PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles’ performance through the first six weeks of the season can generously be described as inconsistent and mediocre.
On Sunday, back on the road again, they’ll get to face another inconsistent and mediocre team in the New York Giants — the Birds’ first divisional matchup of 2024.
It will also be the first time that running back Saquon Barkley faces his former team, and the fans at MetLife Stadium, since the Giants decided they didn’t need him anymore and let him scoot down the Turnpike to Philly, where the Pennsylvania native quickly signed up in the offseason.
“I think it’s more of, like, a balance of how I want to attack it,” Barkley said Wednesday. “Obviously, I’ll be locked in and focused, but I don’t want to make it more than what it is, or what it’s not. I’ve done that before, and I didn’t like the outcome of that.
“It’s going to be a fun environment,” he said. “It’s football. I love being part of stuff like that, especially being part of the history of these two teams going against each other, especially in this division. It’s a big game, so I’m excited for that.”
Yes, it is a big game. With the NFC East bunched up early, it’s a chance for the Birds to make some hay. Veteran right tackle Lane Johnson, after a dozen years in the league as an Eagle, is used to these types of showdowns.
“Emotions are good, but sometimes becoming overemotional as a player can cloud your judgment, so maybe you’re not as focused as what you need to be, as you would like to be,” Johnson said. “That can lead to mental errors and all that sort of stuff. For me, it’s about a job. Emotions are going to be involved, but I try to work around that and see this as another day on the job.
“Obviously it’s a rivalry week, an NFC opponent, so you know we have that in mind,” he said. “But, for me, year 12, emotions kind of die out.”
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As impressive as the Eagles’ defense played against the Browns, it didn’t gain any turnovers. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said it’s something that has to improve.
“It’s a result of a lot of things,” he said. “Some teams and players have a knack for it. I think it goes back to the youth a little bit. We just have to find a way to get the ball out some more. No doubt about it.”
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There’s a chance tight end Dallas Goedert could be out this week after injuring his hamstring against the Cleveland. That would mean more opportunities for Grant Calcaterra, who played with quarterback Jalen Hurts for a year at Oklahoma.
“I feel good,” Calcaterra said. “I played receiver in high school and basically college (Oklahoma, SMU), so I feel comfortable as a pass-catcher.
“Definitely comfortable (with blocking),” he said. “Obviously, that’s something I’ve been focusing on since I got into the NFL, so those skills are only getting better each day.”
Goedert has 24 catches for 301 yards in five games. Calcaterra, who had nine catches in 30 games played over the last two seasons, has eight catches on nine targets for 123 yards this year.
Goedert didn’t practice on Wednesday. Nor did left tackle Jordan Mailata (hamstring), who is expected to miss extended time, and defensive tackle Milton Williams (ankle).
Cornerback Darius Slay (knee), linebacker Oren Burks (groin) and outside linebacker Jalyx Hunt (ankle) all saw limited action.
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Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc.
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