On Pattison Picks: Will Eagles dart to victory in New Jersey?

The 2025 New York Giants are not good.

Sunday, they dropped a game to the New Orleans Saints, who entered the matchup 0-4. The Giants themselves are currently 1-4. Five weeks into the 2025 NFL season, the organization is likely already looking ahead to the 2026 NFL season.

That said, the 2025 Philadelphia Eagles didn't look all that great last week either. A fourth-quarter collapse and a Denver Broncos comeback led to the Birds' first loss of the season. 

Overall, the 4-1 Eagles are a much better team than the 1-4 Giants. FanDuel Sportsbook currently has the Birds listed as 7.5-point favorites. But in the NFC East, anything can happen. Here's how our On Pattison staffers think Thursday's game will go:

Tim Kelly (3-2)

Score: Eagles 26 - Giants 17

Game MVP: Saquon Barkley

It's hard to be excited about the Eagles offense right now, but just based off of sheer talent, they should be able to beat the Giants.

Jaxson Dart has had some impressive moments so far, but the Giants are still a bad team overall, so much so that they fell to the lowly Saints just four days ago.

For all the talk about the passing game, the Eagles also need to get Barkley going again. Expect a big game for the reigning Offensive Player of the Year against his former team.

Anthony SanFilippo (2-3)

Score: Eagles 33 - Giants 13

Game MVP: The NFL schedule-makers

After losing for the first time all season, and winning ugly a couple times, there is no better salve than getting to play the woeful New York Giants twice in three weeks.

But one thing I won't do is call this a "get-right" game. That's because it's not. You don't "get-right" often against a bad team. Frankly, it's usually the opposite. Even if you win games against bad teams, that's when bad habits start to fester. You get away with them against bad teams. You also can get overconfident in the way you play against a bad team thinking it'll bring success against better teams and then often it doesn't. Instead, the Eagles will just take advantage of a bad opponent. Vic Fangio's defensive scheme will confuse Jaxson Dart, who is making just his third start – and without either of his top two receiving targets. 

That's how the Eagles win this game.

Certain guys may have big games that haven't put up numbers so far – I'm thinking it's the first 100+ yard game for Saquon Barkley – but this game is going to be all about the Eagles defense shutting down an inexperienced Giants offense.

And as for getting right? That's what the bye is for. That's when the Eagles will get right. Not on Thursday Night Football against the lowly Giants.

Grace Del Pizzo (2-3)

Score: Eagles 35 - Giants 20

Game MVP: Saquon Barkley

I don't think this is the game the Eagles' passing offense magically fixes itself. But I do think this is the game Saquon Barkley finally breaks 100 yards. Although the Eagles offensive line is banged up, Barkley is due for a signature performance, and the emotions of playing against his former team will help him put on a show.

The Eagles defensive backs will feast, too. The Giants' young offense is currently headed by two rookies. Jaxson Dart is very good, but he's also very green. During Sunday's loss to the New Orleans Saints, there was a stretch where the Giants turned the ball over on five (!) consecutive possessions. The Eagles defense has quite a few ballhawks, so I expect the Birds to handily win the turnover battle.

On a personal note, I'm excited to watch Giants rookie running back (and fellow Arizona State alum) Cam Skattebo, whose praises I've been singing since Sept. 2023:

I would like Cam Skattebo on the Eagles TOMORROW

— Grace Del Pizzo (@GraceDelPizzo) September 24, 2023

No matter what team you root for, Skattebo is incredibly fun to watch. The best way I can describe his style of play is "human bowling ball." He bounces off defenders and improbably stays on his feet. He defies logic. Skattebo vs. the Eagles' middle-of-the-pack run defense could be an interesting battle to watch.