New York Giants at Washington Redskins: NFL Game Picks Week 12
By Erik Lambert
Sep 24, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) catches a touchdown pass in front of Washington Redskins corner back Bashaud Breeland (26) during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The NFC East is wide open, and two teams stand ready to seize it. Will the New York Giants maintain their grip on the lead or are the Washington Redskins ready to assume the mantle? Barring anything else, it should be a good one in the capital.
Backdrop:
Don’t be fooled by the questionable records. This game means an absolute ton to both the Giants and Redskins. It is for command of the NFC East division going into the final quarter of the regular season. Dallas and Philadelphia are all but out of the picture, so winning or losing this game could be potentially crippling.
Washington has been excellent at home in 2015, going 4-1. Their defense and running game have really played well in those victories while Kirk Cousins often posts some memorable performances of his own. Still, few quarterbacks know how to seize the moment like Eli Manning, who can probably smell blood in the water after a near-win over the undefeated Patriots.
Matchup to Watch:
TE Jordan Reed vs. FS Landon Collins
After enduring years of frustration with injury, it seems Washington tight end Jordan Reed has finally found his place in the offense. He has three touchdowns over the past three games and is becoming a dangerous target on key downs. The Redskins will almost certainly try to get him matched up on Giants free safety Landon Collins.
The rookie has played well against the run this season but continues to struggle in coverage. He’s allowed 11 catches on the previous 14 passes thrown in his direction. Two have gone for touchdowns and he only defended one. On paper, this is a mismatch. Whomever wins it could decide the outcome of the game.
Key Stat:
Often great matchups feature two teams who do the same thing well on opposite sides of the ball. In this case running the ball and stopping the run. However, it also works if those teams are bad at it too. The Giants are 26th this season in rushing, averaging just 95 yards per game. The Redskins are equally bad at stopping it, allowing 136 yards per game. One of these issues will be resolved, at least for one game.
Prediction: Giants win 26-21
When a game often looks close, the smart money is to bet on the superior quarterback. Washington may have home field, but New York has Manning. He’s playing some good football of late and has had extra time to prepare for this pivotal matchup. Unless Cousins can rise up to match him, this is the Giants’ game to lose.