PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia Eagles fans screamed throughout Lincoln Financial Field to "run the ball." Whether Nick Sirianni listened to them or not, the stadium erupted when Kenneth Gainwell ran for 22 yards in a two-point game -- the longest run of the night for a running back group that had its share of peaks and valleys all year.
Three plays later, D'Andre Swift rushed for a 5-yard score much to the fans' delight -- giving the Eagles the cushion they needed to beat the New York Giants 33-25 in a game that shouldn't have been close. Kelle Ringo actually intercepted Tyrod Taylor's pass in the end zone to seal the win with no time left.
Two Eagles turnovers in the second half proved costly for a team that needed a "get right" game, which looked that way in the first half after the Eagles took a 20-3 lead heading into the break. Olamide Zaccheaus ran into Boston Scott on the opening second-half kickoff that led to a Scott fumble and Saquon Barkley scored a 7-yard touchdown three plays later to make it 20-10. Jalen Hurts threw an interception to Adoree Jackson that was returned for a score to cut the lead to 20-18 heading into the fourth quarter.
Then, the Eagles "ran the ball." Eagles running backs had 12 carries for 92 yards through the first 13 minutes in the fourth quarter as Swift and Gainwell preserved them the win. Swift had nine carries for 59 yards while Gainwell had three carries for 33 yards, averaging 7.7 yards per carry.
The Eagles were able to run the ball in the final quarter to the tone of 170 yards total in the win, averaging 4.9 yards per carry.
Here are the takeaways from the Eagles' Christmas victory.
Why the Eagles won
Philadelphia didn't do itself any favors with the two turnovers that led to 15 New York points, but the Eagles were able to keep control of the game by running the football. The running backs had 13 carries for 88 yards in the fourth quarter, over half of the 170 yards the Eagles earned on the ground. Jalen Hurts went 5 of 7 for 77 yards in the fourth, including the 32-yard completion to A.J. Brown that set up the final touchdown.
The Eagles had 161 yards of offense in the fourth quarter and 465 on the night. They weren't always efficient, but were able to get the 13 points they needed in the fourth to preserve the win.
Why the Giants lost
The Giants put up a fight with Tyrod Taylor at quarterback, but that was in part to two Eagles miscues in the second half -- the Boston Scott collision/fumble and the Jalen Hurts interception for a score. The first-half deficit ended up being too much to overcome, but that was when Tommy DeVito was in.
DeVito and the offense put up just three points in the first half as he went 9 of 16 for 55 yards. The Giants had just 101 yards and had five pressures, as DeVito looked overmatched by an Eagles defense looking to turn the corner. Taylor brought some life back into the Giants with his 69-yard touchdown pass to Darius Slayton, but the Giants are in the game thanks to two Eagles miscues.
Turning point
Eagles fans screamed at the team to "run the ball," as the chants could be heard all around the stadium. This was after A.J. Brown caught a 32-yard pass on third-and-20 to extend the drive, on what was the biggest play of the night for the Eagles.
Kenneth Gainwell got the ball on the next play and ran for 22 yards on what was the longest run of the night for any Eagles running back. Gainwell had three carries for 33 yards in the fourth quarter, no carry bigger than that one. D'Andre Swift scored three plays later to make it 27-18 with 11:07 left.
The Eagles running backs had three carries for 30 yards on that eight-play, 75-yard drive.
Play of the game
The Eagles were facing a third-and-20 at their own 26 when Jalen Hurts competed a pass to A.J. Brown that went for 32 yards and for a first down. Hurts was coming off a pick-six and the Eagles appeared headed for a three-and-out before Hurts found his best receiver for a monster gain.
That was the first third-and-20-or-more the Eagles converted under Nick Sirianni, which was followed by a Kenneth Gainwell 22-yard run. D'Andre Swift scored a touchdown three plays later to put the Eagles up 27-18 in the fourth quarter.
The quote
"I don't pay too much attention to it. Just trying to operate it. They're trying to get loud on offense, they supposed to get loud for the defense," Jalen Hurts said with a smile on the Eagles fans chanting "run the ball."
Up next
The Eagles (11-4) play host to the Cardinals (3-12) on New Year's Eve while the Giants (5-10) play host to the surging Rams (8-7) in Week 17.