In the immortal words of Forrest Gump, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”
The character, played by Tom Hanks, could have been directly referring to the New York Giants. The Giants’ aim to affirm that they are indeed an unmistakable playoff contender was undermined at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia Monday night.
Demonstrating above all else that they are self-destructively inconsistent, the Giants labored through nearly four full quarters of miscues and faulty execution in a messy 27-7 loss to the Eagles in a game that held weighty implications in a tight battle for control of the NFC East division.
“It’s disappointing. I thought we came out ready to play,” said Giants quarterback Eli Manning. “We just got outplayed.”
The Giants, who entered the game in first place, tripped to 3-3 and theoretically trail the 3-3 Eagles based on the head-to-head defeat. Both teams are 1-2 in the division.
“Every game you lose is a missed opportunity,” said Manning. “We just have to overcome it. We have to get ready for Dallas. It’s another game in the division, a big game at home, so we have to figure out a way to get a win.”
The Giants will host the 2-3 Dallas Cowboys, another NFC East opponent, this Sunday at 4:25 p.m. at MetLife Stadium, while the Eagles will face the undefeated (5-0) Carolina Panthers on the road.
After what appeared to be a tone-setting, eight-play 80-yard touchdown drive in the game’s opening offensive possession encompassing four minutes and 37 seconds, ending with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Manning to wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., the Giants went scoreless for the remainder of the evening.
Two Manning interceptions and a fumble lost by running back Rashad Jennings, in addition to 12 penalties for 92 yards charged to the Giants, encapsulated the sloppy setback.
