First place in the NFC East is currently up for grabs for the Washington Redskins (3-3) and the New York Giants (4-2), but who will prevail come Sunday? A lot is at stake between one of the longest rivalries in football and no one is going down without a fight. The Skins swept the Giants last season but that meant nothing come post season when the Giants won when it really mattered, The Super Bowl.
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It was inevitable that there would be a lot of trash talking amongst these teams, I just didn’t think it would be before the game began. Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul warned Redskins rookie QB Robert Griffin III, “Don’t bring it to my side, don’t bring it. Go the other way.” Sorry Pierre-Paul, you’ve never scared the Redskins before and you definitely aren’t a threat now. We’ll wait until Sunday and let the scoreboard do the talking.
Once again, ESPN analysts predict the opposing team playing the Redskins would come out victorious, and this week was no different with a unanimous decision giving the Giants the win. With that said, I would prefer to be the underdog, as we always have been. It’s a new era in D.C. and we’ve got a lot at stake when it comes to our pride and reputation. I believe I can speak for all Skins fans when I say our time has come to win, and RG3 will lead us in that direction. If not now, definitely soon and no, I’m not in the same denial Skins fans have been in for the past 20 years.
Coming off their win Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings who were 4-1, the Redskins were quick to be put on the back burner to the Vikings going into the game. However, after several successful plays, including a 76 yard touchdown run by RG3 that hasn’t been done since 1996, and the defense coming in clutch, if that doesn’t have you believing in Redskins nation, I don’t know what will. Perhaps, a divisional win against the reigning Super Bowl champions, which would put the Redskins in first place, would possibly make a believer out of any doubter.
Any chance the Redskins want to beat the Giants; they’ll need to follow these steps in order to come out victorious. The Giants boast the no. 2 defense this year for interceptions, tallying two per game. However, RG3 has only thrown two interceptions this year. If our receivers run the right routes this week and he refrains from forcing passes, the Giants may be dropping in those rankings come next week. Without the likes of Ahmad Bradshaw and Da’Rel Scott, the Giants two most effective runners, the Redskins should have no problem at the line of scrimmage. Also, in order to put up points on the scoreboard, the Redskins will have to revert back to their powerful run game and give the ball to Alfred Morris who only ran for 47 yards last week on 16 attempts, his lowest of the season. This will create opportunities and help us get the first down on third and short. With that said, their inability to convert on third downs is also going to be a huge challenge, where they have been lacking all season long. It’s probably easier said than done but if you convert on third down; you will ultimately win ball games.
If the Eli Manning we know and love comes out on Sunday, a.k.a the one who has thrown for 13 career interceptions as opposed to just 12 touchdowns against the Redskins, then the defense should be able to man-handle the Giants as they did against the Vikings last week.
Who will win the battle of the No. 10’s, rookie sensation RG3 or veteran, Super Bowl MVP, Eli Manning? Tune in on Sunday at 1 pm EST on FOX to get your answer as the braves on the warpath travel to MetLife Stadium. An upset is in store, you heard it here first. Hail!
