In anticipation of Sunday's highly anticipated Week 18 matchup at MetLife Stadium, the focus is on the key player matchups and individual milestones to watch out for in the battle between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants.

One intriguing matchup to watch is between Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson and Giants outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux. Thibodeaux, despite showing promise in his NFL career, has yet to record a sack against either the Cowboys or the Eagles in his seven games against them. Johnson, considered one of the best in the league, has previously shut down Thibodeaux, holding him without a tackle or sack in their previous encounter and the recent divisional playoff game. However, Thibodeaux has had a strong season with a team-leading 11.5 sacks, although he hasn't recorded any sacks in his last three games.

While the Giants aim for a victory in their final game of the season, both teams are wary of injuries that could hinder their offseason preparations. The Eagles, in particular, view this game as a final tuneup before their playoff game the following week. They not only seek to stay sharp but also want to emerge unscathed.

For Giants running back Saquon Barkley, reaching 1,000 rushing yards for the fourth time in his career remains a potential milestone. Sitting at 916 yards, he needs only 84 more yards to achieve this feat. Barkley has displayed durability this season by playing in the final 12 games despite earlier injury setbacks. Despite a tough year for the team, Barkley expressed confidence and readiness for the game.

On the defensive side, Giants' defensive player Dexter Lawrence voiced his concerns about the possibility of a new defensive coordinator. Learning a new scheme would be a challenging adjustment for Lawrence, who regards their current coordinator highly.

As for the Eagles, they were soaring with a 10-1 record before experiencing a downturn, losing four of their last five games. The team no longer controls their destiny in terms of winning the NFC East title. Head coach Nick Sirianni, who led the Eagles to the Super Bowl last season, suddenly finds himself facing some pressure. However, star receiver A.J. Brown defended Sirianni and emphasized the talent within the team.

The Giants' special teams coordinator, Thomas McGaughey, evaluated his group's performance throughout the turbulent season. The team struggled initially to find a reliable punt returner and also went through four kickers. McGaughey acknowledged the ups and downs but noted improvements as the season progressed, particularly highlighting punter Jamie Gillan's contribution.

Both teams are eager to wrap up the regular season on a positive note, though the Eagles have their sights set on the upcoming playoffs. Fans and analysts alike are anxiously awaiting this exciting divisional matchup in what promises to be a thrilling Sunday showdown.