Instant Observations: Giants 42, Eagles 7

Here are my instant observations from Sunday afternoon’s Eagles-Giants game (note: this was posted with two minutes left in the game).

OFFENSE

* In his first start since Nov. 11, Michael Vick did not perform well, going 19-for-35 for 197 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He was pulled in the fourth quarter with 6:51 left and the Eagles trailing, 42-7, for Trent Edwards.

* The Eagles started the game with an onside kick. But on third down, the Giants blitzed (six rushers) and hit Vick as he sailed his pass intended for Brent Celek. Stevie Brown intercepted it and returned the ball 48 yards.

* The Eagles’ first touchdown came in the second quarter. On fourth down, Vick executed a play-fake, rolled to his left and found Jeremy Maclin in the end zone for a 7-yard score.

* LeSean McCoy showed once again that he’s the Eagles’ best offensive player, avoiding defenders and picking up 36 yards while running from one sideline to the other in the first. McCoy had 10 carries for 45 yards and also caught five balls for 61 yards.

* Alex Henery missed a 28-yard field goal in the second quarter.

* The Eagles went for it on fourth down three times and converted twice. Yet on 4th-and-5, down 35-7, the Eagles punted from the Giants’ 41. They punted a second time from Giants territory in the second half.

DEFENSE

* As disastrous a performance as you’ll see from an NFL defense. The Eagles allowed 35 points… in the first half! Eli Manning went 13-for-21 for 208 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions.

* In 17 months, Nnamdi Asomugha went from prize $60M free agent to the bench. Asomugha had a horrible game and was pulled in favor of Curtis Marsh in the fourth quarter. He was beaten badly by Rueben Randle on a 38-yard touchdown down the left sideline in the first quarter. As we’ve seen a lot the last two seasons, Asomugha just failed to make a play on the ball in the air. After a second pass interference penalty in the fourth, Todd Bowles yanked him.

* The Giants went 26 yards on four plays for a touchdown on their first possession. Randle got behind Colt Anderson for the 3-yard score.

* The Giants’ third touchdown was set up when Ahmad Bradshaw beat DeMeco Ryans down the sideline for a 41-yard gain. Kurt Coleman also missed a tackle on the play. Then it was Jamar Chaney’s turn. David Wilson beat him for a 15-yard touchdown for the Giants’ third score of the first quarter.

* The Giants’ fourth scoring drive ended with a 1-yard Ahmad Bradshaw touchdown run. Asomugha was called for a pass interference penalty in the end zone against Domenik Hixon to set up the score. He probably should have been flagged for a penalty on the previous play.

* And then there was the fifth touchdown of the first half. Victor Cruz got behind Anderson and Asomugha for a 24-yard score.

* The Eagles’ pass-rush was pretty much non-existent, but Phillip Hunt had his first sack of the season in the third quarter.

* The Eagles couldn’t stop the run either. Deep into the fourth quarter, the Giants had run 30 times for 188 yards (6.3 YPC). The Eagles clearly missed rookie Fletcher Cox, who was sidelined with a concussion.

Follow Sheil Kapadia on Twitter and e-mail him at skapadia@phillymag.com.
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