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Giants (9-6) vs Redskins (6-9)
The Redskins came
away from Jacksonville with a 20-17 overtime victory. Under pressure, Jaguars
quarterback David Garrard threw an interception on just the third play of the
extended period. That gave the Redskins the opportunity they needed to put the
game away with a 31-yard field goal.
The
Giants blew another opportunity to advance into the playoffs with their 45-17
loss in Green Bay. They turned the ball over six times, the most in a single game
since 2004. It brings their total to 41, that being 24 Eli Manning interceptions
and 17 lost fumbles. Not the kind of numbers you'd expect for a team hoping to
be in the playoffs. Washington
Redskins.
It's been some year for this team. It started
with the Albert Haynesworth ordeal and continued with a head coach induced quarterback
controversy. It could have been topped off with a possible season ending six game
losing streak, but the players came up with a good effort last week against the
Jaguars to stop that at four. So Albert Haynesworth was suspended after
12 games and Donovan McNabb was benched after 13 and it's easy
to look at all the bad headlines, but you have to remember where they were coming
from. They have improved on last year's 4-12 record and would sure like
to add one more to the plus column this week. They're up against the Giants who
badly need a win, playoffs or not, to end their season on a somewhat better note
then last season. Redskins
Offense.
Rex Grossman is now the starting
quarterback and he has thrown five touchdown passes in the two games he's started.
With last week's win he's now 1-1 as a starter, but going 19-of-39 for 182 yards
with one touchdown and one interception wasn't inspiring. Wide receivers Santana
Moss and Anthony Armstrong, and tight end Chris Cooley provide most of the offensive
punch to this team which ranks 10th in the NFL with their passing game. The team
is ranked 29th in rushing and 31st in third down efficiency. They lost running
back Clinton Portis last month to injured reserve and that hasn't helped. Ryan
Torain offered some hope with his 65 rushing yards last week. Redskins
Defense.
If you look at the rankings, this
defense is a horror show. They are last in the NFL in the yardage they give up
per game, next to last in passing defense, and 25th against the run. Injuries
are killing this defensive unit. Somehow playing without several starters, including
linebacker Brian Orakpo and safeties Reed Doughty and Kareem Moore, they still
came up big against Jacksonville last week. Still standing, London Fletcher now
has 2.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. Brian Orakpo
with 8.5 sacks and 37 hurries was unable to play last week but is expected to
start on Sunday. Cornerback Carlos Rogers was
knocked out of last week's game and is likely to miss this one. DeAngelo Hall,
who has six interceptions, will be watching Mario Manningham. Giants
Offense.
If the Giants don't kill themselves
with interceptions and fumbles they should be able to win this game, but why should
you be able to count on that? Eli Manning has thrown a career-high 30 touchdown
passes, but his 24 interceptions have taken away a lot of good that should have
come from that. It can't be overlooked that Shaun O’Hara was back for the last
two games and the Giants dropped both of them. He even admitted his performance
those games was compromised by his physical condition.
They are without Steve
Smith and Hakeem Nicks but they do have Mario Manningham, who has 56 receptions
for 843 yards and 8 touchdowns. They need to go back to the running game and Brandon
Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw just have to hold onto the ball. The
Redskins defended against the run effectively last week and held Jacksonville’s
Rahshad Jennings to just 32 yards on 15 carries. But they didn't have to face
Maurice Jones-Drew, who was second in the league in rushing, as he was unable
to play because of a knee injury. Giants
Defense.
They had the league's No. 2 pass
defense going into last week's game. Then they faced Aaron Rodgers, after having
lost (twice) to Michael Vick and once to Peyton Manning. Nothing comes easy against
these top quarterbacks. They have been placed in a lot of poor positions over
the season by their own offense and special teams unit but are still accountable.
Last week Aaron Rodgers threw for a season-high 404 yards and four touchdowns.
Right now, Rex Grossman is not an elite quarterback
and if they make him into one, it will be another very long offseason. Best
to worst.
The best
record is held by the 13-2 Patriots in the AFC and the 12-3 Falcons in the NFC.
The Carolina Panthers at 2-13 have the worst record in the NFL. With one game
left in the regular season, no other team can change that status. As for the other
teams and the playoffs, it will all become clear after this weekend. It should
be noted that since the 16-game schedule was adopted in 1978, 16 teams have won
10 games and still missed the playoffs. NFC
East.
The Eagles are coming off a short week thanks to having their
game delayed until Tuesday because of bad weather. The Eagles (10-5) will welcome
the Dallas Cowboys (5-10) and play their game at 4:15, the same time the Giants
are playing in Washington. Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb looks to start in place
of Michael Vick who is recovering from bruises Vick, should be ready for the playoffs.
The Giants and Eagles are favored to win their games. The Giants need a win over
the Redskins and a Packers loss to the Bears to make the playoffs. The Eagles
are already in as division champs. 
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Notes.
Giants have won five straight against the Redskins. Giants
Eli Manning has completed a career-high 63.1 percent of his passes. Giants
in the last two weeks last year, lost 41-9 at home to Carolina and 44-9 at Minnesota.
They finished the season going 3-8, out of the playoffs, and with an 8-8 record. Giants
need a win over the Redskins and a Packers loss to the Bears to make the playoffs. Redskins
have six wins this season and three have been in overtime. Redskins
have nine losses and seven have been by 7 points or less.
Next
Game
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