N.Y. Giants vs Redskins Gameday thread
Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 4:04 pm
REDSKINS OFFENSE VS. GIANTS DEFENSE
The Redskins have run the ball well the past five weeks, and there is no reason to think that will stop. Look for them to attack on the right side, where rookie defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka is starting in place of Michael Strahan, who is out with a foot injury. Kiwanuka is giving up 40 pounds and six years of experience to Redskins right tackle Jon Jansen.
The Redskins need to get the ball downfield, though, and that is a bigger problem. Giants cornerbacks R.W. McQuarters and Sam Madison are capable of containing wide receivers Santana Moss and Brandon Lloyd.
Redskins tight end Chrisey was the beneficiary of tight coverage on Moss last week and could be a major factor tonight when he's matched up with strong safety Gibril Wilson or linebacker Carlos Emmons.
Giants middle linebacker Antonio Pierce is a former Redskin and still holds a grudge that they let him get away in free agency. Like all linebackers, though, Pierce is vulnerable in two-deep zones. That's to the Redskins advantage if they can get wide receiver Antwaan Randle El open down the seam, something they haven't done with much success this season
GIANTS OFFENSE VS. REDSKINS DEFENSE
The Giants' passing game has all but disappeared in recent weeks. That's good news for the Redskins, because their pass defense has been missing in action most of the season. This week's matchup of Plaxico Burress on Redskins cornerbacks Carlos Rogers or Kenny Wright should give Giants quarterback Eli Manning reason for optimism. Expect to see the Redskins play a lot of zone.
The problem with that strategy is that middle linebacker Lemar Marshall is having a tough season in pass coverage and gets into some mismatches when the Redskins go to their two-deep zone.
Giants running back Tiki Barber is playing the last regular-season game of his career. Barber has gained 409 yards in his past three games against the Redskins and undoubtedly will get the ball plenty tonight
SPECIAL TEAMS
With Chad Morton, a former Redskin, out with a knee injury, rookie Sinorice Moss will get his second chance as a kickoff returner. He averaged 23.2 yards in that role last week against New Orleans. Moss is the younger brother of Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss.
Redskins kicker Shaun Suisham has been getting good hang time and depth on his kickoffs. His 52-yard field goal last week has coach Joe Gibbs excited about the kicking future in Washington.
Randle El, also a punt returner, is a threat who has been thwarted in recent weeks. Tonight will be a tough go for him because the Giants give up an average of 4.3 yards per punt return.
COACHING
Very little that Redskins coach Joe Gibbs has tried lately has been successful. Nothing Giants coach Tom Coughlin has tried lately has been successful. Coughlin shouldn't have to worry about his team's effort. Gibbs says he never has to worry about that, but he says it so often, you start to think he might be a little worried about it.
With a playoff berth at stake, Coughlin has given play-calling responsibility to quarterbacks coach Kevin Gilbride instead of offensive coordinator John Hufnagel. Advantage: Even
INTANGIBLES
The Giants have everything to play for. If they win, they're practically assured of a playoff berth. Then again, the Giants had a lot to play for last week and lost at home to New Orleans 30-7. And the Giants had a lot to play for the week before, and lost to Philadelphia at home.
The Redskins have nothing to play for and probably will be playing in front of a less-than-capacity crowd. But they did beat the Giants at FedEx Field last season after getting blown out in Giants Stadium
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Please keep all game related post in this thread...
Thankz
Of course, I didn't see it since the game is on the NFL Network. Thankfully, I can listen to it on the radio.