wants to make the Eagles’ first appearance there one that could spoil their hopes of starting a late-season run that will get them to the Super Bowl in the 50th anniversary season of their only world championship.

Containing Eagles QB Michael Vick better than they did last month is key to a Giant win. They kept Vick in the pocket that night as he gained only 34 yards on 11 runs, with the longest going for nine yards and a TD. But he eluded a strong pass rush to complete 24 of 38 passes for 258 yards to earn his second win in three career starts against the Giants.

The Giants promise they will be attack him with the same plan coordinator Perry Fewell used last month, but with a few new wrinkles.

“We’re going to adjust some of the things we did, and they’re going to adjust some of the things they did also,” Umenyiora says. “We’re going to do some different things. We did give up a lot of yards, and we don’t want to give up that many this time.”

Jeremy Macklin caught nine balls for 120 yards and DeSean Jackson five for 50, while LeSean “Shady” McCoy was 14-for-111 with his longest the one that Umenyiora almost prevented.

“I was frustrated because I thought we should have won and we gave them the last game,” says Umenyiora. “I know how tough it is to win in this league and you don’t want to give anyone the game, and that’s what we did. Hopefully, if we limit a lot of the mistakes we made last time, we’ll be alright.

“That was a game we shouldn’t have lost, but we did. We get them back on home turf this time and hopefully it’s different.”

“We win this game and hopefully we win the NFC East, but you never know because we’ll still have two games left (at Green Bay and Washington),” says cornerback Terrell Thomas.

“We’re a healthier team now, and not on a losing streak. After all the adversity we had in getting to play last week against the Vikings we’re a hungrier team. We showed our mental toughness last week, and we know this is our season on the line,” said Thomas. “We’re surging at the right time and getting healthy.”

The Giants defense doesn’t anticipate Reid will make a major overhaul in his game plan and run more so Vick isn’t in the pocket trying to avoid the rush waiting for receivers to get open.

“That’s not their game. What they do, they do it well and they’ve done it well for a number of years,” Umenyiora says.

“ If he tries to do that, he’s going to be getting away from his game plan and it might come back to bite him. I think he’s going to stick to what he does and what they’ve been successful with.”

Umenyiora hopes he and Justin Tuck at the other defensive end spot can overpower their blockers and double-team Vick. And should be try to run inside they believe Barry Cofield. Chris Canty and even rookie Jason Pierre-Paul can stop him.

“You just have to take your shot at him. I think most people try to play a little tentative when they’re playing against him. We have the option that everybody will cover, so hopefully if you take a shot and miss, your friends back there will be able to recover,” said Umenyiora.

The Giants realize Vick may have more weapons at his disposal than they can shut down effectively.

The Eagles that, too. Especially ‘Shady’ McCoy.

“He’s an awesome player, but it comes to DeSean, myself and Maclin,” says McCoy. “Just call us his weapons.”

“He’s the big gun and we’re his weapons with DeSean and Maclin’s big play capability and so much speed. Throw in Celek and Avant, guys that are kind of sure.

“You can count on them. They are all clutch players along with myself and help Mike out,” added Jackson. “Like they say we’re a young group and definitely playing big lately.”

The Giants realize that, but expect to have the defensive scheme to derail the NFC’s most productive offense today.

Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell missed his weekly news conference Thursday. The Giants (9-4), of course, told the media not to worry. Fewell would be available Friday.

That didn’t stop the speculation. Was Fewell locked in a room drawing up some supersecret game plan to shut down Michael Vick and the Eagles on Sunday at New Meadowlands Stadium?

No one wanted to say.

Players believe Fewell will have something for them. Last month in Philadelphia, the defensive guru had a simple plan. Either keep Vick in the pocket or force him to roll to his right if he breaks containment. The goal was to make the lefthander throw across his body when he was on the move. For the most part, it worked. Vick was limited to 258 yards passing and no touchdowns.

In a season filled with great Vick moments, that game really didn’t have one. The Eagles, in fact, scored just one touchdown in five trips to the red zone. But – thanks to LeSean McCoy’s 50-yard, fourth-down, fourth-quarter run with less than five minutes to play – the Eagles still managed to escape with a 27-17 win.

The difference between winning and losing might have been a fraction of an inch on McCoy’s run. Vick bobbled the snap and Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora seemingly was a fingertip away from deflecting Vick’s pitch.

“I was frustrated because I thought we should have won and we gave them the game,” Umenyiora said Thursday. “Anytime you do that, I know how tough it is to win in this league and you don’t want to give anyone the game, and that’s what we did.”

While many wonder what Fewell will come up with Sunday, players are expecting more of a tweak than a new game plan. Why change something that worked?

“We have to do more,” cornerback Terrell Thomas said. “We lost that game. We had the lead in the fourth quarter and lost it. We lost the fourth quarter. Our team is built around our defense and we take responsibility. We obviously had a lot of turnovers [five] and misfortunes, but we have to win that game for our offense and our team.”

The Giants blitzed Vick plenty in the first game, but defensive lineman Justin Tuck said not all of the blitzes were called.

“There were a lot of secondary blitzes, a lot of things that are keyed blitzes,” Tuck said. “It wasn’t necessarily called blitzes. It might have looked like they were blitzes and that might be one of the reasons we had more success. We’ll tweak some things here and there and solve this problem of a five-game losing streak against the Eagles.”

PHILADELPHIA (9-4) At NEW YORK GIANTS (9-4)

Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX

OPENING LINE — Giants by 3

RECORD VS. SPREAD — Philadelphia 6-7; New York Giants 7-6

SERIES RECORD — Giants lead 81-72-2

LAST MEETING — Eagles beat Giants 27-17, Nov. 21

LAST WEEK — Eagles beat Cowboys 30-27; Giants beat Vikings 21-3

EAGLES OFFENSE — OVERALL (1), RUSH (5), PASS (1)

EAGLES DEFENSE — OVERALL (12), RUSH (11), PASS (14)

GIANTS OFFENSE — OVERALL (4), RUSH (4), PASS (3) Continued…

GIANTS DEFENSE — OVERALL (2), RUSH (5), PASS (2)

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — First place on line in NFC East. Including playoffs, Eagles have won five straight against New York. …

 QB Michael Vick second in NFL with 104.3 rating; leads NFL QBs with 483 yards rushing and seven TDs. …

LeSean McCoy leads NFL running backs with 70 catches; had game-winning 50-yard TD run in last game with New York. …

WR DeSean Jackson had four catches for career-high 210 yards and TD last week. …

 WR Jeremy Maclin had career-high nine catches for 120 yards in last game with Giants. …

 DE Trent Cole has seven career sacks vs. Giants. …

 CB Asante Samuel had two interceptions and a fumble recovery against Giants in November. His 36 interceptions since start of 2006 leads NFL. …

QB Eli Manning has 3,169 yards passing, his sixth consecutive 3,000-yard season, longest streak in team history. He has league-high 19 interceptions. …

 RBs Brandon Jacobs (116) and Ahmad Bradshaw (103) each rushed for 100 yards last week, second time in club history that’s happened. … Continued…

PHILADELPHIA (9-4) At NEW YORK GIANTS (9-4)

Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX

OPENING LINE — Giants by 3

RECORD VS. SPREAD — Philadelphia 6-7; New York Giants 7-6

SERIES RECORD — Giants lead 81-72-2

LAST MEETING — Eagles beat Giants 27-17, Nov. 21

LAST WEEK — Eagles beat Cowboys 30-27; Giants beat Vikings 21-3

EAGLES OFFENSE — OVERALL (1), RUSH (5), PASS (1)

EAGLES DEFENSE — OVERALL (12), RUSH (11), PASS (14)

GIANTS OFFENSE — OVERALL (4), RUSH (4), PASS (3)

GIANTS DEFENSE — OVERALL (2), RUSH (5), PASS (2)

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — First place on line in NFC East. Including playoffs, Eagles have won five straight against New York. …

 QB Michael Vick second in NFL with 104.3 rating; leads NFL QBs with 483 yards rushing and seven TDs. …

LeSean McCoy leads NFL running backs with 70 catches; had game-winning 50-yard TD run in last game with New York. …

WR DeSean Jackson had four catches for career-high 210 yards and TD last week. …

 WR Jeremy Maclin had career-high nine catches for 120 yards in last game with Giants. …

 DE Trent Cole has seven career sacks vs. Giants. …

 CB Asante Samuel had two interceptions and a fumble recovery against Giants in November. His 36 interceptions since start of 2006 leads NFL. …

QB Eli Manning has 3,169 yards passing, his sixth consecutive 3,000-yard season, longest streak in team history. He has league-high 19 interceptions. …

 RBs Brandon Jacobs (116) and Ahmad Bradshaw (103) each rushed for 100 yards last week, second time in club history that’s happened. …

Offensive line gave up first sack in six games last week. …WR Steve Smith is out for season with knee injury. …

Hakeem Nicks had seven catches for 96 yards in first game since lower leg injury in first game against Philadelphia. …

DE Justin Tuck had three sacks and two forced fumbles against Eagles in the last game. ..

.CB Terrell Thomas has had interception and forced fumble in last two home games. …

 Rookie DE Jason Pierre-Paul has had two sacks in each of last two home games.