It really doesn't get any better than this December night: Giants vs. Eagles, teams that can't stand each other, perfect NFC East bone-chilling weather and the Giants desperately trying to save their season again after the Cowboys generously administered life support last weekend.
What more could you want?
"This is what you live for," Justin Tuck said.
The Giants dialed up the emotion, reached down deep and found their pride against Dallas. They played with an attitude. Now they have to do it against the Eagles. It's the final weeks for Giants Stadium and the old joint will be jumping Sunday night.
"We know it's going to be a fistfight," David Diehl said. "They don't like us. We don't like them. They are right down the Turnpike. This is what this game is all about."
This already is the single-elimination playoff season for the Giants. If the season ended right now, they wouldn't make the postseason. But if the Cowboys lose to the Chargers at home Sunday afternoon and the Giants beat the Eagles, then the Giants will jump into first place in the NFC East. If they lose, they can forget about the NFC East title - they will be down two games and the tiebreakers to the Eagles with three games left - and then need help to make it as a wild-card.
Were the Giants one-weekend wonders with their performance against the Cowboys? Or are they now a dangerous team given a second chance that can get on a serious run?
Last week, Tom Coughlin entered the "family circle," as Michael Strahan used to call the players-only pregame gathering on the field, when he used to do his "Stomp them Out," routine. Brandon Jacobshas continued the tradition and last week Coughlin surprised his players by getting into the middle of the circle for the first time and delivering a fiery speech.
They want him to do it again.
Every little bit helps. The Eagles have beaten the Giants three times in the last 12 months. They beat them last December at Giants Stadium and came back and beat them in the playoffs in January, the first team ever to beat the Giants twice in the same season at Giants Stadium.
"This is what you live for," Justin Tuck said.
The Giants dialed up the emotion, reached down deep and found their pride against Dallas. They played with an attitude. Now they have to do it against the Eagles. It's the final weeks for Giants Stadium and the old joint will be jumping Sunday night.
"We know it's going to be a fistfight," David Diehl said. "They don't like us. We don't like them. They are right down the Turnpike. This is what this game is all about."
This already is the single-elimination playoff season for the Giants. If the season ended right now, they wouldn't make the postseason. But if the Cowboys lose to the Chargers at home Sunday afternoon and the Giants beat the Eagles, then the Giants will jump into first place in the NFC East. If they lose, they can forget about the NFC East title - they will be down two games and the tiebreakers to the Eagles with three games left - and then need help to make it as a wild-card.
Were the Giants one-weekend wonders with their performance against the Cowboys? Or are they now a dangerous team given a second chance that can get on a serious run?
Last week, Tom Coughlin entered the "family circle," as Michael Strahan used to call the players-only pregame gathering on the field, when he used to do his "Stomp them Out," routine. Brandon Jacobshas continued the tradition and last week Coughlin surprised his players by getting into the middle of the circle for the first time and delivering a fiery speech.
They want him to do it again.
Every little bit helps. The Eagles have beaten the Giants three times in the last 12 months. They beat them last December at Giants Stadium and came back and beat them in the playoffs in January, the first team ever to beat the Giants twice in the same season at Giants Stadium.
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