Eagles vs. Giants predictions: Can Eagles carve up 'Tommy Cutlets' in NFL Christmas game?
PHILADELPHIA − When the season started, this Christmas Day game had all the makings of a must-see, late-season showdown.
After all, the Eagles made it to the Super Bowl last season, and the upstart Giants were coming off their first playoff appearance in seven years, with Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley back to lead the offense.
This is still a must-see game, but for trainwreck type of reasons.
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The Eagles have lost three straight since their 10-1 start, failing to reach the 20-point mark in any of them. They switched defensive coordinators suddenly last week, and that didn't go well either as Seahawks backup quarterback Drew Lock led a 92-yard drive for the game-winning touchdown with 28 seconds left.
The Giants, meanwhile, have been a trainwreck ever since the season started, beginning with their 40-0 loss to the Cowboys. Jones, of course, tore his ACL, eventually leading to the emergence of quarterback Tommy DeVito, the local North Jersey resident living at home with his parents, who was signed off the practice squad.
It was a great story as the Giants won three straight before losing last Sunday in New Orleans.
Can "Tommy Cutlets" become the latest quarterback to carve up the Eagles? Or will the Eagles stop their three-game losing streak and get back on a Super Bowl track?
Here's how we see the game:
Our prognosticators are Martin Frank (Eagles beat writer/columnist, Delawareonline.com), Greg Giesen (sports strategist, Delawareonline.com), Tom McGurk (sports editor, Courierpostonline.com), Tom Moore (sports columnist, Phillyburbs.com), Bob Jordan (Sports editor, app.com), Bert Bainbridge (Sports betting analyst & columnist, Northjersey.com), Tom Haines (Pennsylvania state planning), Brad Myers (high school sports writer, Delawareonline.com), Melissa Hanejko (High School Sports Content & Social Media, Phillyburbs.com), Kevin Tresolini, (college sports reporter, Delawareonline.com), Michelle Ganassi (audience director & die-hard Steelers fan, Delawareonline.com).
Martin Frank
The Eagles have to hope that Jalen Hurts has overcome what's ailing him, both with his illness and his play the last three weeks. Let's just say this is a must win for the Eagles' psyche, and they'll find a way. Barely.
The pick: Eagles 26, Giants 22
Tom Moore
The Eagles shouldn't lose to the 5-9 Giants to extend their skid to four games.
The pick: Eagles 27, Giants 17
Kevin Tresolini
The Eagles should be far less prone to the troubles that have undermined them lately against the sad-sack Giants.
The pick: Eagles 31, Giants 17
Tom McGurk
A loss to Tommy DeVito? On Christmas Day? Oooh, fuhgeddaboudit. Birds take care of business and everything will be right in the Delaware Valley again.The pick: Eagles 30, Giants 19
Bob Jordan
Finally, a game an NFC East team can win. At first glance, this is a nice Christmas gift for the wobbling Eagles. But beware of Tommy DeVito getting back to his best cutlet-level form (that is, if he can squeeze the game into his busy appearance schedule).
The pick: Eagles 17, Giants 10
Bert Bainbridge
The Giants will need a Christmas miracle if they're to beat the Eagles at the Linc for the first time in over a decade. The Birds have shown their vulnerability on both sides of the ball during this three-game losing streak. However, it comes to an end on Christmas Day with yet another beatdown as they beat the G-Men by 20-plus points for the fourth time in the last five meetings.
The pick: Eagles 31, Giants 10
Tom Haines
This looks like the week the Birds' offense will be able to post over 20 points. Unfortunately, they are still carting out the same inept defense, which will make this one a lot closer than it should be.
The pick: Eagles 27, Giants 23
Greg Giesen
Will the Eagles give their fans a lump of coal on Christmas? Are the Eagles on the naughty list after the last three game? It's tough to say. All I know is that at this point, a win against the Giants isn't even a guarantee,
The pick: Eagles 24, Giants 21
Michelle Ganassi
The Italian in me loves the DeVito story. And in some games he is playing well. But he is coming to Philly with a team that needs to put up a W. The Eagles will look dominant against the Giants.
The pick: Eagles 34, Giants 13
Brad Myers
Eagles should be able to move much faster now that their bandwagon is completely empty. It’s time to tenderize Tommy Cutlets.
The pick: Eagles 27, Giants 17
Melissa Hanejko
If there's one thing my Italian relatives taught me, it's to never go against the family. But if there's one thing that I learned from my Philadelphia area family, it's that you never pick against the Eagles at home in a rivalry. So, apologies to Tommy DeVito, but I have to (reluctantly) go with Birds over Cutlets.
The pick: Eagles 23, Giants 19
Overall records
11-3: Hanejko, Bainbridge
10-4: Moore, Tresolini, Haines, McGurk
9-5: Frank, Myers
8-4: Ganassi
8-6: Jordan
7-7: Giesen
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Eagles vs. Giants predictions: Our expert picks on Christmas Day game
