EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- A skirmish broke out with around three minutes left in the fourth quarter of a tight game Sunday at MetLife Stadium. At the bottom of it all was New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard and Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins.

Eagles and Giants fans might want to get used to that. This is a matchup and rivalry that appears to be just getting started.

Shepard and Jenkins got entangled on a running play and went to the ground together late in the Eagles' 34-29 victory over the Giants. Their teammates momentarily entered the fray and participated in some extracurricular pushing and shoving.

It wasn't anything crazy. It all settled moments later because there was a game to be decided. But it wasn't the first and likely won't be the last time that the Jenkins-Shepard matchup gets heated.

"The guy over the top of me, 27 [Jenkins], he didn't like the way I did him," said Shepard, who had 11 catches for 139 yards and a touchdown in the contest. "So he tried to get after me a little bit. I have to be better at that too. Can't let that get to us and affect the team."

By that point the frustration was already building for Shepard. The officials had called an incomplete pass moments earlier on a play where he seemed to think the catch was made. It boiled over several minutes later when the Giants' potential game-winning drive ended with a no-call on what Shepard thought was pass interference on rookie tight end Evan Engram.

Shepard was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct for yelling at the official after the play. He said after the game he wanted to apologize to the official for his actions.

Shepard admitted that this was likely Jenkins' intention all along. He was aiming to get the young receiver off his game.

"Probably so. He does all that move stuff to get under your skin," Shepard said. "Doesn't really work with me."

Shepard has torn apart the Eagles in his short career. He had 18 catches for 272 yards and two touchdowns against Philadelphia this season. He has scored a touchdown in all four of his career games against them as well.

For most of Sunday, Shepard might have been right. Jenkins' tactics weren't working. But in the end it contributed to him losing his cool, and will likely cost some money in the form of a likely impending fine.

Jenkins didn't disagree with Shepard's assessment that he was trying to get him riled.

"Completely accurate. I try to get under everybody's skin that I play," Jenkins said. "I want to own you not only physically but mentally.

"I don't think I did anything outside the rules or dirty. I'm just an annoying player."

Shepard, a second-round pick last year, probably wouldn't argue. He's seen these tactics before.

"Every time we play," Shepard said. "He had some words to say and I did too."

Jenkins noticed the chatter from the young receiver. He didn't seem to have a problem with anything that was said or done on the other side of this budding personal rivalry.

In fact, Jenkins seems to respect the way Shepard fights and balls.

"He's a competitor. He's a young guy. I got a lot of respect for him," Jenkins said. "I think that is part of the reason he's so successful is because he's got a lot of fight in him especially as a younger guy, smaller guy."

Shepard, the Giants second-leading receiver this season, didn't seem to have any complaints about Jenkins either, only observations. They just have a good, old-fashioned rivalry that might take some getting used to over the next few years.

Shepard is in his second professional season and Jenkins is signed with the Eagles through 2020. They will match up against each other in the future plenty in this NFC East rivalry.