When Boston “The Giant Killer” Scott scored from the three-yard like to give the Eagles a second-quarter 21-0 lead in the Divisional round playoff game at the Linc, you knew the New York Football Giants were in trouble.
When the second quarter ended with the score 28-0, the Giants offense having totaled just 77 yards combined…the G-Men had to know it was over.
Big Blue had one decent drive in the third quarter to reach the end zone and make the score 28-7, but the Birds’ (15-3) superior roster took over again and the final result was a 38-7 verdict over their NFC East rival and a trip to the NFC Championship game at the Linc against the San Francisco 49ers, who knocked off the Dallas Cowboys 19-12 in the Divisional round.
The NFC NFC Championship game is Sunday January 29, 2023 at 3 PM.
The Eagles, to a man, felt this was their game from the first snap.
“We knew they were feeling themselves after their victory last week [against Minnesota],” said linebacker Haason Reddick, who recorded 1.5 sacks, a tackle for loss, three quarterback hits and five total tackles (four solo). “They were talking a lot of trash saying they wanted us.”
Reddick paused for a moment. “Be careful what you ask for.”
Safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson echoed Reddick’s response when he was asked if the Birds expected to dominate Big Blue.
“You get what you asked for,” he said. “You know what they were asking for.” said Gardner-Johnson, who finished with three solo tackles and a batted Daniel Jones pass.
The safety then started to laugh… “Don’t try to tempt me to say something…you get what you asking for. Defense played a hell of a game; offense did a hell of a job. Not we just have to wait until next week.”
The Giants (10-8-1) won the toss and deferred. The Eagles, led by Jalen Hurts, drove 75 yards on eight plays – including a dynamic 40-yard completion to DeVonta Smith – ending with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Hurts to tight end Dallas Goedert that took 4:54 off the clock...so much for deferring.
The Giants first drive went 32 yards and included two sacks that led to the Giants turning the ball over on downs.
The next Eagles drive 52 yards, eight plays that ended with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Smith to make the score 14-0.
The next drive lasted two plays when former Giants cornerback James Bradberry, who ended up in Philadelphia after the Giants dumped him, picked off Danny Dimes and returned it to the Giants 46-yard line.
The drive fizzled but the tone was set.
The Birds scored two more touchdowns in the half. “Giant killer” Boston Scott scores on a three-yard run.
Then Hurts scored on a five-yard run to make the score 28-0. It was over.
Hurts finished 16 of 24 for 154 yards and two TD passes. He rushed nine times for 34 yards.
Kenneth Gainwell had what was likely his best game as an Eagle rushing 12 times for 112 yards including a 35-yard touchdown run with 1:51 left in the game.
The defense held Giants Pro Bowl running back Saguon Barkley to 61 yards on nine carries.
Jones was 15 of 27 for 135 yards, an interception and a rating of 53.9. He was sacked five times.
“It was a game plan that we had, a plan we wanted to execute,” Pro Bowl offensive guard Landon Dickerson said near his locker after the game. “We felt like the plan we had going in, what we were able to do against them…it was being successful…so if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Dickerson was impressed with the way All Pro right tackle Lane Johnson was able to play well while navigating a sports hernia he is not going to deal with until after the season.
“He’s a freak of nature, man.”
Dickerson agreed that Gainwell came in and made complimentary football the theme of the Eagles win with his play in the fourth quarter.
“I think Kenny did a phenomenal job,” the second-year starter said. “I think all our running back did. They come in, executed really well. They just did the job! That’s the biggest thing. Everybody’s got a job to do and if all eleven guys on the field do their job, usually you get a good result.” *
Email Al Thompson at al.thompson@footballstories.com