Why Game vs Redskins Is a Must-Win Game for the New York Giants

The New York Giants' 4-2 record isn't as good as it seems in the NFC East, and this team finds itself in a must-win scenario in Week 7 against the Washington Redskins.

Eli Manning and company absolutely demolished the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park in Week 6—showing up their opponent in every single way.

It was an embarrassing loss from the 49ers' perspective, and with the decisive victory over one of the NFC's top teams, the Giants reasserted themselves as a true powerhouse in the NFL. 

All that will mean exactly nothing, though, if the Redskins come into MetLife Stadium on Sunday and defeat their intra-divisional rivals. It's not such a stretch to think the Redskins could do it, either, as this team defeated the Giants in both contests a year ago. 

Should the Giants lose this next game, not only will they share a 4-3 record with the Redskins, but they'll actually be behind in the NFC East standings with an 0-3 record against their own division. 

Given the fact that the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles have already beaten the Giants, any more divisional losses could completely submarine this team's chances to make it back to the postseason in 2012. 

There's an excellent chance that only one NFC East team will make it into the playoffs this season—the team that wins the division.

With strong teams in the NFC North and NFC West, it is highly probable that the two wild-card teams from the NFC will come from one or both of those divisions. 

The 49ers are currently tied with the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks with a 4-2 record, and the St. Louis Rams are only one game back.

The Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears both feature strong defenses and a four-win total to this point in the season, and the Green Bay Packers are starting to surge.

The Redskins are a legitimate threat to the NFC East divisional crown.

Robert Griffin III gives his team a chance to win every single game, and though the team's passing defense is suspect, the front seven is adept at shutting down opposing teams' running games—making them one-dimensional.

If the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys start getting consistent play from their quarterbacks, this division will surely come down to the wire—much like it did in 2011, when the Giants squeaked past their rivals with a 9-7 record.

Divisional games are more important than any others, and if the Giants fall to 0-3 within the NFC East, it may well spell their doom in 2012. 

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