The Eagles won in Minnesota, true, and there is an illusion that they stopped the running game. Actually, the Vikings had12 runs of 5 yards or more, nine of them in the first half.
So, no, they did not exactly contain the power and speed of the Vikes' running game, which gained 131 yards. Rather, they loaded up to stop it . . . then they embarrassed green quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, on whom the Vikings, inexplicably, leaned way too much as the game progressed. Jackson finished with a 45.4 passer rating.
Eli Manning is at 77.8 in his two games this season against the Eagles, and he's a Super Bowl MVP, not a first-time playoff starter.
For the Eagles, this reality is a huge problem.
So is this: Fred Robbins likely will be close to full strength.
He's the defensive tackle whom Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, in November, cited as the reason why the Giants' defensive line was spectacular at that point. "The guy who really stands out on film who's truly been playing really well this year is Robbins," McNabb said then.
Robbins might be the Giants' most valuable player, or, at least, their most valuable defender. Robbins was healthy in the Giants' Nov. 9 win when the Giants limited the Eagles' running backs to 47 yards on 15 carries.
In the rematch, Robbins played with a shoulder joint injury that cost him the game that preceded the Eagles game. It also cost him the game that followed it. With Robbins limited, Eagles running backs collected 133 yards on 34 carries.
Coughlin on Monday would not hint at how healthy Jacobs and Robbins are: "They seem to be doing OK," was as much as he would give.
Their teammates seem to believe the pair will be near full potency.
"Come Wednesday, I am pretty sure everybody on our team will be able to practice," said linebacker Antonio Pierce.
