Redskins at Giants
The New York Giants have been up and down all season, and last week the Giants were up and down. Which team shows up Sunday when the Washington Redskins visit could decide their playoff destiny.
New York put its turnover problems on hold last week, snapping a two-game losing streak by rallying for a 24-20 victory over Jacksonville.
The Jaguars built a 17-6 halftime lead on the strength of three long scoring drives that totaled 231 yards. The Giants’ defense was gouged for 236 yards - including 145 rushing - and 16 first downs in the first 30 minutes. New York heard the boo-birds when Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard scored a late first-half touchdown and again as they headed to the locker room at the intermission.
But the Giants turned boos to cheers when Eli Manning threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Boss late in the fourth quarter for the win.
Manning and the Giants didn’t have a turnover in the win, just a week after committing four turnovers in a crucial 27-17 loss to Philadelphia. Manning has been particularly careless with 16 interceptions and seven fumbles this season.
Manning, who has won his last four against Washington and seven of eight, should be able to find a lot of holes in a Washington defense that yields 400.6 yards per game – most in the NFL – even if wide receiver Steve Smith is expected to miss his fourth straight game with a torn pectoral muscle.
New York and Philadelphia are tied atop the NFC East at 7-4, although the Eagles won their first matchup. New Orleans (8-3) has the first wild card spot right now, while the Giants are batting Green Bay (7-4) and Tampa Bay (7-4) for the other one.
New York plays at Minnesota next week, then is home for Philadelphia and at Green Bay in two critical games before concluding the season in Washington.
The Eagles finish their season with two games with Dallas sandwiched between the Giants and Vikings.
Any playoff hopes for the Redskins (5-6) likely died with their 17-13 loss to Brett Favre and Minnesota last week. Washington will pretty much have to run the table, which will be tough with Tampa Bay, Dallas and Jacksonville awaiting between games with the Giants.
Quarterback Donovan McNabb led the Redskins on a 13-play, 83-yard touchdown drive on their first possession of the game against Minnesota, but Washington could only manage five first downs and two field goals the rest of the way.
McNabb has had plenty of success recently while with the Philadelphia Eagles. The 33-year-old has won four straight against New York, including the playoffs, and 11 of the last 15. He’s had a passer rating of 100-plus the last two games against the Giants, and his teams are 46-2 all-time when he posts a rating of 100-plus.
McNabb has found a deep target in Anthony Armstrong, who has 25 catches for 545 yards and an NFC-best 21.8 yards-per-catch average. Twenty of his catches have been for first downs or touchdowns.
The Giants swept the season series last season, winning 23-17 at the Meadowlands and 45-12 in Washington. Manning completed 19 of 26 for 268 yards and three touchdowns in the road rout.