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Week 7 - Washington Commanders (3-3) @ New York Giants (1-5)
Nuts & Bolts
Date: October 22, 2023
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
How to Watch: CBS
Matchup History: Giants lead all-time series 106-70-5
Last Meeting: New York def. Washington 20-12 on 12/18/22
Betting Lines: Via DraftKings
Spread: Washington -2
Over/Under: 39
Prediction: Washington 19, New York 14
Official Game Notes: HERE
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Head Coach: Ron Rivera (4th season, 25-30-1 record in Washington)
Record: 3-3 (0-1, T-3rd in NFC East)
Last Time Out: Won @ Atlanta 24-16 on 10/15
Highlights HERE
Player to Watch: Sam Howell
It’s been a tumultuous few weeks for the Washington Commanders.
Just days after taking the defending NFC Champions to overtime, Washington lost by 20 to a team that had lost 12 straight games. Then, the next week, went on the road to Atlanta and beat the Falcons, handing them their first home loss of the season.
The inconsistent Commanders now face a divisional opponent for the second time this season in the New York Giants, a team that they failed to defeat last season, tying in the first meeting and losing the second.
Washington quarterback Sam Howell is currently 9th in the NFL in passing yards with 1,500 exactly, sandwiched between Jalen Hurts and Trevor Lawrence.
The first year starting QB has proved to be a significant upgrade from years past, but needs to find more consistency, especially in clutch moments.
Just this past week, Howell and the Commanders offense had the ball three times in the 4th quarter while preserving a one possession lead.
In all of those possessions, Howell and the offense failed to convert a single first down, leaving the door ajar for Atlanta to get back into the game.
Fortunately for Howell, the Washington defense clamped down and kept the Falcons out of the endzone late to preserve the win.
This week, the Commanders face one of their most frequent opponents in the Giants, a team they’ve squared off against nearly 200 times throughout history.
If the Washington defense can continue to force turnovers like it did against Atlanta, and the Commanders can combine strong special teams with opportune offensive production, there’s no reason why Washington shouldn’t end up above .500 with a 4-3 record when it’s all said and done on Sunday.
Head Coach: Brian Daboll (2nd season, 10-12 record in New York)
Record: 1-5 (0-1, 4th in NFC East)
Last Time Out: Lost @ Buffalo 14-9 on 10/15
Highlights HERE
Player to Watch: Saquon Barkley
Perhaps no team is off to a more disappointing start than the New York Giants.
Last year, in Head Coach Brian Daboll’s first year at the helm, the Giants not only made the postseason when nobody expected them to, they won their Wildcard game on the road against Minnesota before falling to Philadelphia in the Divisional Round.
Coming into 2023, the Giants defense was expected to be improved, the offense added key pieces such as tight end Darren Waller, and quarterback Daniel Jones received a four-year, $160 million contract extension to stay in New York.
Through six weeks, the returns are bleak. The Giants are 1-5 and their only win was over Arizona in comeback fashion, coming back to win after trailing 28-7 late in the 3rd quarter.
Three times in the first six games, the Giants have failed to score a touchdown, including in last week’s disappointing loss against Buffalo.
New York led the Bills 6-0 at the half without starting QB Daniel Jones in the lineup. However, they should have led by more but a major gaff at the end of the first half by backup QB Tyrod Taylor left the Giants without points despite driving the ball down to the 1 yard line.
In the game’s closing moments, the Giants were back on the same goal line, trailing 14-9 and needing a touchdown. Taylor’s pass to Darren Waller fell incomplete and, despite a questionable no-call against the defense for holding or pass interference, New York lost once again.
The Giants outgained Buffalo 317-297. Where their fate was sealed was production in the redzone. New York made five trips inside the 20 yard line and didn’t score a single touchdown, only yielding 6 points on those five drives.
The Giants have had a knack for getting in their own way so far in 2023. Against Washington, however, they should have confidence in an opponent they know well and that they didn’t lose to last season.
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