ESPN.com is less convinced of the disparity between the teams, ranking NY 15th and Washington 20th, which is the exact ranking SB Nation gives each team. The spread however has been anywhere from +2.5 to +1. There are times when all of that compounds together and results in a terrible performance such as the one the Redskins submitted in a 44-16 loss to Carolina last weekend. His failure to tuck in a fourth-quarter end-zone throw from Eli Manning was a major reason behind the one-point loss to New England in the game before the bye. The Philadelphia Eagles (4-7) and Dallas Cowboys (3-8), both routed on Thanksgiving Day, are the other members of the mediocre division.
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Watch a preview of Sunday’s New York-Washington game courtesy of CBS sports analysts Pete Prisco, Pat Kirwan, and Brady Quinn in the video below.
The Giants enter play with a 5-5 record and are 6-3-1 against the spread, which includes a 3-1-1 ATS mark on the road this season. Tony Romo re-injured his clavicle and will not return this season.
The Washington Redskins have a chance to take the NFC East divisional lead on Sunday with a win at home against the New York Giants. They have thrived at FedEx Field, winning four of five to make up for zero road wins this season.
Kirk Cousins has been up-and-down this season, as has the entire Redskins squad. And I anticipate Eli to string together some consistent drives and stay as accurate as he’s been all season. Washington defensive end Jason Hatcher made news during the week by implying that officials have penalized the team more frequently because of its refusal to drop the Redskins team logo.
The Redskins front office will be keeping a close on eye on Cousins in the final six games of the season.
After throwing three picks in the game’s first three quarters, Manning connected on touchdown strikes to Reuben Randle and Odell Beckham in the fourth quarter, but came up short in leading the comeback effort. And that season starts with the Redskins on Sunday. Well, it’s always important for their o-line to perform, but if the Giants are going to slow the Redskins offense down and not let them get back in the game, they’re going to have to control the clock. The Skins are next to last in rush defense and although the Giants don’t have a distinct back that will carry the load for 30-plus carries, they do have a couple of guys that can share the load. Gruden improved to 3-1 on challenges this year when he challenged that Harris was across the goal line and officials ruled it a touchback upon review. Expect the Giants to look at running the football as much as possible in this one.
It was the 20th three-interception game of two-time Super Bowl MVP Manning’s career. The Patriots have been the best team in football and Big Blue went toe-to-toe with them and was probably the better team.
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The Giants beat the Redskins in week three in NY 32-21.
