PHILADELPHIA — If only the Giants could treat this game as an extension of the one they started just 17 days ago — essentially the fifth quarter of that contest, only at a different venue. If that were the case, the Giants would be leading 34-17, brimming with confidence, while the Eagles would still be trying to figure out what happened to their running game and their usual physical dominance over the Giants along the line of scrimmage.
But that’s not the reality.
These teams first met on October 9 at MetLife Stadium, where the Giants exorcised many demons with a rousing victory. After that, the season moved forward with both sides facing very different outcomes.
Now, the Giants and Eagles meet again—this time at Lincoln Financial Field—for a rare rematch so soon after their first encounter.
“Outside looking in, it’s, ‘Oh, we just played them and all this,’ and it feels like that as a player,” Giants tight end Daniel Bellinger told The Post. “But ultimately, you really just have to wash it and think that this is a new week. Whether it’s the same team we played or not, we’ve got to treat this like a new week, new game plan and refocus that we’re getting ready to play a new team, not the one we just played.”
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The Giants had hoped that beating their rival Eagles so convincingly would propel them towards continued success. Following that, they dominated the rugged Broncos on the road in Denver, surging into the fourth quarter with a 19-0 lead and holding a 26-8 advantage with just over ten minutes remaining.
However, it all came crashing down in a heartbreaking 33-32 loss that included a late-game miscue and standout plays from rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, alongside a complete fourth-quarter meltdown by a Shane Bowen defense that was expected to perform better.
In contrast, the Eagles bounced back after that Thursday Night Football setback. Criticism loomed about their inability to match the team that surged to a Super Bowl triumph in 2024. But their offense awakened in Minneapolis, and Jalen Hurts delivered a perfect game—with a passer rating of 158.3—to lead a 28-22 victory over the Vikings, soothing the doubts around the team’s current form.
Can the Giants do it again?
They haven’t swept the Eagles in a two-game season series since 2007 — back when Dart was just a 4-year-old running around in Utah. The Giants have also not won on the road in this one-sided rivalry since October 29, 2013. Since then, they have made 12 trips to Philadelphia and lost every single time.
Still, the Giants proudly hold a one-game winning streak over the Eagles.
“That is one I would not buy into, just because it went well the first game doesn’t mean it’s going to be the exact same the next game,” right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor told The Post.
Since being installed as the starter three games into the season, Dart has done his best to separate the vibe and expectations of this Giants squad from those of losing outfits in the past. He played a tremendous game against the Eagles the first time around, rushing 20 yards for a touchdown, throwing a 35-yard touchdown pass to Wan’Dale Robinson, and directing an attack that included three rushing touchdowns from rookie Cam Skattebo.
“One lesson is learned and the teams that need quarterbacks that bypass them, they’re going to regret that,” Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said about Dart. “Obviously very athletic, an elite scrambler. I think their coaches have done a great job with him. They’ve developed the offense around him. He throws the ball very well, intermediate and deep, and he’s a good player.”
This rematch marks Dart’s first time facing an NFL team a second time so quickly.
“I mean, especially this quick of a turnaround, I don’t think I’ve ever done that before,” Dart said. “Each team is going to make a lot of adjustments based on what we saw two weeks ago, and it’s just going to be a game of chess. We’re going to have to figure out what they’re doing early, and they’re going to have to figure out what we’re doing early.”
The Eagles now know much more about Dart than they did before.
“Well, I hope throughout my career that’s never the case where teams have a book on me,” Dart explained. “I try to find tendencies in my game and make adjustments that need to be made, but at the same time, playmakers just find ways to make plays, and I think that’s kind of been my mindset.”
This Sunday’s game will not only test the Giants’ ability to repeat their earlier success but also challenge Dart and his teammates to stay one step ahead in a high-stakes game of adjustments and resilience.
https://nypost.com/2025/10/26/sports/giants-know-win-over-eagles-will-have-no-bearing-over-this-rematch/
