it's not surprising the New York Giants are losing.

[huangjian123]

After turning over half their roster http://www.newenglandpatriotsteamonline.com/phillip-dorsett-jersey , The defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles are another story. They were expected to make a run at being the first team to repeat since the New England Patriots won title games after the 2003 and 2004 seasons.The Eagles (2-3) head into Thursday night's game at MetLife Stadium against the Giants (1-4), looking to avoid their first three-game losing streak since the 2016 season. A fourth loss would be more than they had last season.While some might point to a Super Bowl hangover, it's also a combination of having a target on their backs, injuries and bad play."We know we're going to get everybody's best and we've seen it already this season," Eagles coach Doug Pederson said."I've addressed the team that way. It doesn't mean we have to; it's not about panic mode or anything in that nature, it's just a heightened sense of urgency. The mistakes we're making are self-inflicted and it's keeping us from possibly winning a game or two here or there, and we understand that."So do the Giants. They have not played horribly in coach Pat Shurmur's first season. They are not making enough plays, and too many mistakes.Odell Beckham Jr., who caught a touchdown and threw another in the Giants' 33-31 loss to Carolina last weekend, is glad this is a short week and the Eagles are the opponent in the weak NFC East where no team has a winning record."Defending Super Bowl champs coming in here, Thursday night game, but right now the focus is more on this just one game, and not putting so much pressure on what it could do for us," Beckham said. "But this is a game that we need to win against a division rival."The Eagles have won the past three against New York and seven of eight.Beckham doesn't care."There's always a team each and every year where everything is right for them," Beckham said of the Eagles."Even watching them last year, there was third downs, third-and-7s — they got all of them. It's just the little stuff that was going on for them all year that was happening that allowed them to win each and every game. I don't know if I've seen that in the past games."Here are a couple of things to watch:STOPPING ERTZEagles tight end Zach Ertz has at least 10 catches and 100 receiving yards in each of his past two games. He is looking to become the fifth player in league history to record three consecutive 10-catch, 100-yard games. The Giants have the league's eighth-best pass defense, and that's with only six sacks this season. New York safety Landon Collins also does a good job in slowing down opposing tight ends. Expect to see him go against Ertz.SCOUTING SAQUONEagles defensive end Michael Bennett compared Saquon Barkley to a combination of Marshawn Lynch, LeSean McCoy and Jamaal Charles. Linebacker Jordan Hicks said the defense has to make sure it's aware of Barkley on every snap. Philadelphia had the NFL's best run defense last season and opponents are averaging 66.4 yards this year Authentic Stephon Gilmore Jersey , with 42.4 yards by running backs."He's a dynamic player," Hicks said. "He's used in many ways, he's a strong, physical runner and can make every cut. We have to contain him."STERLING EFFORTGiants wide receiver Sterling Shepard has played against the Eagles four times and caught a touchdown in every game. He had two big games last season, catching a total of 18 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns. Shepard might have something to prove this week. He ran the wrong route Sunday and it led to an interception. The third-year pro took out his frustration on a bench and a garbage can. "I really wanted to win that game. That's the bottom line. I felt it kind of slipping away right there."WHERE'S THE RUSH?The Eagles only have 12 sacks this season and the inability of the front four to bring down quarterbacks has hurt because coordinator Jim Schwartz doesn't like to blitz and relies on the linemen to get sacks. As a result, the pass defense has suffered. Eli Manning gets the ball out quickly, but he's been sacked 16 times this season."We can rush better, we can get to the quarterback more," three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Fletcher Cox said. "The defensive line drives this team. We have to do better."KICKING GAMEJake Elliott of the Eagles has made seven straight field goals. He also beat the Giants with a 61-yarder last season. Coincidently, Graham Gano beat New York with a 63-yarder last weekend. Aldrick Rosas of the Giants has been perfect this season making all 11 of his field goals and seven extra points. He has an injured quad and his status is uncertain. Marshall Koehn, who was in training camp, was signed to the practice squad Tuesday. He has kicked in one NFL regular-season game.AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi contributed to this story. While the New England Patriots defense has had some obvious struggles against the pass so far this season, a few bright spots exist nevertheless. Take defensive edge Trey Flowers, who is arguably the Patriots’ best front-seven player this season and who has a regular impact on the opposing offense not just versus the aerial attack but against the ground game as well. Meanwhile, the defensive backfield also includes standout performers.The most prominent of them is, of course, cornerback Stephon Gilmore. The high-priced 2017 free agency addition is in the midst of a Pro Bowl-worthy season and is stating his case as not just New England’s best defender, but one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL this season. Playing 97.9% of defensive snaps over the Patriots’ first seven games, Gilmore has been productive no matter the wide receiver lined up against him.The numbers reflect his dominance. According to The Athletic’s Jeff Howe, opposing quarterbacks have attempted a combined 37 passes against the 28-year old this season. Of the throws in his direction http://www.newenglandpatriotsteamonline.com/elandon-roberts-jersey , only 13 have found their target – resulting in a team-best 31.7% completion rate. Overall, Gilmore has given up just 124 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in seven games for a quarterback rating of 52.1.The former Buffalo Bills first-round draft pick, who also leads the Patriots with nine pass breakups, is living up to his price tag (one that was slightly altered last week) and able to build on an already very good 2017 campaign. But as outstanding as Gilmore has been so far this season – especially when considering his role in New England’s defense – he is not the only cornerback to impress. Enter Jonathan Jones.Playing primarily from the slot, the 2016 undrafted free agent has been able to carve out a valuable role in New England’s defense. Despite coming off a season-ending ankle injury suffered in the divisional playoff round last season, Jones has appeared in all seven of this year’s games and been on the field for 68.9% of the Patriots’ snaps – all while playing 51.4% of the team’s kicking game snaps as well.As is the case with Gilmore, Jones passes the eye test with flying colors: he is a reliable presence as the team’s nickel cornerback, and has displayed the agility and football I.Q. to match up with slot receivers in one-on-one man coverage. Naturally, one has to wonder how his availability would have impacted last year’s Super Bowl – but as Bill Belichick regularly likes to remind us all: last year is last year, this year is all that matters.And in 2018, Jones has been a productive member of the Patriots’ defense as a look at the stat sheet shows. Overall, the 25-year old has been targeted 32 times this season but has given up just 16 receptions (50.0%) for 214 yards, two touchdowns and two picks. His opposing passer rating of 66.4 is the second best among New England’s defensive backs and equivalent of facing the Arizona Cardinals’ Josh Rosen each week.Jones might not be a household name like fellow former undrafted cornerback Malcolm Butler, but he is filling an important role for a New England defense that is still searching for consistency. Like Gilmore, the Auburn product is already providing just that and should help the secondary – a unit that has had its fare share of ups and downs this season as well – further find its groove as the season progresses.And at a price tag of just $633,334, Jones – a restricted free agent next offseason – can also be considered one of the biggest bargains on the team’s pay roll and a serious extension candidate further down the line.
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