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THE GAME

The Giants (2-13) vs. the Washington Redskins (7-8) at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey,, on Sunday, Dec. 31, at 1 p.m. ET.

THE WEATHER

As if anyone needed a reason to stay home, it'll be 19 degrees (that's the high) with 15 mph winds (that's not even the gusts), so it will feel much colder. It'll feel really cold when the wind starts whipping around what surely will be one of the emptiest stadiums the Giants have ever experienced. It'll be much warmer in your living room, trust me.

WHAT IT MEANS

For the sentimental folks, there's at least a chance that this will be Eli Manning's final start for the Giants -- though the hiring of Dave Gettleman as GM likely means Manning will at least be given the option for more next year. For the futurists, this game is all about the 2018 draft. If the Giants lose, they lock up the No. 2 pick and will be in perfect position to grab Manning's eventual replacement. For everyone else, as far as the Giants are concerned, it means nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning threw for 113 yards, was intercepted once and was sacked four times, while New York's defense allowed a late go-ahead touchdown to Kirk Cousins in a 20-10 loss to the Washington Redskins on Thursday at FedEx Field.

Manning completed 13 of 27 passes, the last of which was intercepted by Kendall Fuller, as the Giants lost for the fourth time in the last five games. The veteran quarterback, who entered the final drive with just 77 passing yards, has thrown for at least 100 yards in each week since Oct. 28, 2007.

The Giants gave up a tie-breaking 14-yard touchdown from Cousins to Josh Doctson in the left side of the end zone that gave Washington a 17-10 lead with 3:31 left. On the ensuing drive, the Giants went three-and-out, ending with a sack on fourth-and-3 from their own 32.

Giants linebacker Curtis Grant was carted off the field in the first quarter of Thursday's game against the Washington Redskins with a right knee injury.

Grant was caught in the bottom of a pile and had his leg rolled up on before referees blew the play dead. 

Players from both teams knelt on the field as team medical staff evaluated Grant before he was carted off. As he was helped onto the cart, players on both teams showed their respect by tapping him on the arm before he left the field. New York ruled him out for the remainder of the game.

Fellow linebacker Deontae Skinner left the game with a hamstring injury midway through the game, and the Giants were already playing without linebackers B.J. Goodson and Calvin Munson due to ankle and quad injuries, respectively.

The Giants ruled wide receiver Sterling Shepard out for Thursday's game against the Washington Redskins due to an illness.

Shepard, who did not play in Sunday's 12-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs due to migraine headaches, missed practice Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Offensive guard D.J. Fluker (toe), linebacker B.J. Goodson (ankle), offensive lineman Justin Pugh (back), linebacker Calvin Munson (quad), cornerback Eli Apple and quarterback David Webb are also inactive.

The Giants will take on the Redskins in Washington D.C. on Thanksgiving night, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.

The game will take place on Nov. 23, and represents New York's 15th Thanksgiving Day contest since 1926. 

The Giants last played on Thanksgiving in 2009 against the Denver Broncos.

While the New York Giants are still alive in the postseason and head to Lambeau Field to face the Green Bay Packers in the NFC wild-card round, their 2017 opponents became official on Sunday.

The Giants will have four road games on the West Coast next season, traveling to face the Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders. 

In addition to home and road games against their division rivals, New York will travel to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next year.

New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. continued his rivalry with cornerback Josh Norman by trolling him on Instagram following the Giants' 19-10 win over the Washington Redskins on Sunday.

Beckham posted a photo from the game of himself running past Norman with the caption "'Everybody got a deal, I did it without one...' #OnToTheNext", lyrics from a Drake song that is a shot at Norman's contract.

Norman signed a five-year, $75 million deal with Washington in the offseason after the Carolina Panthers, his former team, released him due to his contract. 

Eli Manning led the Giants to a late scoring drive and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie had two interceptions as New York eliminated the Washington Redskins from playoff contention with a 19-10 win Sunday at FedEx Field.

Last season, the Washington Redskins finally distanced themselves from the Robert Griffin III era and decided to put all their chips on Kirk Cousins, the player they selected inthe same draft as Griffin that many felt would eventually end up as their starter.

Ralph Vacchiano, SNY.TV: 

As much as the New York Giants wanted to clinch their first playoff berth since 2011 on the field in Philadelphia on Thursday, they know it doesn't really matter how they get in - just as long as they get in. And they can still get in four different ways this weekend, before they even have to think about playing their finale in Washington on Jan. 1.

Ralph Vacchiano, SNY.TV: 

Earlier this week, I gave you a long and complex look at the New York Giants' relatively simple playoff situation, which boils down to this: win and they're in, or hope they can avoid a three-way tie with the Lions and the Buccaneers.

The NFL made it even simpler. The Giants can clinch a playoff spot in Week 16 if any of these five things happen:

John Fennelly, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | | Archive Posts

The Giants' 21-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals Monday night completed a clean sweep for the NFC East this weekend. All four teams won close ballgames to keep the order in the division for at least another week. The NFC East is the only one of the NFL's eight divisions where all four clubs have winning records.

First place Dallas (8-1, 2-1 in the division) won their eighth straight game, a thrilling 35-30 victory over the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 114 yards with two touchdowns, including the game-winning 32-yard score with nine seconds remaining and had 95 receiving yards with a touchdown.

Though the New York Giants are in last place in the NFC East heading into the bye week, there is the possibility they can enter Week 9 in second place.

The New York Giants still find themselves at the bottom of the NFC East despite beating the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.

New York Giants center Weston Richburg was fined $12,000 for taunting in Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Richburg became the first player ejected under the NFL's new rule in which players are disqualified from a game in which they record two unsportsmanlike penalties. 

Richburg was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the second quarter and again in the fourth quarter when he hit Redskins CB Josh Norman behind the play that negated a 24-yard gain.

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The NFL's new two-strikes-and-you're-out rule has unofficially been named after Odell Beckham Jr. But it was one of his teammates that first felt its brunt.

New York Giants center Weston Richburg became the first player ejected under the NFL's new rule in which a player would be tossed for two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. He got one in the second quarter and another in the fourth of the Giants' 29-27 loss to the Washington Redskins.

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Odell Beckham Jr. and Josh Norman turned their meeting last December into more of a pro wrestling match than a football game. So it's hard to believe they were really surprised when the officials warned them not to do it again.

Yet they both seemed shocked -- shocked! -- on Sunday to get stern, pregame warnings from referee John Hussey that they both better be on their best behavior. And as they may have seemed, the warnings obviously worked since, for the most part, the two were well-behaved during the Giants' 29-27 loss.

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Washington Redskins' game plan won't be any mystery, whether Josh Norman shadows Odell Beckham or not. They are coming for Beckham. They will trash-talk him and shove him and do everything they can to knock him off his game.

And Beckham knows it.

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - DeSean Jackson is friends with Odell Beckham and he's a teammate of Josh Norman, so he knows all about the "hatred" they have for each other.

Still, he's hopeful that the two of them play a "clean" game on Sunday - nothing like the ugly, penalty-marred slugfest they had nine months ago.

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The much-anticipated Josh Norman-Odell Beckham Jr. rematch is still more than a week away, but the war of words has already begun.

Two of Beckham's teammates -- Victor Cruz and Janoris Jenkins -- took shots at Norman, the new Redskins cornerback, for not covering Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Antonio Brown in Washington's season-opening loss on Monday night. It seemed like a logical matchup -- Norman, one of the best corners in the league, against Brown, perhaps the league's best receiver.

New Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman said he is looking forward to matching up against New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. twice per season.

"It's gonna be fun. He's a competitor," Norman said at his introductory press conference on Monday, according to ProFootballTalk's Josh Alper. "I'm gonna play. I'm gonna give everything I got just as well as he is. … Whatever happens that day, it will happen. I don't hold the future."

Norman signed a five-year, $75 million deal with Washington after the Carolina Panthers rescinded his franchise tag last week. Afterward, Beckham reacted by tweeting Kanye West lyrics:

With game day nearing, we delve into the scouting report to break down the Giants' Week 12 opponent, the Washington Redskins

Here are some numbers that tell the story about Washington, including how they have fared so far in the 2015 season and the Giants' history against them…

3: The Giants registered 3 sacks against the Giants before the bye week, which was a season-high mark.

The only other significance of this game is to fantasy players. But then again, neither team has been lighting up the scoreboard this season.

The Redskins thought they had their franchise QB in RGIII, only to have him get injured and then not play well enough to reclaim his job after his return. They now have three QBs, which in this business, means you have none. Colt McCoy is slated to start this Sunday at MetLife.

Kickoff: 8:25pm EDT

Site: FedEx Field

The 46-year-old former Bengals offensive coordinator?and the younger brother of Super Bowl winning coach Jon Gruden?succeeds Mike Shanahan, who was fired 11 days ago after four seasons in Washington (Read Full).

https://twitter.com/art_stapleton/status/421291136368795649

This would take at least one hard decision out of the Giants' hands if he is hired away.

Doubtful he'll be hired though. Fewell has been interviewed for head coaching spots before and the rumblings were he was used several times to placate the league's Rooney rule, which mandates that at least one minority candidate be interviewed for all head coaching openings.

Early in the second quarter, the Giants were mounting a drive into Washington territory. On 3rd-and-2 on the WAS 32, Eli Manning had Hakeem Nicks free for a first down, but his arm was hit and the ball sailed over Nicks' head. The Giants were forced to turn to PK Josh Brown to attempt a 50-yard FG in the rain.

Brown hooked the attempt wide left, snapping a team-record of 17 consecutive FGAs.

The Giants lead the overall series, 94-65-4, and the regular season series, 93-64-4. The Redskins and Giants have clashed twice in the postseason at New York. Washington won 28-0 in 1943 in the division playoffs and New York won 17-0 in the 1986 NFC Championship game.

Today's game features two of the NFL's top-five winningest active coaches. Redskins' head coach Mike Shanahan has 178 wins (incl. playoffs) and ranks second behind Bill Belichick (216). The Giants' Tom Coughlin is third with 169. Jeff Fisher (164) and Andy Reid (151) are the others.

Who knows what was said in visitor's locker room, but whatever it was, it worked. The Giants defense, led by veteran Justin Tuck who bowed inside FedEx Field?four times last night, took over in the second half and held Washington to just 96 yards in the remaining two quarters.

A clutch play by Will Hill to strip Pierre Garcon in the late minutes of the fourth quarter would seal a victory for the Giants, pushing?their record to 5-7, two games behind the division leaders Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles, while eliminating the Redskins from any chance of playoff contention.

Their offense leads the league in rushing yards per attempt (4.9) and are second in the NFL third down conversions (70).

They rank second in the NFL in rushing yards per game (150.2) and also rank...

It was previously announced that the Week 13 New England Patriots-Houston Texans game will be played at 1:00 PM ET on CBS and the Denver Broncos-Kansas City Chiefs game at 4:25 PM ET on CBS.

Dallas Cowboys

Jimmy:?They did nothing in terms of outside free agents. The only guy that may see the field at all would be Justin Durant, who may start at SLB, but will be the first guy off the field in most sub-packages. There?s a sense that a bunch of their draft picks will see action right away. I don?t see it that way. Their first-round pick Travis Frederick should start at C from Day One, but aside from him, I?m not seeing how any of their other picks are going to have immediate impact roles as rookies.

The Giants signed kicker Josh Brown, ending Lawrence Tynes? run with the Giants. He got two rings out of it, so good for him. Don?t be surprised if the Giants continue to address the kicker position in the draft. The guy that I would keep an eye on is Caleb Sturgis of Florida, who was absolutely murdering the ball at the East-West Shrine Game practices.

The Giants hosted Jasper Brinkley, but he left to go visit the Cardinals. I can?t say that I know anything about Brinkley?s game, but the overwhelming theme in reading up on him quickly is that he wouldn?t be much of an upgrade over Chase Blackburn, a player who shouldn?t have been starting in the NFL in the first place.

From Rich Tandler of CSNWashington:

Redskins QB Robert Griffin III will undergo surgery on Wednesday to repair torn anterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments in his right knee,according to a report on ESPN.com. The good news in this is that it appears that Griffin will not miss any regular season games as a result of the injury.

Both rookie QBs have been complemented by strong running games. For the Redskins, rookie running back Alfred Morris finished second in the NFL with a team-record 1,613 rushing yards. Seahawks running back Marshawn Lunch ranked third in the league with 1,590 yards and was selected to his second Pro Bowl (first with Seattle).

Seattle and Washington enter the postseason as two of the hottest teams in the league. The Seahawks have won five in a row and seven of their past eight while the Redskins are riding a seven-game winning streak and are the fifth team in NFL history to make the playoffs after a 3-6 start.

0....the number of times RGIII was sacked. Also, the number of turnovers committed by the Giants.

1....FGs missed by the Giants.

Rob Carlin of CSNWashington recaps the Redkins' big win over the first-place Giants Monday night:

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- Alfred Morris is running like a man possessed after his fumble in the redzone.

- Missed tackles by the defense and precise throws by RGIII are carving apart this Giants defense. The Redskins amke it look easy and capture the lead with their first drive of the 4th quarter.

That 51 O/U looks to be low, but it's only gauged by the first meeting - a 27-23 Giant win. The way Washington has been scoring of late, the over looks good, but nothing is ever as easy as it looks.

LINK: Three reasons to bet either way

The Giants can with this game without completely 'stopping' Griffin. They have to limit him, however, but there's other ways they can tilt this game in their favor...

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03AH9YxR-v4]

ESPN's Ron Jaworski shares his keys to the game for Robert Griffin III and Eli Manning on "Monday Night Football."

Kickoff: 8:30pm Eastern

Site: FedEx Field

Since then, the Giants and 'Skins have each embarked on their own journeys.

New York has been searching for an identity after dropping two of their three games following the 27-23 vs. Washington. But after a week away from the grid iron and a 38-10 rout of the the Packers Sunday night, the defending champs appear to be on track.

Giants

The Skins have been amping it up the past few weeks and Griffin has been taking more shots down the field. In the first meeting against the Giants, Griffin threw two TDs - both to veteran WR Santana Moss. Each occurred inside the 30 yard line.

The Giants, like everyone else, have been watching. ?Since coming off their Week 10 bye, Griffin has tossed eight touchdowns - four in each game. He is gaining confidence and seeing the field much better. He is running the triple option with great success and throwing with flawless accuracy to boot. Tom Coughlin was asked if his team, having faced Griffin already, will use what they've learned in their prior meeting to their advantage.

While Cruz' words may ring accurate - the Redskins are a rising team that is only a few players away - is it wise for him to be making comments such as these the week of the game? A game Tom Coughlin has called the most important of the season?

Here's what was said: