The Eagles didn’t exactly get off to a hot start against the Giants. The touchdown allowed on the first drive was the first time that the Giants had scored on an opening drive all year. Forced into a shootout from the moment the game began, Nick Foles pushed his offense to a victory, but that may have never been the case if not for a dominant special teams performance.
Philadelphia tallied a total of three blocks on special teams this weekend, becoming the first team to block a PAT, FG and a punt in the same game since the Buffalo Bills accomplished did the same against the Patriots in 1991. This level of excellence should come as no surprise for the Eagles however, who have consistently graded out as one of the finest special teams units in the league since the arrival of coordinator Dave Fipp.
The special teams unit wasn’t just dominant, it produced when the team needed a spark. The Giants may have scored on the opening drive of the game, but their PAT attempt was blocked by rookie defensive end Derek Barnett. The Tennessee standout now has two blocked kicks on the season. This gave Nick Foles and the offense to eek out to a narrow lead after both offenses stepped onto the field.
One quarter later, the man leading the NFC in special teams votes, Kamu Grugier-Hill, produced his first ever blocked punt. Recovered by another standout in Corey Clement, this set up tremendous field position for the Eagles offense to plunge a dagger into the heart of the Giants and that’s exactly what Nick Foles and the offense went on to do.
To put the icing on the cake, Malcolm Jenkins blocked an Aldrick Rosas 48-yard field goal attempt in the fourth quarter, preserving the Eagles narrow 31-29 lead. Just as the Giants aimed to take a lead or push the Eagles back against the wall, it was the special teams unit that came up in the clutch to make a play.
Jake Elliott was money from every situation, converting two field goals and nailing all four extra points. In terms of keeping the Giants silenced on returns, the Eagles allowed one punt return all game, for a total of seven yards and a longest kick return of 24-yards. Tackling has been a strong point for this unit all season…and they need to look no further than the former Patriots linebacker who blocked a punt to see why.
“KGH” ranks sixth in the NFL when it comes to tackles on special teams with a total of 12, leading the Eagles. Najee Goode ranks 60th with 7, while Malcolm Jenkins and Corey Clement both have 6 and sit tied for 85th.
This was a complete showing from the Eagles special teams unit and it could not have come at a better time. The Eagles defense was limping. Struggling to contain the New York Giants, Eli Manning passed for the most yards in a single game since he played the Eagles in December of 2014. The Defense allowed a whopping 29 points against one of the league’s most stale offenses and if it wasn’t for two advantageous plays that granted the offense perfect field position to punch in a touchdown, this game may have gone in a very different direction.
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