The Philadelphia Eagles know what they want for Christmas: a three-game winning streak to erase their current three-game losing streak.
If they accomplish that, including beating the NFC East rival New York Giants twice, they can still win the division and possibly secure the No. 1 overall seed in the conference.
That challenge for the Eagles (10-4) begins Christmas afternoon at home against the Giants (5-9), who haven’t won in Philadelphia since 2013. The Eagles have swept the last four meetings overall, including a 38-7 romp in last season’s divisional playoffs at Lincoln Financial Field.
After Philly hosts the Arizona Cardinals on New Year’s Eve, these teams will meet again in East Rutherford, N.J., in the Jan. 7 regular-season finale.
Even though his Eagles are 0-3 this December, scoring fewer than 20 points in all three setbacks, coach Nick Sirianni said there’s no reason to panic.
“When you change who you are or you change your core values based off of wins and losses, that’s when you’re going to lose the team and so it’s the exact same accountability regardless of the outcome,” Sirianni told reporters on Wednesday.
“That’s the only way you’re going to end up getting better. We’re in a little bit of a skid right now that I’m very confident we’re going to be able to get out of because of the people that we have in this building.”
The team has not lost confidence in quarterback Jalen Hurts, whose 12 interceptions are twice his 2022 total. Since the start of November, Hurts has more rushing touchdowns (eight) than passing scores (six).
Hurts (542 rushing yards) and D’Andre Swift (896 rushing yards, four TDs) will be facing a Giants defense that ranks 29th against the run, allowing 131.6 yards per game.
A New York offense led by undrafted rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito squares off against a leaky Eagles defense that is allowing 24.4 points (26th in the NFL) and 255.4 passing yards (28th) per game.
While Philadelphia’s losing streak continued with a 20-17 defeat at Seattle on Monday, DeVito and New York had a three-game winning streak snapped with Sunday’s 24-6 loss at New Orleans.
DeVito has played at Las Vegas, Dallas, Washington and New Orleans since replacing the injured Daniel Jones in Week 9, but he hasn’t experienced anything like the reception awaiting him in the City of Brotherly Love.
“I heard it’s a pretty hostile environment,” DeVito said on Wednesday. “I’m looking forward to it. I like to thrive in those environments.”
Asked if he enjoyed playing the role of villain, DeVito answered with his customary swagger.
“It’s fun,” he said. “It’s part of the game. I like a hostile crowd.”
The Giants are not going to be at full strength for the trip. Offensive tackle Evan Neal (ankle) and defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches (knee) were ruled out, and Neal was placed on injured reserve Sunday, ending his season. Running back Gary Brightwell (hamstring), tight end Lawrence Cager (groin) and defensive linemen Dexter Lawrence (hamstring) and A’Shawn Robinson (back) were listed as questionable.
The Giants also elevated kicker Mason Crosby from the practice squad. New York recently signed Crosby to serve as the team’s fourth kicker this season after Cade York suffered a quad injury and went on IR.
The Eagles won’t have Pro Bowl left guard Landon Dickerson following thumb surgery, but right guard Cam Jurgens (pectoral) was a full participant in practice and will play after missing Monday’s loss in Seattle.
Eagles linebacker Zach Cunningham (knee) and cornerbacks Darius Slay (knee) and Avonte Maddox (pectoral) were ruled out. Linebacker Nicholas Morrow (abdomen) is questionable.
