PHILADELPHIA - Mentioning the New York Giants in the Eagles' locker room this week is bound to bring back a bad memory or two of the game that got away.
You know the one.
The Eagles held a 24-7 lead going into the fourth quarter and had the defending NFC East champions on the brink of opening the season 0-2.
And then it all fell apart with a shocking swiftness. The Eagles lost the game and star defensive end Jevon Kearse in overtime.
"I personally still have a bad taste in my mouth," wide receiver Donte Stallworth said Sunday after the Eagles remained in a second-place tie with the Giants by beating the Washington Redskins.
One Eagle has a different point of view about Sunday's opponent at Giants Stadium.
Cornerback William James said he has mostly fond memories of the Eagles' bitter NFC East rival. It's an understandable sentiment since James, then known as Will Peterson, spent the first five seasons of his career playing for the Giants.
"I love the players up there," James said. "I have a lot of friends up there, and I can't wait to compete against them. I can't wait to get back on the field.
The fans always treated me well, and to be on that field in front of them will be a nice thing."
James said the Giants' 2002 win against the Eagles in the regular-season finale at the Meadowlands was a special game for him.
"Beating Philly to go to the playoffs back in 2002, that was one of my most memorable moments," James said.
"A.J. Feeley was the quarterback at the time.
The atmosphere was so electric out there that day. That was the first time we had beaten Philly while I was up there."
That was the only time as a Giant that James took part in the playoffs.
By the time New York clinched the division last season, he was on injured reserve with a severe back injury that had limited him to two games.
James enjoyed everything about his time in New York except the ending. He had a couple of clashes with coach Tom Coughlin, but who on that roster hasn't?
Before the injury, James thought he was going to spend his entire career with the Giants.
"Right before my back took a turn for the worse, I had just signed a five-year contract," he said. "I was going to be there.
The way things panned out wasn't ideal for me at all. They put me in a long rehab process and ..
. I didn't even know if I was going to play football again. I had to handle that, but it made me stronger.
"
The Giants released James near the end of May, and he focused on rehabilitating his back. He signed with the Eagles on Halloween and played in their first two games after the bye week as the third cornerback. He sprained a knee ligament against Tennessee and missed two games before returning Sunday against Washington.
James made his first major contribution for the Eagles in the 21-19 win over the Redskins. With Washington in a third-and-9 situation at the Eagles' 23-yard line, James played press coverage on tight end Chris Cooley, who ran a short slant pattern. James stepped up and pushed his left arm forward to break up the pass from quarterback Jason Campbell.
The ball shot straight up. Safety Michael Lewis grabbed it and ran 84 yards for his first career touchdown.
"I was able to read the quarterback," James said.
"He made a two-step drop and the receiver broke on it. I was able to get a good break and Mike was able to go 84 yards."
And now the Eagles, at 7-6, control their destiny in the NFC East.
If they beat the Giants, the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas at Texas Stadium, and the Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field on New Year's Eve, they will win their division for the fifth time in six years.
It seems unlikely, but just controlling their fate seemed improbable after consecutive losses to Tennessee and Indianapolis last month.
"We're in a race that nobody knew we would be in," James said.
"We're in a pretty tight race right now. To go up there and win would probably be one of the greatest feelings I've had all year."
2006, The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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