Special Preview- NFL, Week 15
New York Giants at Washington Commanders
Giants: That hot start seems so distant at this point. Yes, they were one of the surprises at the beginning of the year and at one point, they were sitting nicely with a 7-2 record. It appears that they’re two completely different teams because in the first half of the year, Saquon Barkley was the point of emphasis for this offense and all they needed from Daniel Jones was to control things, but most importantly, don’t lose the football game. Now, they’ve been giving up leads, getting in big holes and when that happens, the thought of running the football becomes an afterthought because when you’re down by two or three touchdowns, you have no choice but to throw the football because running the ball won’t necessarily get you back into the game. It’s also defenses loading up the box and forcing Daniel Jones to beat them down the field with his arm. If there’s anything you’ll take away from me, just remember that it’s perfectly fine to build around your young Quarterback. With Brian Daboll building that offense and guiding Daniel Jones, then you get him some weapons on the outside, the Giants will be a fun group to watch. They have to win games in ugly ways such as running the ball, winning the time of possession battle and playing defense. They were punched in the mouth last weekend against the Philadelphia Eagles and could never recover. Tonight, they will be in Landover for a huge game in the NFC East and the Wild Card picture.
Commanders: I’ve always had so much respect for Ron Rivera not just as a coach, but as a man. From his days in Charlotte with the Carolina Panthers and even now with the Washington Commanders. The one common denominator with him is he has the respect of his entire locker room and when he speaks, that entire team listens to him, as it should be. Football is a game where teams can thrive on sparks, and they’ve received that with Taylor Heinicke as their Quarterback. Ron made the smart choice to remain with the hot hand and if we are being realistic, what has Taylor done wrong to lose the job? I honestly think they wouldn’t be in playoff contention with Carson Wentz under center and that’s not a shot at him. What’s also helped the Commanders has been how they’ve remained healthy these last few weeks. Having a healthy Antonio Gibson and Brian Robinson has made all the difference in the world. Their offense hasn’t been must-see tv or anything, much of their success is predicated from the defense which is ranked fourth in the league, and they sit in the top ten in nearly every other major statistical category. What’s made the defense more of a surprising story is the fact they’ve been able to manufacture success without Chase Young who’s been sidelined since last season after suffering a torn ACL. Tonight, they’ll be back on the field after their bye week.
Giants X-Factor: Julian Love– He’s been a play maker since his college days at Notre Dame. Julian is that magnetic force that I always describe when it comes to being near the football. He has those instincts and ball skills that you just can’t teach to a football player, it’s either you have it or you don’t and he just came into this league with it. Julian plays all over the place and his mindset is simple. See the ball, make a play on the ball and everything else will take care of itself.
Commanders X-Factor: Antonio Gibson– I’ve always respected the grit that he plays with. There’s never been anything flashy about his game. Antonio may not be the quickest or the shiftiest, but he knows how to maneuver himself into the open field. Also, Antonio is a threat in the passing game because he can also catch passes in the flat and out of the backfield. His versatility brings an added dimension to their offense.
Final Thoughts: These two just met each other two weeks ago and the game ended in a tie (hence the title). Two weeks later, here we are, and this matchup is just as big as it was then. Saquon Barkley must have the game of his life tonight. He might need to rush for 160 yards or more with 30 carries. I’m implying the Giants must ugly this game up because they don’t have the weapons to make it a shootout in the passing game. This game comes down to one major thing. Jones or Heinicke? Who makes fewer mistakes? Washington has thrived with Heinicke while Daniel Jones has struggled significantly in primetime games. Washington will also do all they can to contain Saquon as they did in the first meeting.
Prediction: Commanders 26, Giants 18
