NFL Week 17 odds: Philadelphia at NY Giants

The defending Super Bowl champion Giants can still qualify for the postseason but will also need help to get in. New York needs a win against Philadelphia and losses by Dallas, Minnesota and Chicago.

The Eagles (4-11) lost again last week, 27-20 to Washington in what could’ve been Andy Reid’s last game coaching the team at home. Reid is unlikely to return to Philadelphia for his 15th season next year. Nick Foles was sacked or under duress on 19 of his 56 dropbacks (33.9 percent) vs. Washington, including pressure on the last play of the game. This continued a bad trend for the Eagles offensive line as Eagles’ quarterbacks have been sacked or under duress on 29.7 percent of their dropbacks this season, the highest percentage in the league. Foles was injured and won’t play in this game – Michael Vick will start in what is likely his final game in Philly. The Eagles went 1-5 with the 23-year-old Foles as the starter and 3-6 in Vick’s nine starts. Vick, in his fourth season with Philadelphia, completed 58.5 percent of his passes for 2,165 yards with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions before his concussion.

New York lost 33-14 to Baltimore in Week 16. Eli Manning threw for 150 yards and a touchdown on 14-of-28 efficiency for New York (8-7), which dropped its second consecutive contest to fall a game behind the Vikings for the NFC’s final playoff spot. Ahmad Bradshaw returned from a knee injury that kept him out of the previous week’s game, but totaled just 39 yards on nine carries as the Giants offense was held to a paltry 186 yards.

New York’s defensive line has vastly underperformed this year, but it still has a massive advantage over the Eagles’ ravaged offensive line when Philadelphia chooses to pass. However, the Giants didn’t get to Baltimore’s Joe Flacco once in Week 16. The Eagles’ Vick is obviously a tremendous athlete with rare elusiveness, but he also holds the ball a very long time and his blockers have a time knowing where he is behind them.

Opposing running backs have been putting up huge numbers against the Giants, and two of them rushed for more than 100 yards against the Giants last week. Led by LeSean McCoy’s 123 rushing yards, the Eagles racked up 191 yards on the ground against the Giants in Week 4, a 19-17 Philly win. McCoy returned to action last week but managed only 45 rushing yards. He was huge in the passing game, though, catching nine passes for 77 yards. Once Eagles rookie Bryce Brown gets going downhill, he is extremely effective. But as a runner, he is raw and must realize that every run is not going to be a big play in the NFL. And his ball security is awful. The Eagles’ offensive line receives a lot of criticism, but this is an above-average run-blocking group. Philadelphia will employ a large number of screens, which are safe throws that could help slow New York’s rush, and McCoy and Brown are both accomplished in this area.

WAGERWEB.COM OPENING ODDS: Giants -7 (45.5) Check our current lines.

EAGLES NOTES: : QB MICHAEL VICK has won 3 of past 4 starts vs. NYG. In last start at NYG (12/19/10), had 3 TD passes & rushed for 130 yards & TD … RB LESEAN MC COY aims for 4th in row vs. NYG with 100+ rush yards. In past 3 meetings, has 364 rushing yards (121.3 per game). RB DION LEWIS had 17-yard TD run last week … WR JEREMY MACLIN has 21 catches for 293 yards (97.7 per game) & 2 TDs in past 3. Has 254 rec., most by Eagle in 1st 4 seasons. Had 2 TDs in last game at NYG. TE BRENT CELEK has 50+ rec. yards in 3 of past 4 meetings. Had 65-yard TD in 12/19/10 meeting. Rookie WR-PR DAMARIS JOHNSON has 287 PR yards, 2nd most by Phi. rookie (DESEAN JACKSON, 440, 2008) … DT FLETCHER COX leads rookie DTs with 5.5 sacks. S COLT ANDERSON had 1st career INT last week. DE TRENT COLE has 3 2-sack games vs. NYG. LB DE MECO RYANS leads team with 111 tackles.

GIANTS NOTES: QB ELI MANNING has 3,740 pass yards & needs 260 to reach 4,000 for 4th consecutive season. In past 4 meetings, has 11 TDs, 3 INTs & 101.5 rating … RB AHMAD BRADSHAW has 5 TDs (4 rush, 1 rec.) in past 7 division games. Has 908 rush yards & needs 92 for 2nd 1,000-yard season. Rookie RB-KR DAVID WILSON is 2nd in NFC with 26.9 KR avg. Had rush TD last week … WR VICTOR CRUZ aims for 4th in row vs. Phi. with 100+ rec. yards & TD. In 3 meetings, has 18 catches for 347 yards (115.7 per game) & 4 TDs. Has 82 rec. for 1,040 yards & 9 TDs, his 2nd consecutive season with 80+ rec., 1,000+ yards & 9+ TDs. No other Giant has had 1 such season. WR HAKEEM NICKS has 13 catches for 242 yards (80.7 per game) & 2 TDs in past 3 at home vs. Phi. WR DOMENIK HIXON had 6 catches for 114 yards in last meeting. Had TD last week … DE JASON PIERRE-PAUL has 3 sacks in past 3 vs. Phi. Has 27.5 career sacks & needs 2.5 to reach 30. S STEVIE BROWN leads NFL with 259 INT yards, most by Giant in single season all-time. Ties for 2nd in NFL with career-high 7 INTs. DE OSI UMENYIORA had franchise-record 6 sacks in 9/30/07 meeting.

WAGERWEB.COM TRENDS: Eagles are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 meetings in New York. Eagles are 7-1-1 ATS in their last 9 meetings. Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings. Under is 11-4 in the last 15 meetings in New York. Underdog is 13-2-1 ATS in their last 16 meetings. Road team is 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 meetings.