Giants-Eagles 5 questions: Eagles fans would find it ‘pretty funny’ if Giants won, hurt their draft position

The New York Giants face the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday in their final game of the 2024 NFL season. So, we turn to Brandon Lee Gowton of Bleeding Green Nation for our final ‘5 questions’ segment of the season.

Ed: Do you agree with the decision by the Eagles to rest Saquon Barkley and other starters?

BLG: Knowing something to be true and feeling something to be true can be different.

I know the Eagles are making a logical decision to rest Barkley. Him getting hurt in this game could be an all-time devastating Philly sports moment. The Eagles need Barkley healthy in order to win the Super Bowl. I get all that.

But I do feel like it would’ve been really cool to see him get the chance to do it. If it was up to me, I would’ve played the starters for one half (or less if he broke the record before halftime). Sports are supposed to be fun. Barkley breaking the record … and against his former team, no less … that would’ve been fun.

But I get it. I’m not going to rip the team for being cautious. But I can’t say it doesn’t feel like a missed opportunity.

Ed: Should Barkley win the MVP award? Make the case for why or why not

BLG: I think Barkley definitely deserves MVP votes with how special of a season he’s had. He’s just been unstoppable. And he’s had signature moments, including his reverse hurdle. Not to mention a huge theme of this NFL season being the rejuvenation of running backs. But it’s obviously tough to say he’s more impactful than the league’s most elite quarterback given the nature of position.

Had he broken Eric Dickerson’s record and had the Eagles finished as the No. 1 seed in the NFC, I think he would’ve/should’ve won it. I’m thinking he’ll end up as Offensive Player of the Year instead.

Ed: The Eagles started the season 2-2 before barely beating the Browns. Then, they blew out the Giants in Week 6 and have never looked back. What changed?

BLG: They really formed an identity and stuck to it.

Offensively, they heavily leaned into their running game (read: Saquon). Jalen Hurts was able to have a lot more success as a low-volume passer than he was at a much higher volume prior to the Eagles’ bye. Running the ball and limiting turnovers has been key.

Defensively, the Eagles are just really awesome. It’s been a good marriage of Vic Fangio’s coaching and the talent that Howie Roseman has assembled. The Eagles’ defense plays really assignment-sound football. No team has allowed fewer yards per play or offensive points per game this season.

Running the ball and playing top-notch defense has been the Eagles’ formula for success.

Ed: Are the Eagles at the point where if they don’t win a Super Bowl the season should be considered a failure?

BLG: I wouldn’t say it’s a failure. There are too many other good teams for them to merely be expected to waltz to the Super Bowl and win it. It would be a missed opportunity, of course.

I think the season is a failure if the Eagles are blown out in the first round. I don’t expect that much to happen. But a first-round blowout exit would mark the third time in Nick Sirianni’s four years in Philly. I wonder if he would be able to survive that, even with the Eagles having so much regular season success.

Ed: The Giants beat the Eagles in a meaningless season finale last year. Here we are again in a similarly meaningless game. Do you even care who wins?

BLG: Three priorities for this game, in order:

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