The New York Giants ended 13 years of misery in Philadelphia on Sunday, beating the Eagles 19-11 at Lincoln Financial Field for their first win there since 2013.

The victory snapped a 13-game losing streak at the Eagles' home ground and kept the Giants alone at the top of the NFC East, with a record of 5-2-1. The Eagles, who started Joe Milton at quarterback in his first career start, fell to 2-7 after a seventh straight defeat.

It was not pretty, but for a franchise that had not won in Philadelphia since 2013, the manner of the win mattered far less than the result.

Zvada kicks Giants into the lead

The Giants opened the scoring with two long field goals from Dominic Zvada, from 53 and 49 yards, to lead 6-0. Philadelphia hit back when Saquon Barkley scored on a three-yard touchdown run, and a successful two-point conversion put the Eagles 8-6 ahead.

Zvada added four field goals in total, and the Giants' defence did the rest, holding Barkley to 22 yards and keeping the Eagles scoreless in the third quarter.

The turning point came in the third quarter, when starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy left the game with a hip injury and was taken to the locker room. With the Giants trailing and their season's momentum suddenly at risk, demoted backup Jameis Winston came off the bench.

Winston's rescue act

Winston, who had been benched two games earlier despite a 2-1-1 record as a starter after Jaxson Dart's season-ending knee injury, produced a calm and precise rescue act. He led a 14-play, 76-yard drive, completing six of seven passes for 71 yards on the possession and scrambling for a first down.

The drive ended with a five-yard touchdown pass to tight end Isaiah Likely, who was wide open in the back of the end zone, to put the Giants back in front 13-8. Likely finished with five catches for 53 yards and the touchdown.

Winston finished six of eight for 71 yards and the touchdown, with a passer rating of 141.1, in his only full possession. McCarthy returned after the drive and completed 12 of 19 passes for 127 yards, with no touchdown and no interception.

Defence holds firm

The Giants' defence, which had already kept the Eagles in check for much of the afternoon, held firm in the fourth quarter. The Eagles managed only a field goal after the break, and the Giants added further points through Zvada to close out a 19-11 win.

Linebacker Arvell Reese was among those who stood out, sacking Milton as the Giants' pass rush kept the Eagles' rookie quarterback under pressure throughout the second half.

The win also improved the Giants to 2-0-1 against NFC East opponents this season, a record that underlines their grip on the division. Two other NFC East rivals lost on Sunday, leaving the Giants further clear at the top.

What comes next

The Giants now face a quick turnaround. They return to MetLife Stadium on Thursday night to host the Washington Commanders, a rematch of the tie between the two sides last month.

Before that, Tuesday brings the NFL trade deadline at 4 p.m. Eastern time, and the Giants, sitting first in their division, must decide whether to add to a squad that has now won two straight games.

For the Eagles, the defeat deepens a miserable run. Seven straight losses have left them at the bottom of the NFC East, and Milton's first start ended in defeat despite Barkley's early touchdown.

For the Giants, though, Sunday was about ending a hoodoo. Thirteen years and 13 straight defeats in Philadelphia are over, and they did it with a backup quarterback, a kicker in fine form and a defence that refused to give the game away.