Eagles dominate Giants in first half leading to victory, advance to NFC Championship
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) is sacked by Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham (55) during the second half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, in Philadelphia. Eagles' Milton Williams (93) tries to help on the play as Giants' Ben Bredeson (68) and Jon Feliciano (76) look on. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Five years ago Saturday, the Eagles beat the Minnesota Vikings 38-7 to advance to Super Bowl 52.
Five years later, the Eagles posted the same exact score.
The Eagles jumped out to an early lead and dominated the Giants for a convincing victory at home on Saturday night to advance to the NFC Championship Game, where they will host the 49ers or the Cowboys next Sunday.
Under the postseason lights at Lincoln Financial Field, the Eagles unleashed an offense organized to crush the Giants. Hurts was so impressive early with his arm and the offensive line opened big holes for Miles Sanders and Kenny Gainwell as the Eagles finished with 268 yards on the ground.
Hurts finished 16-of-24 for 154 yards. He showed he was fine when he aired out a pass on the second play of the game and hit DeVonta Smith in stride for a 40-yard reception.
Hurts was a huge question mark going into Saturday after getting two weeks off to rest his injured right shoulder, and looking a little shakey in Week 18. He erased all of that doubt early as he was flawless on the opening drive, completing passes of 9 yards, 5 yards, and then a 16-yard TD pass on a one-handed grab by tight end Dallas Goedert.
The Eagles got up 14-0 in the first quarter and the Giants. New York turned the ball over on downs on its first possession, and Daniel Jones was intercepted by James Bradberry on its second. The Giants were raddled from the beginning
Hurts’ shoulder may not have been 100%, but his passing was.
He went 7-of-7 for 89 yards in the first quarter.
Imagine if he was 100%. Whew.
There were lots of doubts about the Eagles being able to defeat the Giants three times this season. That was proved very wrong.
More to add, Boston Scott scored his 11th touchdown against the Giants for a 21-0 lead. He has only 19 TDs in his career. The “Giant killer” continued his roll.
Hurts wrapped the half with a 5-yard touchdown run for a 28-0 lead, which is how the first half ended. There have been only four more lopsided first-half playoff shutouts in NFL history. The Giants were so discombobulated from the start. They played nothing like how they did a week ago when they beat the Minnesota Vikings 31-24 in the Wild Card round.
Daniel Jones was nowhere close to how he was a week ago. The Eagles’ defense was too much for him. Jones was sacked five times and was picked off by former Giant James Bradberry.
Haason Reddick was all over Jones Saturday. Reddick exploded onto the scene in the first quarter of Saturday night and was a menace all night long. Poor Daniel may see Reddick in his nightmares tonight.
People were really concerned about this Giants team? Come on.
