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Thomas George reports from the Eagles-Giants game. Check back later for his complete column.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — When desperation (Eagles) met disorder (Giants) on Sunday at Giants Stadium, the action was as twisting as the vigorous winds that swept through the place and the unmistakable, uneasy feeling that something big was about to unfold.

It did. The Eagles won, 20-14, snuffing the Giants’ unbeaten record at home this season and saddling the Giants with their first divisional loss in nearly a year. The Eagles (7-5-1) put the Giants’ division-clinching hopes on freeze while boosting their own playoff hopes. The Giants (11-2) looked sluggish, uncertain and lacked sharpness on offense.

And the Eagles made sure they had their imprints all over it.

Philadelphia took control early, building a 10-0 lead, and was knocking for more on the final play before halftime. But a 32-yard David Akers field-goal attempt was blocked by Justin Tuck and returned 71 yards for a touchdown by Kevin Dockery. Though the Eagles had thoroughly outplayed the Giants, they led by only 10-7 at halftime.

Philadelphia, however, remained unbowed. The Eagles took further control of the game in the third quarter by holding the ball for nearly 12 minutes. Coach Andy Reid found his running game once again and dialed it aplenty, giving the Giants offense fewer possessions and keeping the game firmly in the Eagles’ control.

It was the Giants’ first game after a hectic, embarrassing week that focused on receiver Plaxico Burress’ gun charges and teammate Antonio Pierce’s involvement in the nightclub incident where Burress accidentally shot himself in the thigh. Burress was suspended for the season by the Giants, while Pierce started this game.

Without Burress, the field looked half the size for the Giants. Without his threat of the deep ball and the combination of defenders who usually cover him, the Eagles kept creeping closer to the line of scrimmage and choking the Giants offense. Especially on third downs.

And Pierce was anxious. Too anxious. Brian Westbrook ran for a score of 30 yards and caught a 40-yard pass, and on both plays Pierce overplayed his angles. Westbrook broke to the backside on both scores and ran free of Pierce and through the Giants defense — and through the center of their chance to prove they were not distracted by Burress, and that his loss was not such a big deal.

They were distracted and it showed in their execution.

And his loss is quite a big deal.

The deep pass was not converted by the Giants. The passing lanes were tighter. The running lanes narrowed. The entire offense was in a bind.

Credit the Eagles defense.

But also the Giants’ inability to adjust. They can only hope their funk does not continue to make them only a slice of the dominating club they had become.

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