Predictions Summary Projections by Position Projection Team Boxes

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Prediction: NYG 17, WAS 27 (Line: WAS by 3.5)

The 1-2 Giants finally got their win but hit the road where their only other game ended with a 21 point loss in Detroit. The 1-2 Redskins are at home where they are 1-0 thanks to mopping the floor with the Jaguars. This is a divisional matchup and anything can happen. The Giants have looked horrible this year but came to life against the Texans. Still have to lean towards the home team here. This is the Thursday night game so there is hope the defenses won’t get in the way of a good time.

The Giants swept the Redskins last year, winning 20-6 in New York and 24-17 in Washington.

The Giants finally came to life last week when they hosted the Texans when Eli Manning completed 75% of his passes and had no turnovers. Rashad Jennings was running wild. All seemed well if only for one week. But the next month holds three road games and the only home stand is against the Falcons (the good ones, not the 2013 Falcons). The win at least keeps the media at bay for a week, but the Giants still face a tough schedule to try to get back into the race.

QUARTERBACK : After throwing two interceptions in each of the first two games, Eli Manning passed for a credible 234 yards and two scores in the win over the Texans. That was at home though and so far “this one is not like the others”. Manning finally had run support and discovered Victor Cruz again. This week says if any of that was real.

Manning threw for 235 yards and one score in Washington last year.

RUNNING BACK : Rashard Jennings turned in 176 yards and a score on 34 runs in the win over the Texans but that’s almost double his first two weeks combined. Jennings commands the biggest share of work and normally adds four receptions to his totals. Jennings only other score was in the loss in Detroit. The Giants rushed for 80 yards on 20 carries and two scores in Washington last season. Andre Williams only adds short yardage runs and relief work. Jennings’ success should yield more work at least earlier in games.

WIDE RECEIVER : Odell Beckham is expected to miss yet another game but may be back by week five. Victor Cruz ended with 107 yards and a score on five catches last week but his only other road game produced just two catches for 24 yards. His touchdown catch was his first in almost exactly a year. Reuben Randle still remains incapable of gaining more than 40 yards in a game and that won’t help when the Giants fall behind. His role is safe mostly because Beckham is incapable of healing so far.

Cruz ended with 80 yards on six catches against the Skins last year.

TIGHT END : He comes off his lowest effort of the short year but Larry Donnell still turned in six receptions for 45 yards in the win over the Texans. His lone touchdown came in the road game in Detroit and Manning is relying on him for around half a dozen receptions each week.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: This will be only the second home game for the Redskins who will be motivated to pull out of their current losing record. The rushing defense has been outstanding with no rushing touchdowns allowed. Arian Foster ran for 103 yards on them but that was with 27 carries and in a low scoring game in Houston. The Jaguars as a team only ran for eight yards on seven carries in Washington two weeks ago. Nick Foles lit the Skins up last week but back at home the Giants will be hard-pressed to not return to their struggling offensive ways. You can start Cruz, Jennings and even Donnell but don’t expect more than moderate production.

You could argue that it is all a coincidence. That team dynamics and the schedule make each week so different. But if you want to just point at the scoreboard – Kirk Cousins is everything that Robert Griffin III was supposed to be and isn’t (including healthy). When Griffin was the starter, the Skins only scored six points in the loss in Houston. Under Cousins, they are averaging 38 points a game. You cannot pin the Philly loss on the offense. This offense looks the way that Jay Gruden intended when he came over as the new head coach.

QUARTERBACK : Over two games played, Kirk Cousins threw for five touchdowns and 677 yards. He left Philadelphia after 427 yards and three touchdowns. And all that against only two sacks and one interception so far. Two games is a small sample size but no one can argue that Cousins has been far more productive than Griffin was using the same offense.

Griffin threw for 207 yards and one score when the Giants visited last season.

RUNNING BACK : Alfred Morris still never catches a pass and his 77 yards on 23 runs in Philly saw Roy Helu rush in the short score. Morris scored twice in the home win over the Jaguars but Darrel Young totals three scores and even Silas Redd scored once. Morris is nothing more than the 20 carry runner and more often than not doesn’t get the goal line work.

Morris only gained 26 yards on 11 runs but scored once on the visiting Giants last year.

WIDE RECEIVER : Cousins did little with the wide receivers in the first game mostly because they were never needed in that blowout win. But last week in a shootout with the Eagles. Pierre Garcon (11-138, TD) and DeSean Jackson (5-117, TD) both had season high games. Both are considered must-starts so long as Cousins is the starter.

Garcon led all receivers with nine catches for 61 yards and one score when the Giants visited last year.

TIGHT END : Jordan Reed looks likely to miss yet another week so Niles Paul will get the start. He’s been consistently good for 70 yards or more each week and will make for an interesting dilemma once Reed returns. Paul’s best effort was in the home win over the Jaguars when eh scored once on his eight catches for 99 yards.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: The Giants have allowed four rushing scores but the Skins have used four different runners to score. Expect just another moderate game from Morris as always with a chance of a touchdown. Cousins faces a secondary that gave up 346 yards and two scores to the Lions in their only other road trip so far. This is the secondary that gave up 164 yards and two scores to Calvin Johnson and later 116 yards to DeAndre Hopkins. Consider both wideouts as strong starts and Morris is good for his mediocre standard. Cousins is a must-start at least until he slows down.

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