New York Giants (9-6) at Washington Redskins (6-9), 4:15 Eastern at FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland
By Ben Kelly - InReeseWeTrust.com 1/1/11
What happened last time?
The Giants routed the Redskins 31-7 in week 13 behind a 200-yard performance by Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs. Eli Manning was not sacked on the day, and threw an efficient 161 yards on 13 of 25 completions and one interception. New York fans would appreciate Eli’s game managing week 13 performance over his erratic 7 to 7 touchdown to interception ratio in the three weeks since. Donovan McNabb was the Redskins quarterback in week 13, completing 26 of 44 passes for 296 yards, one score and two picks. Since then, McNabb was benched in favor of Rex Grossman and the Redskins began their roster evaluations a few weeks early. Washington’s running backs contributed 69 yards on 14 carries for just under 5 yards a pop, but the offense was forced into a one dimension aerial attack and did not sustain the run game. Grossman is 1-1 as a starter this season.
What to expect from Washington:
The Redskins are playing only for pride at this point in the season, but a victory against New York would help appease Washington’s disgruntled fan base. Mike Shanahan’s handling of Albert Haynesworth and McNabb has drawn criticism from fans and media to the legitimate question of whether trigger-happy owner Daniel Snyder will replace Shanahan and hire his fourth coach in five seasons. The Skins have been competitive in both games with Grossman as the starter, losing 33-30 in Dallas and defeating playoff-contending Jacksonville with a field goal in overtime at home last week. Washington totaled only 251 yards last week, but committed just one turnover, compared to six versus the Giants earlier this season. With Grossman at the helm the offense is more conservative and efficient, but the defense allowed 770 yards in its past two games, with 558 coming by air.
What to expect from New York:
The Giants must win and Green Bay needs to lose to Chicago for the Giants to make the playoffs. New York is missing two more starters this week in center Shaun O’Hara and receiver Hakeem Nicks, and two more key defenders are questionable in Corey Webster and Chris Canty. The game plan against Washington is simple: follow the week 13 map to success with a power run game and conservative passing game. Eli Manning is missing his top two targets in Steve Smith and Nicks, so a reliance on the run game is necessary and probable. Establishing the run early is also necessary to keep the Giants defense off the field, which is suddenly looking very vulnerable following the fourth quarter collapse against Philadelphia and 45 point meltdown in Green Bay. Brandon Jacobs set the tone early in week 13 with a 39-yard burst on the second play from scrimmage, and the Giants will need its stars to step up again if they want to prove they belong with the NFC elite in the playoffs.
Prediction:
Tom Coughlin’s job will be on the line if the Giants complete another December collapse. The trends have buckled away from the Giants in the past five quarters, being outscored 63-17. But playoff navigation is relatively simple: the Giants need to take care of business in Washington and hope Chicago comes ready to play against rival Green Bay even though Chicago has already won the division. A win against Washington gives the Giants a 10-6 record, which in most seasons would be enough to make the playoffs, but the Giants’ two collapses in the past two weeks do not support the condition that the Giants are even worthy of a playoff spot. But all you need is a ticket to the dance, it isn’t a beauty pageant as the 2007 Wild Card Giants proved. The Giants will take care of business in week 17, and beat the Redskins 27-20.
Last week’s prediction: 30-17 Green Bay (45-17 actual)
Season prediction record: 11-4
What’s YOUR score?
