PHILADELPHIA — In a notable matchup, Saquon Barkley traded in his No. 26 jersey for a T-shirt that commemorated his achievement of rushing 2,000 yards this season, while Jalen Hurts was once again sidelined due to a concussion.
The Philadelphia Eagles rested several star players in their regular-season finale against the New York Giants, which resembled a Pro Bowl lineup with notable absentees like wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, as well as offensive linemen Landon Dickerson and Lane Johnson.
With an impressive 14-win season, the Eagles essentially created their own break by resting their key players, gearing up for the upcoming wild-card playoff game against the Green Bay Packers. “We’ll set our sights on them,” remarked head coach Nick Sirianni.
Tanner McKee took charge as quarterback, throwing for 269 yards and two touchdowns in a game filled with backups, leading the Eagles to a 20-13 victory over the Giants and giving them a solid foundation heading into the postseason.
As the NFC East champions, the Eagles finished with a record of 14-3, securing the No. 2 seed in the conference. They are set to face the Packers again—this time in Philadelphia—after defeating them earlier in Brazil during the season opener.
Barkley’s performance was notable as he concluded the season with 2,005 rushing yards, falling short of Eric Dickerson’s NFL record of 2,105 yards set in 1984. Many in Philadelphia expressed disappointment that Barkley did not get the chance to surpass this benchmark, especially against the team that let him go. “I would have broken the record in the first quarter,” former Eagles running back Brian Westbrook shared on social media.
Sirianni’s decision to rest key players was validated by events shaping up in Green Bay, where Packers stated wide receiver Christian Watson was carted off due to injury, and quarterback Jordan Love suffered a throwing elbow injury. Coach Matt LaFleur indicated that Love was held out for precautionary reasons.
Hurts’ participation was also uncertain, as he remained in the NFL concussion protocol, missing the last two games. Kenny Pickett had previously taken the starting job but was also nursing an injury, providing McKee an unexpected opportunity to demonstrate his skills in front of a half-full Lincoln Financial Field.
McKee’s performance was commendable as he embarked on his starting debut, where he completed all three passes for 48 yards on the opening drive and delivered touchdown passes to Ainias Smith and E.J. Jenkins, giving the Eagles a solid lead.
Though the game was of little consequence to the Eagles’ playoff aspirations, McKee was clearly motivated, throwing for 190 yards in the first half as he vies to secure a backup spot in the upcoming season. “I just feel like I showed confidence in myself to operate the offense,” he reflected.
Without Barkley, the Eagles managed only 51 rushing yards amid somewhat conservative play-calling. Tight end Dallas Goedert’s return from a knee injury added a positive note, as he caught four passes for 55 yards, providing a necessary boost for the team’s postseason campaign.
Hurts is expected to be back for the playoff encounter with Green Bay, and with uncertainty surrounding Pickett’s condition, the Eagles have the reassurance of McKee being ready if called upon. “I’ll do my preparation to play. I’ll be ready whether I’m 1, 2, 3, or 6,” McKee stated, emphasizing his readiness.
On the other side, Giants coach Brian Daboll expressed a commitment to the team’s rebuilding process but did not confirm his future with the franchise amidst disappointing seasons that ended without playoff appearances. Holding a 18-32-1 record, he acknowledged the need for significant improvement.
New York’s hopes for a top draft pick faded after their unexpected win over Indianapolis last week and were finally dashed when the Cleveland Browns lost to Baltimore. Tennessee ended up with the top selection, leaving both the Browns and Giants at 3-14 but with New York’s earlier win giving them the tiebreaker advantage.
Wide receiver Malik Nabers had a standout performance, catching five passes for a total of 109 yards, breaking Steve Smith’s franchise record for receptions in a season with 107. Drew Lock connected with Nabers for a late touchdown to close the gap to 17-10.
Kicking was a mixed bag for both teams; Jake Elliott’s successful field goals were accompanied by a missed attempt, while Graham Gano managed a couple of field goals for the Giants as they sought to stay competitive.
Looking ahead, the Eagles are set to host the Packers in the opening round of the playoffs, while the Giants must navigate a decision regarding their coaching staff moving forward.
