It took over a month and plenty of heartache and missed opportunities.
But the Eagles finally got a win.
They got up early and were able to hold on to beat the Giants 24-19 at Lincoln Financial Field on a nationally televised Thursday Night Football game.
With the win, the Eagles snapped a five-game losing streak and improved to 6-9 on the season. They avoided going winless in the division for the third time in franchise history.
With the loss, the Giants fell to 10-5 on the season and failed to clinch a playoff spot. They can do so next week with a win in Washington or with a loss from another NFC wild card contender. The Giants' loss also gave the Cowboys the NFC East crown and the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC playoffs.
Thursday marked the first Eagles’ win since Nov. 13 against Atlanta.
NFL
With the Eagles up five, the Giants were stuffed on fourth down in Philadelphia territory when Nolan Carroll broke up a pass intended for Sterling Shepard. A 4th-and-1 became a 4th-and-6 after a false start. Shepard wanted a pass interference call, but a flag didn’t come.
After a curious decision to throw deep on the next drive, the Giants got the ball back with 1:31, one timeout and 85 yards to go for a touchdown. They came up short, when Eli Manning’s pass was picked off by reserve safety Terrence Brooks.
That sealed the first win in over two months.
The Eagles briefly lost Carson Wentz for a scary moment, when he was crushed on a late hit in the third quarter by Olivier Vernon and left the game to be evaluated for a concussion. He was able to return.
But before he did, the Eagles drove down the field with Chase Daniel before getting stuffed at the New York 1-yard line on fourth down.
On the ensuing drive, Malcolm Jenkins picked off his second pass of the game to give the Eagles the ball back in time for Wentz to return to the field and lead the Eagles on a field goal drive.
The Giants hit a 41-yard field goal to cut the lead to five, but that’s as close as they got.
Turning point
Jenkins’ 34-yard pick-six in the first quarter put the Eagles up two scores early and was a big momentum boost.
Key stat
The Eagles were out-gained 470-286 but still pulled out the win.
First half
The Eagles used some big plays to take a 21-13 lead into the locker room on Thursday night.
Their first big play came on a 25-yard Darren Sproles run to give them a 7-0 lead. Then Jenkins’ pick-six put them up 14-0.
The Giants responded with two 35-yard field goals to cut into the lead, but the Eagles had one more big play in them.
Wentz hit Nelson Agholor on a 40-yard bomb to take a 21-6 lead. It was the second touchdown of Agholor's season and the first since Week 1, when he caught a 35-yarder.
The Eagles had two of their four longest plays of the season in the first half of Thursday night's game.
But for the second straight week, the Eagles gave up a touchdown pass with under a minute left in the first half. This time, Manning connected with rookie Shepard on a 13-yarder with Jenkins in coverage.
The Giants actually out-gained the Eagles 220-186 in the first half.
Offensive stud
It wasn’t Wentz’s prettiest game. He didn’t put up the biggest numbers. But he did do enough to put the Eagles in a position to win.
Offensive dud
Not a great game for Dorial Green-Beckham. He finished with one catch for seven yards.
Defensive stud
While Jenkins did give up a touchdown, his pick-six was a big play. It’s his second pick-six of the season and his fourth in three years with the Eagles. He leads all active safeties in the league with six in his career. He had a big interception later in the game too. He became the first Eagle to have two picks in a game since 2012 and the first at home since 2010.
Brandon Graham continues to play at a really high level. He got constant pressure on Thursday night.
Defensive dud
Jalen Mills didn’t have his best game.
Injuries
Halapoulivaati Vaitai (knee) returned to practice this week, but wasn’t ready to play again and was inactive. Left guard Allen Barbre (hamstring) started the game, but left in the first half. Jaylen Watkins left in the second half with a concussion.
Up next
The Eagles will have a long week to prepare for their season finale against the Cowboys on New Year’s Day.