The Giants are need of a win and the Redskins have always been there to provide them with one. That is, until now. The two teams seem to be going in opposite directions. The Giants, at 0-2, have been unable to close out games, while the Redskins have pounded the opponents on both sides of the ball so far this season.
The NFC East, however, is very unpredictable and as we've seen so far this year, anything is possible in the NFL. This is a matchup that doesn't seem to favor the Giants -- a team with a new alignment on the offensive line and a defensive front that doesn't get a lot of pressure on the QB.
But the Giants have playmakers. WR Odell Beckham, Jr. is perhaps the NFL's top play-maker at the moment. And RB Shane Vereen provides a boost in the short passing game as the Giants have been very competitive the first two games. Except late in the fourth quarter.
From the NFL Media room....
The Giants enter Week 3 following a 24-20 loss to Atlanta on Sunday. Wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. had seven receptions for 146 yards and a touchdown against the Falcons. Beckham, Jr., who now has 103 career catches in 14 career games, became the fastest player in NFL history to reach the 100-reception mark. His 1,495 career receiving yards are also the most through a player’s first 14 games.Â
Giants quarterback Eli Manning completed 27 of 40 passes (67.5 percent) for 292 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 105.4 passer rating in Week 2. Manning now has 40,240 career passing yards, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas (40,239) for 14th on the all-time list.
The Giants have won the past four games against Washington, including a 45-14 victory over the Redskins on Thursday Night Football last season. The Giants have not lost at home to the Redskins since 2011.
On Thursday, Manning looks to continue his impressive play against divisional opponents. Since entering the league in 2004, Manning has passed for 15,773 yards against the NFC East, the third-most passing yards against a player’s own division during that span.
Washington is coming off a Week 3, 24-10 victory over the Rams. Redskins QB Kirk Cousins is coming into his own and completed 23 of 27 passes (85.2 %) for 203 yards and a TD for a 110.3 passer rating in the victory. Washington rookie running back Matt Jones (Round 3, No. 95 overall) rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns in the game.
The Redskins currently lead the league in rushing with 343 yards (171.5 yards per game). Washington is the only team that has two players with at least 150 rushing yards. Alfred Morris has 180 and the rookie Jones, 151.
Morris has been very productive against the Giants during his career, racking up 444 rushing yards against them, the third-most among running backs since he entered the league in 2012. Morris has rushed for at least 100 yards or scored a touchdown in four of six career meetings versus Big Blue. He has the most rushing yards against the Giants since 2012 after DeMarco Murray and LeSean McCoy.