The Giants came out of the gate with the first punch Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field, cashing in on an opening drive that featured a pair of third-down conversions and ended with a 53-yard field goal from Dominic Zvada.
That put New York in front early, 3-0, while the Eagles tried to steady themselves in a game that already carried plenty of pressure. Philadelphia entered Week 9 at 2-6, still trying to halt a six-game losing streak, and the offense had to do it with a new face under center. Joe Milton was making his first NFL start after joining the Eagles just a few weeks ago, stepping in with Jalen Hurts out for the season and Tanner McKee benched this week.
On the other sideline, the Giants arrived at 4-2-1 and looking to keep building their edge in the NFC East standings. Their quarterback situation has changed too, with J.J.
McCarthy now in the mix after the team traded for him when Jaxson Dart suffered a season-ending injury. McCarthy, the Vikings’ 2024 first-round pick, cost New York only a fifth-round selection, a move Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio described as “a steal.”
This matchup also carries an unusual quarterback wrinkle: two former Michigan passers, Milton and McCarthy, facing off in an NFL game that neither team expected to be navigating this way in Week 9.
Philadelphia’s defense did answer after the Giants’ early march. Jordan Davis delivered a solid TFL on a run stop, and Zack Baun finished the drive with his first sack of the season. The Eagles still had work to do, but the first quarter opened with New York holding the lead and Philadelphia looking for a spark from Milton, without DeVonta Smith but with Saquon Barkley in the mix.
In Other News...
Eagles Make Another QB Change As Season Starts Slipping Away
With the season slipping further off course at 2-6, the Eagles are turning again to a new face under center for Week 9 against the Giants. Joe Mixon, signed from the Cowboys practice squad three weeks ago, has been named the starter, giving Philadelphia another reset as it tries to find some stability on offense after a rough stretch.
Mixon takes over for Tanner McKee, who was recently benched, and the move adds another layer to a quarterback situation that has changed quickly as the losses have piled up. Nick Sirianni said he believes Mixons athleticism can help lift the offense, and now the Eagles will see whether this latest switch can offer more than just another temporary fix. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Fans Need To See More Than Survival From Joe Milton III
Joe Milton III is about to get his first NFL start for the Eagles in Week 9 against the Giants, stepping in for Tanner McKee at a moment when the offense could use more than just a steady hand. For Philadelphia, this is less about surviving the assignment and more about what Milton can add to it. The arm talent has always been part of the appeal, but the chance in front of him calls for a fuller showing, one that gives the coaches a better read on what kind of backup quarterback he can be.
The expectations are pretty clear: show a willingness to push the ball downfield, bring something with his legs, and keep the football out of harms way. Those are the traits that can turn a one-off start into something more meaningful for a roster that values depth at quarterback, especially when injuries or lineup changes force the issue. If Milton can check those boxes, the Eagles may come away with more than just a placeholder performance. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles May Be Heading For A Deadline Selloff After This Loss
The latest loss to the Giants only sharpened the sense that the Eagles are at a crossroads, with their playoff path slipping further out of reach and the front office staring at a difficult decision. In that kind of season, Howie Roseman has never been shy about thinking ahead, and the looming trade deadline now looks like a chance to turn a disappointing year into a longer-term reset by collecting future draft capital.
Philadelphia has a handful of players who could draw calls from around the league, and the list speaks to how many moving parts this roster still has. Cornerback Riq Woolen, tight end Dallas Goedert, defensive tackle Moro Ojomo, offensive lineman Matt Dickerson and edge rusher Nolan Smith all sit in the conversation as Roseman weighs whether to keep patching holes or start reshaping the roster more aggressively before the deadline passes. [Read more 🡒]