The Eagles–Giants rivalry involves the National Football League teams the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants. The rivalry dates back to 1933. However, the competition began to heat up when both teams came to relative prominence in the 1940s and 1950s. The rivalry is mainly based on the two teams being in the same division in the NFL since 1933 and the geographic New York-Philadelphia rivalry. It is ranked by Sports Illustrated as amongst the top ten NFL rivalries of all-time at #4.[3] However, the geographic rivalry between the Eagles and Giants is well known in football circles, meriting mention on ESPN.com.[4]
The following is a list of results from all of the meetings between the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants from their first meeting on October 15, 1933 to the present:
The Giants/Eagles rivalry is the oldest of the NFC East rivalries, dating all the way back to 1933 and has been the best rivalry in the NFL in the 21st century.[5][6]
Ernie Accorsi, general manager of the Giants from 1998 until his retirement after the 2006 season, saw his first NFL game between the teams back in 1951 in his native Hershey, Pa., and grew up as an Eagles fan.[5]
In a 1960 game, the Eagles' Chuck Bednarik cleanly blindsided Giants running back Frank Gifford, sending Gifford into an 18-month retirement due to a severe concussion.[5]
On November 19, 1978 at Giants Stadium, the Giants were leading the Eagles 17-12 with 20 seconds remaining. Offenseive coordinator Bob Gibson called for a running play when all that was needed was for the Giants to take a knee. The handoff between quarterback Joe Pisarcik and Larry Csonka was fumbled and Eagles cornerback Herman Edwards grabbed the loose ball and returned it for the winning score. This play is commonly referred to as The Miracle at the Meadowlands by Eagles fans and just "The Fumble" by Giants fans.
On January 7, 2001 in a divisional playoff game, the Giants defeated the Eagles 20-10 thanks to Ron Dixon's 97-yard kickoff return and Jason Sehorn's acrobatic 32-yard interception return. This win would help propel the Giants to Super Bowl XXXV which they ultimately lost to the Baltimore Ravens 34-7.
In the two teams' first meeting of the 2006 season, Philadelphia held a 17-point lead going into the fourth quarter. However, the Giants rallied to tie the game, and go into overtime. In overtime, Giants quarterback Eli Manning threw a game winning touchdown pass to WR Plaxico Burress, and the Giants won 30-24. In the second meeting, the Eagles behind quarterback Jeff Garcia (who had replaced Donovan McNabb due to injury to McNabb a few weeks earlier) would get some payback in a 36-22 victory, which was capped with DE Trent Cole intercepting a pass from Manning (who was getting hit and he ended up throwing the ball up in the air) and returning it for a touchdown. They would meet for a third time in the 2006-2007 playoffs, where the Giants rallied to tie the game at 20 in a late fourth quarter drive; the Eagles then executed a textbook late-game rush-oriented drive and won on a game-ending field goal, 23-20.
The two teams split their 2008 meetings. The Giants rallied to edge the Eagles in Philly 36-31, then the Eagles stymied New York's offense en route to a 20-14 win at Giants Stadium. They met again on January 11, 2009 in the 2008 NFC Divisional Playoffs at Giants Stadium, the fourth career playoff matchup between the two as #6 seed Philadelphia Eagles defeated the top-seeded New York Giants 23-11, leaving the series tied 2-2 in the playoffs; it was also the 11th time in the 2000s that the road team won.
On December 19, 2010, the Giants led the Eagles 31-10 with 7:28 left in the first game between the teams at New Meadowlands Stadium where first place in the NFC East was on the line. But the Eagles would rally to tie the score, then win the game on DeSean Jackson's 65 yard punt return for a touchdown with no time left on the clock for a shocking 38-31 victory.[7] The Elias Sports Bureau also believes that this is the first walk-off punt return in NFL history.[8] The Giants went on to miss the playoffs, despite finishing tied for first with the Eagles at 10-6,[9] as the Eagles lost their last two games.[10]
Rivalry outside football
The 2009 film Big Fan depicts a Giants fan (Patton Oswalt) and his bitter rivalry with an Eagles fan (Michael Rappaport).
↑ 5.05.15.2Brookover, Bob (September 17, 2006). "The Birds' Biggest Rival—In a division of fierce foes, the Giants have battled the Eagles as tough as anyone". Philadelphia Inquirer: p. D1.
↑Brookover, Bob (November 6, 2008). "Eagles—Giants among top rivalries". Philadelphia Inquirer: p. D6.
↑McLane, Jeff (December 20, 2010). "MIRACLE AT THE NEW MEADOWLANDS—Comeback, runback give Birds their East edge back". Philadelphia Inquirer: p. D1.
