The New York Giants (1-5) will look to put an end to their four-game winning streak as they return home to take on the Washington Commanders (3-3) Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
The Giants are 3-2-1 in their last six games against Washington and are in desperate need of a win as they look to restore respectability after a disastrous start to the season.
While this game might lack huge intrigue due to New York’s record, there are some major headlines coming into this game. Here are the top four headlines heading into Sunday’s game.
How will Tyrod Taylor fare in his second start of the season?
With Daniel Jones still not cleared for contact due to his neck injury, Tyrod Taylor took all of the reps with the first-team offense on practice on Wednesday. Even though we are days away from the game, all signs point to Taylor making his second consecutive start.
Aside from his poor decision to check to a run play at the end of the first half last week, the offense seemed to function more efficiently with the 34-year-old backup quarterback.
He completed 24 out of 36 passes for 200 yards and did not commit a turnover. Now he’ll face the Commanders 29th ranked defense. Now that he has a game under his belt he should have a firmer command of the offense and improve on last week’s performance. If he plays well and the team wins, the team may decide to keep him under center even when Jones gets cleared for contact.
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Will the New York Giants pass rush come alive on Sunday?
One of the biggest disappointments for the Giants this season is their lack of a pass rush. Through six games this season, the defense has only registered five sacks, and four of those have been by Kayvon Thibodeaux.
For a team that blitzes as often as New York, and with a front seven that has Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams, the lack of sacks the team has registered is simply unacceptable.
Fortunately for New York, this Sunday they’ll face an offensive line that has given up a league-high 34 sacks. In every game this season, Washington quarterback Sam Howell has been taken down at least four times. If the Giants’ pass rush doesn’t come to life this week, it’s never going to happen. Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale must find a way to exploit Washington’s offensive line.
Can New York’s offensive line hold their own against Washington’s front seven?
For much of the season, New York’s patchwork offensive line has looked like one of the worst lines in recent history. In Weeks 4 & 5 against the Seattle Seahawks and Miami Dolphins, they gave up 18 sacks, and lost their starting quarterback in Week 5.
But with Justin Pugh coming from the couch to be inserted as a starter on the line, they showed signs of improvement in only allowing three sacks last week against Buffalo. The strength of the Commanders team lies in their front seven which features Chase Young, Daron Payne, Jonathan Allen, and Montez Sweat.
“They’re four good first rounders out there. They’ve been together for a while. Coach Del Rio (Commanders Defensive Coordinator Jack Del Rio) does a good job. We’ve played them a bunch since I’ve been here or at Buffalo. Talented guys from Bama inside that are talented, and the edge players are top-notch players. They can get pressure with four, cover with seven,” New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll said of Washington’s four defensive stars.
Allen (knee) and Sweat (finger) were both limited on practice on Wednesday, but the team is hoping they’ll be available on Sunday.
With Andrew Thomas likely to miss his sixth straight game, it’s imperative the Pugh and the rest of the line continue to make strides as they did last week. If they can hold their own against Washington’s front seven, they stand a chance of putting an end to their losing streak.
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Are the Giants finally going to score an offensive touchdown in the first half?
It’s hard to believe in today’s NFL that a team can go six games without scoring a first-half offensive touchdown. But that’s where the New York Giants stand as they prepare for their divisional rival.
Saquon Barkley returned last week after missing the previous three games with a high-ankle sprain and gave the offense a spark, but they were still unable to find the end zone.
Head coach Brian Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka have come under heavy scrutiny for the team’s offensive woes. Their seats will be even hotter if the team does not put an end to this dubious streak.