PHILADELPHIA -- The Eagles’ playoff hopes could be dashed by the return of Giants quarterback Eli Manning on Monday Night Football.
With Daniel Jones (ankle) sidelined, Manning is likely to return to the lineup. After spending three months on the sideline, Manning will look to make the most of his opportunity and play spoiler to his longtime division rivals.
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The Eagles need to win four straight NFC East matchups, including two games against the Giants, to win the NFC East division title and make the playoffs. The Giants will look to serve as a major roadblock in the Eagles’ playoff quest.
Will the Giants ruin the Eagles’ postseason plans? Here’s what our writers had to say:
Mike Kaye: Eagles reporter, NJ Advance Media
This one is tougher to pick than originally thought. While the Eagles are clearly the better team on paper, both squads are middling at best. If the Eagles’ defense plays as it did against the Dolphins, the Birds will lay another putrid egg at The Linc. If they can right the ship in prime time, they’ll keep their playoff hopes alive. While it’s hard to pick in favor of the Eagles these days, it’s just as hard to see Pat Shurmur beating Doug Pederson with Eli Manning under center. The Giants have lost five straight against Philadelphia.
PICK: Eagles 23, Giants 19
Zack Rosenblatt: Eagles reporter, NJ Advance Media
The Eagles had perhaps the most embarrassing loss in the NFL last week and they no longer deserve the benefit of the doubt. The Giants are very bad, especially on the offensive line and in the secondary, but they have a few talented weapons on offense that could give the Eagles’ inconsistent defense trouble. If Saquon Barkley can return the form he showed in dominating the Eagles last year, they have a real shot to pull the upset and snap a long losing streak. For the Eagles, Carson Wentz needs to start looking like the franchise quarterback they’re paying him to be. If he can’t dominate this defense, even with inconsistent weapons, he can’t dominate any defense.
PICK: Giants 28, Eagles 24
Matt Lombardo: Giants Reporter, NJ Advance Media
The NFL is a talent and coaching driven league. The Eagles have the advantage in both critical departments. Philadelphia also has much more to play for. The Giants will likely turn to Eli Manning to make his first start since being benched after losing the first two games of the season, and enter Lincoln Financial looking to avoid tying the franchise’s longest single-season losing streak. That won’t happen.
PICK: Eagles 31, Giants 16
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Matt Stypulkoski: Jets Reporter, NJ Advance Media
Stunningly, the Eagles are only one game back in the NFC East, despite being one game under .500. The fact that they’re still in this race, against the odds, should add some spark. They can’t possibly lose two in a row to two of the NFL’s worst teams, can they?
PICK: Eagles 24, Giants 21
Darryl Slater: NFL Reporter, NJ Advance Media
Will the Giants lose their ninth straight game and tie the longest losing streak in franchise history? Yes. And if they make it 10 in a row at home against the Dolphins in Week 15, Pat Shurmur won’t get a chance to coach the final two games. He shouldn’t, at least, if that does happen. He is already 7-21 in a season-plus with the Giants. Then again, he could get fired after Monday night, depending on how badly the Giants lose. And we think it could get ugly for them in Philadelphia.
PICK: Eagles 42, Giants 20
Joe Giglio: Sportswriter, NJ Advance Media
After losing to the Dolphins, all trust and faith anyone had in the 2019 Eagles should be washed away. This team went from trendy Super Bowl pick to poor very quickly. The silver lining? The Giants are so bad, give up so many big plays and have so many structural issues that Philadelphia will coast to a win on Monday night, keeping faint playoff hopes alive.
PICK: Eagles 30, Giants 20
Mike Kaye may be reached at mkaye@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Mike_E_Kaye. Find NJ.com on Facebook.