With the host Philadelphia Eagles resting key players on Sunday, the New York Giants will attempt to avoid finishing with the most losses in the franchise’s 100-year history.
The Giants (3-13) have never lost 14 games in a season, finishing 4-13 in 2021 and 3-13 in 2017. New York enters Week 18 tied with three other teams (New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns) for the worst record in the NFL.
Although it weakened their shot at the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Giants ended a team-record 10-game losing streak with last weekend’s 45-33 win against the Indianapolis Colts.
The Eagles (13-3), meanwhile, are locked into the No. 2 seed in the NFC and likely will rest 2,005-yard rusher Saquon Barkley and other starters for the playoffs.
“He’ll probably be somebody that rests,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni confirmed Wednesday.
Barkley is 101 yards shy of breaking Eric Dickerson’s NFL single-season record of 2,105 yards, set in 1984.
“Obviously it’s a very special record that’s been standing for a very long time by a great player. It’s a team record that everybody’s involved in. You weigh all those things,” Sirianni said. “But at the end of the day, you just try to do what’s best for the team.
“… We’ve put ourselves in a position to be in this situation … It wasn’t the easiest decision to go through, but we have great people in this building and had a lot of input from a lot of people, players included.”
New York coach Brian Daboll spoke to reporters just before Sirianni announced the plan to sit Barkley, who played his first six NFL seasons with the Giants (2018-23).
“We’ll just prepare like we normally do, in meetings and practice and get ready to play our game,” Daboll said.
“… I’d say they’ve got a good football team, and Saquon’s a good football player. Got a lot of wins, productive, good team.”
Much has changed since Philadelphia’s 28-3 win over the Giants at the MetLife Stadium in Week 7. Daniel Jones was still the Giants’ quarterback and was sacked seven times, finishing with 99 yards on 14-of-21 passing. Jalen Hurts threw a TD pass and rushed for two scores to lead the Eagles.
Jones is now on the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad, while Hurts remained in concussion protocol Wednesday. Drew Lock will make his fifth start under center for the Giants on Sunday.
Sirianni said Wednesday that no decision has been made on which quarterback will start against the Giants in light of Kenny Pickett’s rib injury. Tanner McKee or Ian Book could get the nod for the Eagles.
The Eagles, who limited the Giants’ offense to 119 total yards in Week 7, have won six of the last seven meetings between the NFC East rivals, including playoffs.
With a victory, Philadelphia would match the franchise record set in 2022, when the team finished 14-3 and lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII.
In addition to Hurts and Pickett, wide receivers A.J. Brown (knee, rest) and DeVonta Smith (wrist, rest) were listed as non-participants in Wednesday’s walk-through practice. The Eagles opened the 21-day practice window for tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) on Wednesday.
Linebacker Micah McFadden (neck), center John Michael Schmitz Jr. (ankle) and right tackle Evan Neal (rib, hip) did not practice Wednesday for the Giants. Defensive tackle Armon Watts is out following knee surgery.
–Field Level Media
