First Half Observations as Giants Lead Eagles 14-13

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LeSean McCoy scored a touchdown for the Eagles shortly after a big scrum.

- The Eagles really have no business being in this game at halftime, and yet they are.  After falling behind the Giants 14-0, the Eagles did something that nobody could have predicted.  They went to the run. At one point on the following drive, Andy Reid called 8 rushing plays in a row.  It was a 15-play, 77-yard drive that ended a bit disappointingly in a field goal, but it got the Eagles going a bit as they established the run and neutralized the Giants blitz to an extent.

- The huge scrum that broke out on the Giants sideline was a long time in the making.  You’ve got to think that lots of Twitter trash talk and a long offseason led to more trash talk this week and today, and soon things boiled over when the usually mild mannered Jeremy Maclin burst into a scrum on the Giants sideline.

- The scrum seemed to give the Eagles just the boost in intensity they needed, and the Giants lost their cool.  Antrel Rolle took a swing at Brent Celek after the next play, setting up LeSean McCoy’s 11-yard touchdown run in which he juked past none other than Rolle.

- Amazing job by the Eagles of rushing their kicking unit onto the field for that last second 38-yard attempt that Alex Henery nailed.  I don’t remember the Eagles ever doing that successfully in that little time under Andy Reid.

- Michael Vick seems a bit off, and one must wonder if there are lingering affects from his concussion or from some of the hits he took early.  The Eagles need to keep a close eye on that in the second half.

- Philadelphia should stick to the run, as it was working and LeSean McCoy is giving the Giants defense a lot of trouble.

- Defensively, the Eagles need to show more discipline against play action.  It was Casey Matthews who bit and gave up the huge touchdown to Jacobs down the sideline.

- The Eagles need to stop blitzing, or at least be less aggressive when they do.  It appeared to be a zero blitz that allowed Victor Cruz to break a tackle and go to the house.  The Eagles can get enough pressure with their front four, they don’t need to send seven pass rushers.

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