Giants-Eagles storylines: Replacing Andrew Thomas, the return of Saquon Barkley, more

Here are 5 storylines for key Week 7 matchup

With the New York Giants hosting the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday, let’s take a look at some of the storylines to pay attention to.

Return of No. 26

No, not Devin Singletary. Who might return from his groin injury this week. The other 26. The one who used to wear that number for the Giants. This will be Saquon Barkley’s first game at MetLife Stadium against the Giants since he signed with the Eagles as a free agent in the offseason.

I am curious what type of fan reaction Barkley will get.

I’m sure head coach Brian Daboll will be asked Barkley questions on Wednesday, as will players. Barkley is likely to speak to media in Philadelphia on Wednesday. All of that reaction will be interesting.

Barkley has been healthy and is having a good season. He has 482 yards rushing on 91 carries, 5.3 yards per attempt. He is on pace for 1,366 yards rushing, which would be a career-high. Barkley has 92 receiving yards on just 14 catches. He is on pace for 1,626 total yards, which would be the second-most in his career.

The Giants have gotten good production out of their three-headed running back by committee group. Singletary and rookie Tyrone Tracy have 103 carries for 429 yards between them, 4.17 yards per carry.

The Giants have gotten 25 receptions for 230 yards out of Singletary, Tracy and Eric Gray.

It will no doubt to interesting to see how Barkley fares in his ‘Revenge Game.’

Re-configuring the offensive line

With star left tackle Andrew Thomas out for the foreseeable future, probably for the remainder of the season, how will the Giants shuffle their offensive line?

While not willing to reveal it, the Giants have said that there has been a plan in place in the eventuality that Thomas were to suffer an injury.

That plan is one of two things:

• Josh Ezeudu, who took over at left tackle when Thomas was injured last season, could do so again.
• Jermaine Eluemunor, who has significant NFL experience at left tackle, could move to the left side while Evan Neal moves back into the lineup as the right tackle.

My money is on Eluemunor going to the left side with Neal, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, moving back into the lineup. In my view, it would be quite an indictment of Neal by the organization if they pass him over.

No matter what they do, losing Thomas is a massive blow.

Home cookin’

The New York Jets played at MetLife Stadium on Monday night. By now, Jets colors are probably scrubbed off the playing surface with Giants colors and logos added, and the signage around the stadium has probably reverted to being Giants-related.

If it hasn’t, maybe the Giants should request leaving the Jets colors up. Something has to change for the Giants, who are 0-3 this season at home and have scored just one touchdown in front of the home fans.

Quarterback Daniel Jones has not throw a touchdown pass at MetLife Stadium in his last five starts there, with his last one coming against the Indianapolis Colts Jan. 1, 2023, the final home game of the 2022-23 season.

Jones has insisted that where the Giants are playing doesn’t matter.

“I think the football field is the same and it’s about going out and playing well, regardless of where you are,” he said.

Truth is, it should matter. Teams should be better at home in front of their own fans. The Giants need to start figuring it out.

“I know this home crowd wants to watch us win a game,” said offensive lineman Jon Runyan. “They’re tired of watching us on TV when we go away. We’ve got to score points at home.

“We got to give them something to cheer for.”

Yes, they do.

Will Malik play?

Malik Nabers, the Giants’ best offensive player, has missed two games with a concussion suffered Sept. 26 against the Dallas Cowboys. The Giants played well offensively and defeated the Seattle Seahawks without him in Week 5, but couldn’t create explosive plays in a Week 6 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

We will learn more about his progress through the NFL’s concussion protocol on Wednesday. The Giants need him in the lineup.

Playoff picture/NFC East standings

The Giants probably are not winning the NFC East. They probably are not making the playoffs. Yet, it’s too early in the season and everything is too tightly bunched to count them out entirely.

If the Giants can somehow overcome their MetLife Stadium phobia — it will help that they won’t also have to deal with their primetime phobia — they can muddle the picture even more and keep themselves at least on the periphery of the discussion.

Here is a look at the NFC East:

Here is the overall NFC playoff picture:

1. Minnesota Vikings (5-0)

2. Atlanta Falcons (4-2, win over TB, 4-0 NFC)

3. Washington Commanders (4-2, 2-1 NFC)

4. San Francisco 49ers (3-3, win over SEA)

5. Detroit Lions (4-1)

6. Chicago Bears (4-2, 0-0 NFCN, 2-0 NFC)

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2, 4-1 NFC)

—————————————————————

8. Green Bay Packers (4-2, 0-1 NFCN)

9. Philadelphia Eagles (3-2)

10. Dallas Cowboys (3-3, 1-2 NFC)

11. Seattle Seahawks (3-3, 0-3 NFC)

12. Arizona Cardinals (2-4, 2-3 NFC, .364 strength of victory)

13. New Orleans Saints (2-4, 2-3, NFC. .333 strength of victory)

14. New York Giants (2-4, 1-3 NFC)

15. Los Angeles Rams (1-4)

16. Carolina Panthers (1-5)