The New York Giants will host the Washington Commanders on Sunday in Week 9, as they attempt to finish their three-game dropping streak.
The 2 groups will meet for the second time this season after the Giants dropped the primary recreation towards the Commanders, 21-18, again in Week 2.
Massive Blue misplaced kicker Graham Gano early on attributable to roster administration negligence and have become the primary crew in NFL historical past to lose a recreation in regulation whereas scoring three-plus touchdowns and permitting no touchdowns.
The Giants stay four-point underdogs after opening up as 3.5-point dwelling underdogs earlier this week.
Listed here are three causes for optimism forward of Sunday’s divisional recreation.
Favorable matchup for Giants’ offense
The final time these two groups met again in Week 2, the Giants scored three offensive touchdowns, one thing they’ve solely executed twice this season.
New York’s offense has struggled mightily during the last three weeks. Nonetheless, Daniel Jones ought to be wanting ahead to taking part in a Commanders crew which he has had success towards in his profession.
Purple zone protection
Because it has been highlighted following the matchup in Week 2, the Giants had been on the fallacious facet of historical past. The unhealthy information is that the Commanders had their means getting down the sector at will, by no means having to punt the primary time these two groups met. The excellent news? The Giants’ protection buckled down within the purple zone and didn’t enable a landing all recreation lengthy.
The Commanders are twenty fourth within the league in purple zone (landing) offense and the Giants’ cross rush has been taking part in at an elite stage as of late.
Giants cross rush
The Giants cross rush has been taking part in at a historic stage and leads the league with 35 sacks and a sack price of 13.31% forward of Week 9. The person main the league in sacks? Nostril deal with Dexter Lawrence.
Jayden Daniels was sacked 5 occasions again in Week 2, the best sack complete in his younger rookie season. Daniels does a extremely good job at defending the soccer however the Giants’ cross rush offers them an opportunity to restrict the Commanders’ offense on Sunday.