How did yesterday's games affect the playoff position of the Washington Redskins? Read this and find out.
RG3 has been brilliant against the NFC East this year. Can he keep it going now that the Giants have had a good look at him?
Griffin terrorized the entire NFC East in his debuts against Washington’s three rivals. In the loss to New York and in wins over Philadelphia and Dallas, he was 54 of 71 passing (76.1 percent) for 256.3 yards per game, 10 touchdowns and two interceptions. He also averaged 7.5 yards on 27 rushes. His passer rating was 138.4. ...
The Redskins‘ offense gained a season-high 480 yards against the Giants in their October meeting, including 248 rushing yards on 38 attempts. Four turnovers undermined that domination, but from a schematic standpoint, the Redskins enter Monday’s rematch confident they can replicate that success.
Griffin’s speed around the edge, running back Alfred Morris‘ vision and footwork in the outside zone scheme and quality blocking propelled the Redskins to their best rushing total in five years. ...
Washington’s zone-read option was particularly effective in the first game against New York. The Redskins averaged 7.0 yards on 16 zone-read rushes, and half of those attempts gained at least 4 yards.
Injured LT Trent Williams [deep thigh bruise] must play and play at a high level tonight for the Redskins to have a realistic chance to withstand the ferocious Giants pass rush.
Determined to keep rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III upright and lead the Redskins back to relevance in the NFL, Williams has thrived this season, winning faceoffs with perennial double-digit sack specialists John Abraham, Jared Allen, Trent Cole, Jason Pierre-Paul and DeMarcus Ware.
“He’s really being a force out there. He’s dictating to the top-tier guys of this league,” said Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo. “I don’t think a guy has really dominated him yet, or even had an advantage yet . . . lot of the guys that are top tiers in this league, they don’t like to face Trent. I’ve gotten word of that through other guys around the league on how much of a force Trent has become.”
Said New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck: “I think he’s coming into his own as far as being one of the premier left tackles in the league. He’s very athletic. He’s a strong, athletic guy. A lot of the teams give their linemen a lot of help and I haven’t seen the Redskins give him much help. That lets me know how confident they are in him.”
When the Giants and Redskins renew antagonisms in the Week 13 finale, it’ll almost be nostalgic. After all, the last time the two clubs met in such circumstances — in Washington, on a Monday night, with significant chips on the table — was 1985. Joe Theismann was quarterbacking the Redskins. Ronald Reagan was quarterbacking the country. (Yup, that was the game Lawrence Taylor and his band of merry men descended on Joe and broke his right leg, ending his career.)
And then points out that these Giants, unlike other multiple-Super-Bowl-winning-teams, have not dominated the league. Instead, they've bounced up and down, but demonstrated an ability to win games when their season is on the line.
What we’re witnessing with Eli Manning and his mates — Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and the rest — is unique, unprecedented. Call it Group ADD. Call it whatever you want. When these Giants have their backs to the wall, though, they have a habit of summoning, home or away, the necessary effort. It’s remarkable.
Monday night, they’ll be at FedEx with a chance to put a headlock on the division. Which Giants team will show up, the turn-it-on Giants or the turn-it-off Giants, the postseason worldbeaters or the disinterested bunch we saw at MetLife Stadium a year ago? The Redskins’ hopes of playing in January, on the big stage, could well depend on it.
TB Alfred Morris shows no sign of slowing down or hitting the rookie wall. He ran for 113 yards in week 12. Against the Giants back in October he ran for 120 yards on 22 carries.
Mike Jones lists five big issues to follow during tonight's game. I think the most interesting is the return of WR Pierre Garcon. He didn't play when the teams met back in October and the Redskins also lost then-leading receiver TE Fred Davis early in the first half. Davis isn't coming back this year, but Garcon will be on the field tonight. He gave the Redskins a lot of production in only 29 plays from scrimmage on Thanksgiving and he's had 10 days to get healthier. If Garcon can give Washington 35-40 quality plays from scrimmage tonight, the offense should really shine against a Giants defense that is 30th in the NFL in yards per reception.
Rich Campbell rounds up the local media predictions for tonight's Redskins-Giants game. The Giants definitely have the advantage here.
