Eli Manning will be out minimum six weeks. Photo by T.J. Engler/contrastphotography.com

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — It simply came down to which team wanted to make something of the 2013 season and another that just wants to get it over with.

The Eagles defense came up big in the fourth quarter, leading the Birds to a 36-21 win over the New York Football Giants at MetLife Stadium in a game that effectively ended Big Blue’s season.

Their 0-5 start is their worst in a non-strike year since 1979 and comes just two years after the Giants won the Super Bowl.

”They’re very frustrated, very down,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. ”They’ve worked very hard during the week, built themselves up to a good approach, and then the frustration of not getting the win … they’re doing the best they can. They’re standing up, they’re supporting each other. That’s the way it has to be for a team to continue on.”

The Giants have no time to reflect. They play in Chicago on Thursday night.

Eagles quarterback Mike Vick suffered a hamstring strain in the second quarter after leading the Eagles to a 16-7 lead.

Nick Foles came in and drove the Eagles to the Giants 18-yard line, setting up an Alex Henery 36-yard field goal to give the visitors a 19-7 lead at the half.

The Giants, behind Eli Manning, stormed back in the third quarter to take a 21-19 with just over three minutes left in the period.

Foles answered with an eight-play drive to the Giants 23-yard line setting up Henery’s fifth field goal of the game, a 41-yarder, giving the Birds a 22-21 lead they would not give back.

The Eagles defense had not touched Manning throughout the game, allowing the two-time Super Bowl winner to pick apart the Birds secondary.

They made up for it in the fourth quarter intercepting Manning three times…Foles responded by hitting tight end Brent Celek for a 25-yard touchdown pass then DeSean Jackson for a five-yard touchdown that featured a Jackson double move on Prince Amukamara that Foles and his receiver executed to perfection.

Jackson said he was open because he had a good game plan and good coaching.

“Every week is different in the NFL, honestly,” Jackson said. “We just had a great game plan today. We came out there. It’s a division rivalry game. It was a NFC East win. We know how important it was. We just did everything we could to give ourselves a chance to win. It was a tough fought battle on both sides. I’m just happy to come out on top.”

With the Eagles win an the Cowboys bowing in a thriller against Denver, the Birds sit on top of the NFC East with a 2-3 record with the Cowboys. Both wins are against NFC East opponents.

Foles, who finished the game 16 of 25 for 197 yards, two TD passes and a rating of 114.9, was asked if he thought he should be the starter now (He will likely start next week against Tampa Bay because of Vick’s injury).

“I am not even thinking that way,” Foles said. “First thing that ran through my mind when Mike got hurt is I prayed for him, ‘Give him strength God.’ My job is to go in there when Mike was hurt and get a win. And I had a great team around me to really help me do that. I’m excited to go on the bus and be with the team. I don’t really think that way, so I can’t answer.”

Rookie tackle Lane Johnson led a line that helped produce 442 yards of total offense. Johnson had struggled throughout the first four games but seemed to be the most comfortable he has been all year. Lane agreed.

“I think today was probably my best game,” Lane said. “I tried to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. You learn from adversity, you learn from not playing well. It really drive me to get better and better.”

Vick finished 6 of 14 for 105 yards, no sacks and a rating of 69.0. He rushed seven times for 79 yards. The Giants focused on LeSean McCoy holding him to 46 yards on 20 carries, 17 of those yards came on one run.

The Giants offensive line has been crippled this season losing Pro Bowl guard Chris Snee for the season with a hip injury that may threaten his career. Big Blue was also without starting center David Baas and tackle David Diehl until yesterday. Diehl started at right guard and rookie Justin Pugh from Council Rock South High School in Bucks County continued to start at right tackle.

Diehl vowed to keep fighting.

“It’s very important,” Diehl said. “That’s what this is all about. This game’s about believing in one another, continuing to fight and, like I said, as a leader, I’m going to continue to do whatever I can to bring the best out of my teammates. We’ve got a lot of season left, I’m not going to waver in any way, I’m going to continue to approach the game the way that I always do and fight.”

Manning finished 24 of 52 for 334 yards, two touchdown passes and three interceptions. He was sacked once.

Coughlin said in his press conference that his quarterback was trying so hard to get a win and putting too much pressure on himself to get a win. Manning was asked if his couch was right.

“Well, you’re trying to make plays and you’re trying to win,” Manning said. “Obviously in the fourth quarter we’re down and on third down had pressure and thought I could get the throw in to Cruz there on third down with guys grabbing me and so I’ve just got to play smarter right there and tuck that one away or throw it in the ground. You can’t afford to have any interceptions back there and put our defense in a bind. We could punt and the defense could get a stop and we’ll have another drive.”

Manning was asked how important is it to stay positive.

“We have to stay positive,” said Manning who finished with a rating of 56.1. “We have a short week and we play on Thursday night, so we’ve just got to keep working and I’ve got to start playing better football and making better throws, and putting our team in a better situation to win some games.”

Lane also found it odd to be tied for first place in the NFC East despite a 2-3 record.

“It’s really weird,” said Lane. “Playing at Oklahoma, one loss is pretty much a failure as a season. Coming here and losing three straight games is something I’m not used to. But this is the NFL you have to keep on persevering. It’s a long season and anything can happen.”