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An inside look at Thursday night’s Giants-Eagles NFL Week 6 matchup at MetLife Stadium:
Marquee matchup
Eagles CB Cooper DeJean vs. Giants WR Wan’Dale Robinson
As a rookie in 2024, DeJean quickly established himself as one of the NFL’s top nickel backs and he went on to Super Bowl heroics.
Robinson works mainly out of the slot, and that is where DeJean excels.
Robinson has a team-leading 23 receptions for 267 yards and one touchdown and he is the last man standing, with Malik Nabers out for the season and Darius Slayton out this game with a strained hamstring.
Robinson is the only proven wide receiver the Giants will put on the field.
Four downs
Birds chirping: For a team that won four of its first five games, there’s some strangely nonharmonic sounds coming out of Philly about the struggles of the Eagles offense.
That unit is 30th in total yards, 31st in passing, 25th in rushing and 12th in scoring.
Unlike the Giants, the Eagles are unaccustomed to any of these failings.
“Thank God it’s a short week … tough week in my house,’’ quarterback Jalen Hurts said.
Three key players on offense — Hurts, Saquon Barkley and A.J. Brown — met this week to discuss their lack of production.
“The focus was about the team,’’ Barkley said. “I think it was a good thing.’’
Double the trouble: The Giants envisioned a shared backfield, with second-year Tyrone Tracy Jr. and rookie Cam Skattebo as the running back tandem.
That duo never really got off the ground, then Tracy missed two games with a partially dislocated shoulder.
Tracy returns for this game and perhaps he can provide the flash to Skattebo’s muscle.
“When you look at my game, I have the power to my game as well but I’m more of a slasher, outside zone, getting on the edges, stuff like that,’’ Tracy said. “With him, he’s a power running back and obviously that’s the way he plays. It’s very evident. You definitely see how we can be a good 1-2 punch for sure.’’
Hold it: Hurts holds the ball longer in the pocket than most quarterbacks — an NFL-high 2.6 seconds from snap to throw, according to some metrics.
That is why he has been sacked 15 times despite his elusiveness.
“You definitely see that,’’ nose tackle Dexter Lawrence said. “That makes you have to be even more disciplined in your rush lanes because he’s looking for a place to escape or he’s looking for a shot down the field. Don’t just stand, have a motor, keep that motor going all play.’’
Hurts has 182 rushing yards and has picked up 20 first downs with his legs.
Bark with bite: There is no doubt Barkley is geared up for this game more than most.
He has not gained much traction this season (267 rushing yards) after his record-breaking 2024 eruption.
A new documentary timed for release the day he faces his former team throws more dirt on the Giants.
Barkley’s return to MetLife Stadium last season resulted in a 176-yard joyride.
“Super tough runner, always gets his feet moving,’’ safety Tyler Nubin told the Post. “Great contact balance, so we’re gonna have to drive our feet on our tackles. Can’t arm tackle, can’t go in there and just try to wrap him up because he’s gonna run through that.’’ Barkley will be without starting guard Landon Dickerson, out with an ankle injury.
Paul’s Pick
At some point, the Giants are going to stop being everyone else’s get-well game, right?
The Eagles are coming off their first loss of the season and they will be in no mood to mess around here.
Jaxson Dart does not have much to work with in the passing game. Jalen Hurts can be hit but the Giants’ defensive front is often hit or miss.
Saquon Barkley’s motor will be running, for sure.
Eagles 27, Giants 13.
