New York Giants vs. Washington Redskins: Complete Week 4 Preview for New York
The New York Giants will open their NFC East slate on Thursday Night Football at FedEx Field, where the Washington Redskins will be ready and waiting.
The Giants (1-2) are just beginning their rebound from a two-game slide to start the season. The Redskins (1-2), however, are already warm after playing their first divisional matchup of 2014 last week against the Philadelphia Eagles. Washington fell to Philadelphia in that contest, 37-34.
With the Eagles (3-0) one of the NFL's three remaining undefeated teams and the Dallas Cowboys (2-1) a game ahead of both the Giants and Redskins, this Thursday night throwdown could not be bigger. It's a game both teams want in order to keep pace with the leaders in the early NFC East race.
The Giants-Redskins rivalry is one of pro football's most historic, with over 160 meetings since 1932. The very first meeting was on Oct. 9, 1932, when New York travelled to Boston to take on the 'Skins, then known as the Braves, only to lose, 14-6. The Giants would recapture the series lead over the next several decades, as it now stands 95-65-4 in New York's favor.
We'll see who captures the latest installment on Thursday evening.
Read on to get caught up on the latest news, injury updates, matchups to watch and more.
Week 3 Recap
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A different Giants team took the field last Sunday to face the Houston Texans.
They were a team with a functioning offense. A team with an opportunistic defense. A team capable of making a few big plays and turning them into points.
They were a team that could win.
And win they did, taking out the Texans, 30-17, without much wasted effort. Houston entered the contest undefeated but didn't look it for a second of Sunday's action. Without running back Arian Foster, the Texans had no edge on offense. On defense, Texans end J.J. Watt couldn't pull out a win all on his own.
The Giants were in synchronization for the first time this season. They were ghastly against the Detroit Lions in Week 1 and shaky at best against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2. Then suddenly New York looked like a playoff-caliber team when hosting Houston in Week 3.
It started with the performance of the offensive line. The linemen made life easy for quarterback Eli Manning, who wasn't bothered in the pocket on downs in which he didn't hand the ball off to running back Rashad Jennings.
The Giants' O-line was so dominant at the point of attack that it was able to steamroll a path for Jennings to set a new career-best mark: 176 rushing yards in a single game. Jennings' consistent moving of the chains kept New York's offense on the field for long, sustained drives. That helped the Giants win the time-of-possession battle, 32:34 to 27:26.
When Manning dropped back to pass, he was hardly hassled. Watt slithered into the backfield for one early sack on Manning, but the Giants passer may not have been touched outside of that play. Houston's pass rush was neutralized, and the extra time in the pocket allowed Manning to pick apart the Texans defense with 75 percent accuracy throwing the ball.
While an efficient offense protected possession, setting the foundation for victory, a defensive unit bent on taking the ball away was the driving force. New York's secondary atoned for an early Larry Donnell fumble by intercepting Ryan Fitzpatrick three times before the game's final gun sounded. Most of Fitzpatrick's mistakes were forced by a lively Giants pass rush.
News and Notes
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Brown Gets Benched
One concern about the Giants defense is the secondary's tendency to blow wide open for the opposition to exploit. We saw it in Week 1 when Calvin Johnson got free for a 67-yard touchdown; we saw it again against the Texans when Damaris Johnson broke loose for a 44-yard score.
Safety Stevie Brown appears to be at the root of these miscues. In Week 3, Brown was pulled late in the game, following the Johnson touchdown, in favor of rookie Nat Berhe. This week, word from Dan Graziano of ESPN.com is Quintin Demps will be in the starting lineup in place of Brown.
So far, Brown has not resembled the safety he was in 2012, when he registered eight interceptions in relief of Kenny Phillips. He tore his ACL during the 2013 preseason; it's possible the 27-year-old lost half a step somewhere during his recovery.
McAdoo Not Satisfied
Watching New York's offense run so smoothly against the Texans was overwhelming and unexpected for everyone not named Ben McAdoo.
The offensive coordinator planned all along on featuring a unit as efficient as the one that took the field to face Houston in Week 3. Yet, as refined as his platoon appeared on Sunday, McAdoo is not satisfied with the current state of the offense. He sees ways in which it can still improve, according to Tom Rock of Newsday.
Eli Manning completed 75 percent of his passes. Rashad Jennings set a career-high rushing mark. Victor Cruz did his first salsa dance in nearly a calendar year. It's hard to imagine what else McAdoo could have in store for this newfangled offense.
New Flavor To Cruz's Salsa?
Speaking of Cruz's salsa dance, it sounds like there's a new one in the works.
Cruz is telling fans to stay tuned for an updated scoring celebration, Jordan Raanan of NJ.com reports. Might he moonwalk across the end zone? Perhaps Cruz pulls out a waltz routine with Rueben Randle.
For all our sakes, I hope not.
Cruz's tone has changed dramatically in the past two weeks. First, he complained about a lack of targets, per Raanan. Then, fans complained about a lack of catches. Heading into Week 4, everyone is happy once again, as the topic of conversation has now shifted to choreographed movements in the end zone.
Quote of the Week
Head coach Tom Coughlin on running back Rashad Jennings' workload, courtesy of Giants.com:
"He’s a highly, highly conditioned athlete. We talked about his normal routine and how that changes a little bit this week. He appears to be doing well. I think he’s moving right along, on pace to be good to go on Thursday.
"
Injury Report
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Here's the Giants' final injury report for Week 4, courtesy of NFL.com:
| Player | Injury | Practice Status | Game Status |
| LB Jon Beason | Foot/toe | Limited | Doubtful |
| LB Devon Kennard | Hamstring | DNP | OUT |
| WR Odell Beckham Jr. | Hamstring | Limited | OUT |
| P Steve Weatherford | Ankle | Limited | Probable |
| CB Zack Bowman | Quad | Limited | Questionable |
| T James Brewer | Back | Limited | Questionable |
| T Charles Brown | Shoulder | Limited | Questionable |
Many expected Beason and Beckham to make returns this Thursday, but those hopes were unfounded. Preston Parker will continue to fill in for Jerrel Jernigan, now on injured reserve, at third receiver. Jameel McClain should see the majority of the snaps at middle linebacker.
The only new addition to the list is Bowman, who picked up a quadricep injury. He is a contributor on special teams and a valuable reserve at cornerback. It hurts to have him less than full strength, but it could be worse with him only listed as "questionable."
Weatherford will continue his miraculous play on a mangled ankle, while injuries to Brewer and Brown keep the Giants just a little thin at offensive line.
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Matchups to Watch and X-Factor
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Jason Pierre-Paul vs. Trent Williams
If Pierre-Paul really is reborn, he'll be able to beat an elite left tackle around the edge.
I say around the edge because I see no way Pierre-Paul goes through the 6'5", 337-pound Williams. As big and strong as JPP is even in his most formidable form, he stands no chance trying to overpower Williams. He is a premier blindside protector, not a Will Beatty-esque chump.
Although Williams has solid footwork, Pierre-Paul's only chance at winning this matchup is with his speed. He must get creative with his pass-rushing moves and catch Williams off balance a time or two in order to reach the quarterback.
Even if he is kept out of the backfield by Williams, Pierre-Paul will make a lot of tackles in run support.
Victor Cruz vs. Tracy Porter
After registering his first 100-yard game in what seemed like forever, Cruz is in for a good matchup against Porter and the Redskins.
Washington's top cornerback unit is subpar, but Porter is a bright spot in the slot. This is his third team in as many years, however, and he's nursing a hamstring injury. If Cruz can get him uncomfortable early, Eli Manning may be able to exploit this matchup all night.
Cruz holds the undoubted edge in this matchup, even though Manning threw a pick-six to Porter last season, when he was an Oakland Raider. Things appear to be on the upswing for Cruz—and the Giants offense as a whole—and some journeyman corner in Washington's shaky secondary is in no position to stop him.
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie vs. DeSean Jackson
This will be one of the most enticing one-on-one matchups we'll see all year, as it pins strength vs. strength.
Rodgers-Cromartie and Jackson were teammates for two seasons in Philadelphia. The two speedsters are familiar with each other from their battles in practice. Their time sharing a practice field should have DRC physically prepared; he claims it has him mentally prepared.
"He's going to say something,'' Rodgers-Cromartie told Tom Rock of Newsday. "I know he is. ... If you know anything about him, he is a talker.''
It might be a battle of who gets in his opponent's head first to determine the victor. A first-quarter touchdown by Jackson or interception by Rodgers-Cromartie will have a larger bearing on the game's outcome than either play normally would.
Giants X-Factor of the Week: Weston Richburg
Rookie center Weston Richburg, currently filling in at left guard, is an integral cog in the Giants' success.
The young blocker was thrown into the starting lineup after Geoff Schwartz was injured and is just now starting to come along. Working in tandem with tackle Will Beatty to his left and center J.D. Walton to his right, Richburg isn't just holding the O-line together. After a stellar performance, both run and pass blocking in Week 3, Richburg is allowing the unit to thrive.
Prediction
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Here's my seven-point, bulleted list of predictions for Week 4:
- Shutout (sort of). Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul will be held without a sack for the second consecutive week, but he'll make up for it by leading all defensive linemen in tackles.
- Back-to-Back. Receiver Victor Cruz will eclipse 100 yards receiving and catch a touchdown pass, just like he did in Week 3.
- 15. In order to cut into Rashad Jennings' workload, the Giants will offer his backup, rookie Andre Williams, a season-high 15 carries or more.
- Hey, New Guy! Either Quintin Demps or Nat Berhe will record an interception after displacing former starting safety Stevie Brown.
- Burned. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will be beat by DeSean Jackson for a long touchdown. I'm predicting the score covers 60 yards or more.
- Special. Following up on Damontre Moore's blocked punt in Week 3, a different unheralded special teamer will make a game-changing play against the Redskins.
- Mr. Clutch. Quarterback Eli Manning will convert a crucial third down—with his legs.
Don't forget to include your game predictions, including final score, in the comment section below.
My guess: Giants 31, Redskins 23.
Kevin Boilard writes about the New York Giants at Bleacher Report.
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