Eagles' block party helps clinch first-round playoff bye

Eagles’ Kamu Grugier-Hill, right, blocks a punt by the Giants’ Brad Wing in the 2nd quarter as the Philadelphia Eagles play the New York Giants in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Sunday.EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – With the exception of their red-hot kicker Jake Elliott, who has made 22 of his last 24 field goal attempts, the Eagles’ special teams have not played up to their usual standard this season.

They haven’t been bad. But when you’ve been ranked the No. 1 special teams in the league two of the last three years, well, things like the 46-yard punt return they gave up to the Broncos’ Isaiah Mckenzie in Week 8, and the 61-yard kickoff return they gave up to the Cowboys’ Ryan Switzer in Week 11,…