PHILADELPHIA − The Eagles' first half couldn't have gone any worse in every conceivable way.

They fell behind 24-0 to the 5-11 Giants at halftime in a game they must win in order to have any hopes of winning the NFC East.

They lost 27-10.

It got so bad that Marcus Mariota replaced Hurts with a minute left ... and threw an interception on his first pass. The Eagles survived that when Reed Blankenship picked off Tyrod Taylor's pass in the end zone.

But not even that deficit could mask the potentially much bigger loss when star wide receiver A.J. Brown left the game in the first quarter with a knee injury. He was ruled out for the game. The Eagles had already ruled out wide receiver DeVonta Smith with an ankle injury suffered last week.

Brown had 1,447 yards receiving entering the game. The Eagles listed Brown's return as questionable.

As for the rest of the team, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts also suffered a finger injury although he stayed in the game. Hurts went into the medical tent after throwing incomplete on fourth down in the second quarter when his finger hit a Giants' player.

The Eagles needed a win and a Cowboys loss to Washington in order to win the NFC East and get the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs.

But that seemed like a pipe dream on both fronts. The Dallas Cowboys are in line to win the NFC East title, leading the Washington Commanders 35-10 with 4:06 left in the third quarter.

Mariota starts 2nd half, O-line switches it up, injuries mount

In addition to Mariota staying in the game, the Eagles made wholesale changes on the offensive line. Landon Dickerson moved from left guard to center as Jason Kelce and right tackle Lane Johnson came out, as did right guard Cam Jurgens.

Jordan Mailata stayed at left tackle. Sua Opeta came in at left guard, Jack Driscoll came in at right guard and Fred Johnson took over at right tackle. It was Johnson's first snaps of the season.

Jurgens left with an eye injury. In other injury news, safety Reed Blankenship was ruled out with a groin injury and safety Sydney Brown left in the first quarter with a knee injury.

Bad game for Jalen Hurts

Hurts was 7-for-16 for 55 yards and an interception in the first half. Giants QB Tyrod Taylor was 15-for-20 for 229 yards and a touchdown and INT.

The Giants made it 24-0 after Taylor connected with Saquon Barkley for 46 yards down to the Eagles' 19 yard line. Taylor hit Darius Slayton for a 19-yard TD on the next play with 1:47 left. It was the Eagles' biggest deficit of the season. Barkley had scored from 2 and 3 yards out earlier in the game.

Eagles trailing 17-0 in game they must win

The Eagles found themselves down 10-0 with 9:38 left in the second quarter after Saquon Barkley scored on a 2-yard TD run. It got worse after Barkley scored again, from 3 yards out. That gave the Giants a 17-0 lead with 5:08 left.

The Eagles trailed 3-0 on a Giants field goal, then fell behind by 10. Barkley's TD was set up by Tyrod Taylor's 26-yard pass down to the 2 on 3rd-and-11.

AJ Brown hurt after catching pass, fumbling

He was hurt late in the first quarter. Brown caught a slant over the middle, then fumbled the ball away. Brown went to the ground, holding his right leg. He was down for a minute or two as teammates kneeled in prayer.

Brown got up and walked slowly to the sideline, then he walked off to the locker room. The Eagles announced Brown has a knee injury, return questionable.

The Eagles were trailing 3-0, and poised to take the lead when the fumble occurred at the Giants 15. Brown came into the game with 1,447 yards receiving, needing 50 yards to break the franchise record he set last season.

Quez Watkins and Julio Jones were the receivers for the next series.

Earlier in the quarter, safety Sydney Brown left with a knee injury and was ruled out for the game.

As for Smith, it's the first game that Smith is missing in three full NFL seasons. That provides yet one more opportunity for maligned wide receiver Quez Watkins, who has played a total of one snap in the last two games.

Watkins is having by far the worst season of his career, with just 7 catches for 49 yards in 8 games. He missed seven other games with a hamstring injury.

Watkins was essentially benched after the Eagles' 20-17 loss to Seattle on Dec. 18. Jalen Hurts threw deep for Watkins in the end zone, but the ball was a bit underthrown. Watkins didn't seem to try preventing Seattle's Julian Love from intercepting the pass.

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Eagles top RB and Fletcher Cox are out; Rashaad Penny should get a big chance

Eagles running back D'Andre Swift, who has 1,049 yards rushing, is not playing Sunday because of an illness. That means little-used running back Rashaad Penny should get plenty of opportunities. In addition, the Eagles kept DT Fletcher Cox off the game-day roster.

Cox was not on the injury report all week, and was a full participant in every practice. Cox could be getting rest for the playoffs.

Penny, added along with Swift during the offseason, has jus 5 carries for 17 yards this season. He has been "inactive" in 11 games, and didn't get in two other games. His last carry came on Nov. 5 against Dallas.

In addition to Smith, Cox and Swift, the Eagles' other game-day inactives are CB Darius Slay, QB Tanner McKee, OL Tyler Steen.

Who will the Eagles play in the NFL playoffs? 

If the Eagles defeat the Giants and the Washington Commanders defeat the Dallas Cowboys, the Eagles will win the NFC East and hold the No. 2 seed in the NFC. The NFC’s No. 2 seed would host the No. 7 seed which was, as Week 18 started, the Green Bay Packers.

But there are still a few teams in the running for that final playoff spot. The Rams, at No. 6, could drop to 7th with a loss and a Green Bay win. The Seahawks and Saints also have a chance for the No. 7 seed heading into the late afternoon games.

If the Cowboys beat the Commanders, the Eagles would drop to the No. 5 seed and open on the road against the No. 4 seed Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8). The Bucs clinched the division with a 9-0 win over the Carolina Panthers.

How are the Dallas Cowboys doing?

The Dallas Cowboys face the Washington Redskins in Week 18. Kickoff is 4:25 p.m. at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. If the Cowboys win, they win the NFC East, making the Eagles the No. 5 seed. Check back for game updates. 

Washington takes the lead after Dallas turnover

The Commanders drove into Cowboys territory and just missed a touchdown as Curtis Samuel couldn't get both feet down in the end zone. Washington settled for a 36-yard field goal from Joey Slye. Washington leads 10-7 with 7:04 left in the first half.

Dallas picks off Sam Howell, adds to lead before halftime

Dallas safety Donovan Wilson picked off a pass by Sam Howell after defensive end Demarcus Lawrence tipped the pass. Dallas took over at the Cowboys' 35-yard line. Dak Prescott moved Dallas quickly downfield with 1:47 left in the half.  He capped the drive with a  4-yard touchdown pass to CeeDee Lamb. It was Lamb's ninth straight game with a touchdown. Dallas leads the Commanders 21-10 at halftime.

Washington Commanders tie game

After the blocked field goal, Washington took over at the 20 and drove in to score. Washington quarterback Sam Howell capped the drive with a 1-yard pass to Brian Robinson on fourth down to tie the game at 7-7.

Dallas strikes, taking an early lead

After the Dallas defense stopped the Washington Commanders on a 4th-and-1 play, quarterback Dak Prescott quickly drove the Cowboys downfield and hit Jalen Tolbert in the back of the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown. Dallas leads 7-0.

A.J. Brown ends silence, but there's still one thing he didn't say

Wide receiver A.J. Brown ended his nearly two-week long media silence on Wednesday by saying that he wasn't mad at his teammates or coaches despite saying after the last two games that he had "nothing nice to say."

Brown said he went silent because he didn't want to "compound a negative with a negative" by speaking after both the Dec. 25 win over the Giants and the loss to the Cardinals last Sunday.

But there's one thing Brown didn't say Wednesday, and that could go a long way towards saving the Eagles' season and turning around their 1-4 slide.

How history shows there's hope for a Super turnaround

In the span of five weeks, the Eagles have gone from a No. 1 seed − a first-round bye and home field advantage up until the Super Bowl − to a wildcard, likely needing to win three straight road games to get to the championship game.

There's still hope for the Eagles, however, if history is any type of guide. It certainly worked for the 2012 Baltimore Ravens. Here's what happened to the 1986 Jets and the 1981 Eagles, who like this season, were one year removed from the Super Bowl.

What's the weather forecast for Eagles at Giants?

Get ready for a messy, cold late afternoon and evening at the Meadowlands. The snow/sleet/rain mix that was scheduled for Saturday night into Sunday could make the drive up the New Jersey turnpike a bit messy, depending on when you leave.

But the precipitation is expected to clear out in the afternoon. It'll still be cold and windy at game time. Temperatures are expected to be in the upper 30s and holding steady throughout the game. It'll feel colder than that with winds around 10 mph.

What are the odds for the Eagles at Giants game?

Betting line (Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook): Eagles -5.5, Giants +5.5

Over-Under: Over 41/Under 42 points

Moneyline (Odds via PointsBet): Giants +196 (Bet $100 to net $196), Eagles -210 (Bet $210 to win $100)

What time is the Eagles at Giants game?

• Date: Sunday, Jan. 7

• Time: 4:25 p.m.

• Place: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.

How to watch, stream, listen to Eagles at Giants

Cable/Network TV

The game will be available locally on CBS Philadelphia.

Streaming

You can also stream games if you have subscriptions to NFL+, NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube Primetime, YouTube TV, fuboTV.  Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV.

Radio

You can listen to the Eagles Sirius XM satellite radio on Sirius channel 82 and XM channel 228 (Eagles feed). The Eagles Radio Network has stations across the region. Merrill Reese has the play-by-play and Mike Quick the analyst.

• Wilmington − WDEL/101.7 FM and 1150 AM

• Levittown − WBCB/1490 AM

• Philadelphia − WIP/94.1 FM

• Atlantic City − WENJ/97.3 FM

• Salisbury/Ocean City − WAFL/97.7FM

Who is announcing the Eagles at Giants game?

• Play-by-play: Ian Eagle

• Analyst: Charles Davis

• Sideline reporter: Evan Washburn

Eagles at Giants prediction

Martin Frank pick:

Whether the Eagles rest starters or not, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that the Giants aren't good either, and they're playing out the string on a miserable season. The Eagles led the Giants 20-3 at halftime less than two weeks ago before the offense coughed up the ball twice. How's that different from the Cardinals game? Call it a hunch.

The pick: Eagles 27, Giants 16

2023 Philadelphia Eagles schedule

• Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023: Eagles 25, Patriots 20

• Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023: Eagles 34, Vikings 28

• Monday, Sept. 25, 2023: Eagles 25, Buccaneers 11

• Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023: Eagles 34, Commanders 31 (OT)

• Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023: Eagles 23, Rams 14

• Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023: Jets 20, Eagles 14

• Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023: Eagles 31, Dolphins 17

• Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023: Eagles 38, Commanders 31

• Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023: Eagles 28, Cowboys 23

• Monday, Nov. 20, 2023: Eagles 21, Chiefs 17

• Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023: Eagles 37, Bills 34 (OT)

• Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023: 49ers 42, Eagles 19

• Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023: Cowboys 33, Eagles 13

• Monday, Dec. 18, 2023: Seahawks 20, Eagles 17

• Monday, Dec. 25, 2023: Eagles 33, Giants 25

• Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023: Cardinals 35, Eagles 31.

• Sunday, Jan. 7: at New York Giants, 4:25 p.m.

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Eagles vs. Giants score, analysis: Jalen Hurts, playoffs in Week 18