The playoffs are always dripping with intrigue, but when it’s a game pitting two teams from the same division, teams that delight in the other’s misery, beware. Giants-Eagles in September is a can’t-miss event. In January, in the postseason? Hide the kids and put on extra padding.

The Eagles (10-6) roll in riding a five-game winning streak, the decided favorite, playing at home as the newly crowned NFC East champs. The Giants (8-8) are 2-6 since midseason, have allowed more points (362) than they’ve scored (355) and don’t scare anyone with their recent performances. Soon enough, the Giants and Eagles go at it at Lincoln Financial Field and it’s never tame and always tense when these rivals square off.

The matchups:

RUNNING BACKS vs. LINEBACKERS

When Eagles have the ball: In the last meeting, Brian Westbrook outside and Correll Buckhalter inside had their way with the Giants defense. Westbrook is coming off his best season (1,217 rushing yards) and might be the most gifted receiving (77-699) threat out of the backfield in the league. Antonio Pierce has his hands full trying to track Westbrook; Brandon Short could be helpful here.

Edge: Eagles

When Giants have the ball: No one runs downhill and tracks Tiki Barber more often or more ferociously than Jeremiah Trotter, who must be blocked by congestion in his path. Barber has some huge gains running into the teeth of blitzes, which is why the Eagles sometimes back off their pressure. Birds can be run on and Barber showed last week there’s plenty of gas in his tank.

Edge: Giants

QUARTERBACKS and RECEIVERS vs. DEFENSIVE BACKS

When Eagles have the ball: Jeff Garcia at 36 remains more comfortable rolling of the pocket than he is standing in it and has been surprisingly effective with the deep ball. The key here is containing Westbrook as a receiving threat, covering TE L.J. Smith (hello, Gibril Wilson) and keeping Reggie Brown (eight TDs) out of the end zone. The Giants don’t exactly cover like wallpaper and CBs Sam Madison and R.W. McQuarters will be tested deep.

Edge: Eagles

When Giants have the ball: Eli Manning has enjoyed some of his best moments vs. the Birds but he hasn’t been much good lately. If he throws any wounded ducks up there, S Brian Dawkins will put someone in the hospital. Neither CB, Lito Sheppard or Sheldon Brown, can handle WR Plaxico Burress one-on-one, which is why the Eagles will double Burress, unafraid that Tim Carter or Sinorice Moss can beat them.

Edge: Eagles

OFFENSIVE LINE vs. DEFENSIVE LINE

When Eagles have the ball: Massive up front, led by Pro Bowler Shawn Andrews and always-tough Jon Runyan, Eagles are run-blocking better and have allowed only six sacks in Garcia’s 188 pass attempts. DE Osi Umenyiora is desperately searching for his form and will have to find it against LT William Thomas, who is huge. Rookie NT Barry Cofield is wearing down in the middle and fellow rookie DE Mathias Kiwanuka hasn’t made a big impact in a while.

Edge: Eagles

When Giants have the ball: Rich Seubert’s return and having him move in at LG is good news for this unit. Versatile David Diehl at LT is an improvement over Bob Whitfield. RT Kareem McKenzie has to move his feet vs. the edge rushing of DE Trent Cole (team-high eight sacks) and there needs to be instant communication to combat the blitzes that are sure to come. In the middle, DTs Mike Patterson and Darwin Walker aren’t huge space-eaters.

Edge: Giants

SPECIAL TEAMS

Eagles’ return game is not stellar, with Reno Mahe trustworthy but not a keep-you-up-at-night threat. Giants have been stuck in the mud with their return game – maybe Moss can add a spark – but have improved in coverage, with David Tyree finally making some head-turning plays.

Edge: Giants

KICKING GAME

David Akers is a proven performer but he has missed five FGs this season. Dirk Johnson is a veteran punter without a huge leg. For the Giants, Jay Feely is getting better distance on kickoffs and ended the season making nine consecutive kicks. Jeff Feagles will drive the ball into the corner or out of bounds better than almost everyone else.

Edge: Giants

COACHING

Andy Reid has done a masterful job keeping the Eagles believing after Donovan McNabb went down and smartly leaned more heavily on the running game. Tom Coughlin is coaching for his job and will need the mother of all gameplans to get out of this one alive.

Edge: Eagles

PREDICTION

Familiarity helps the Giants as far as going in with no fear, but they haven’t played a complete game in months. Put it this way: Who other than Barber can possibly come up huge for the Giants? Eagles aren’t sure things at the Linc, but they’ll have enough here.

EAGLES 27, GIANTS 17