The Philadelphia Eagles know what's at stake against the New York Giants. With their losing streak reaching six games, Philadelphia desperately needs a win before heading into its bye week. The Giants have an opportunity to make matters considerably worse for their division rivals, and they won't necessarily need their biggest stars to carry the load.
Sometimes, the players who cause the most trouble are the ones opposing teams aren't spending much time discussing. New York has several contributors who could make their presence felt if Philadelphia overlooks them. These five Giants deserve attention heading into Sunday's game.
C.J. Okoye, defensive tackle
C.J. Okoye isn't someone who will command much attention before kickoff. He's primarily a reserve contributor, having
played 87 defensive snaps and 22 special teams snaps across six games. However, the eyeball test suggests he can make an impact when given opportunities.
Okoye has recorded six tackles, one sack, and two tackles for loss. Those aren't overwhelming numbers, but his presence could matter against an Eagles rushing attack that has struggled to find consistent room to operate.
Philadelphia needs to establish some physicality up front, particularly between the tackles. If Okoye can disrupt running lanes and force the Eagles to abandon their preferred approach, his contribution could matter more than his snap count suggests.
Malachi Fields, wide receiver
Malachi Fields has 30 targets and 16 catches for 248 yards. Three of those receptions have gone for at least 20 yards, and he's added 98 yards after the catch. He's also moved the chains on 11 receptions for first downs, showing his contributions aren't limited to occasional explosive plays.
This is an important game for both teams, and Fields has a chance to join the national conversation. A timely explosive reception or a game-changing play could put him in the spotlight by Monday morning. The Eagles have enough established threats to worry about without allowing someone less-mentioned to become another problem.
Deonte Banks, cornerback
Deonte Banks has quietly put together a productive season in New York's secondary. He's started all five of his game appearances, recording 20 tackles and a team-leading 10 pass breakups.
He's also intercepted a pass and returned it 98 yards for a touchdown, the longest pick-six in the NFL this season. That kind of playmaking ability deserves attention from an Eagles passing game that cannot afford to give the football away.
Banks has shown he can make opposing quarterbacks pay for mistakes, and his ability to disrupt passing lanes could create problems for Philadelphia. The Eagles need to be careful about testing him without a clear advantage. Banks has already shown that he can turn a defensive opportunity into an enormous momentum swing, and Philadelphia has little room for another costly mistake.
Tyrone Tracy Jr., running back
Tyrone Tracy Jr. hasn't received a large workload in New York's backfield, but the Eagles can't afford to ignore him. He's carried the ball 19 times for 55 yards, with five of those attempts producing first downs and two resulting in touchdowns.
His production has been limited, but Tracy has found ways to contribute when given opportunities. The Giants could look to involve him in situations where they need a change of pace or a different running style, particularly if the game creates opportunities to spread the workload.
There is one concern worth mentioning. Tracy has lost a fumble. Ball security will be important against an Eagles defense looking for opportunities to create turnovers. If he protects the football and makes the most of his touches, however, he could become a useful piece of New York's offensive approach.
Micah McFadden, linebacker
Micah McFadden hasn't played much on defense this season, logging just 63 defensive snaps compared with 94 special teams snaps. However, Tremaine Edmunds' placement on injured reserve has created a need for more contributions at linebacker, and McFadden has shown he can answer the call.
He recorded 10 of his 14 tackles on the season in Week 7. That performance offered a glimpse of what he could provide with a larger defensive responsibility. His limited playing time makes it difficult to project how much of an impact he'll have, but the opportunity is there.
Philadelphia's rushing attack needs to take advantage of its opportunities, and McFadden could be an important part of New York's effort to prevent it. If he carries his Week 7 tackling production into Sunday's matchup, he could become a bigger factor than his season snap count suggests.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: 5 under-the-radar Giants who could surprise Eagles in Week 9
