We are back to a re-do on last week with Kyle Allen against the winless Giants of New York who are favored today on the Vegas line. The Burgundy and Gold (1-4) face their division rivals in a game of direction for both franchises. In the NFC (L)East, a division that is there for the taking, with Dallas (2-3) and Philadelphia (1-3-1) as the teams ahead of the WFT, this game is big in the scope of one week. Take that for what it is in the sixth game of the season. Head coach Ron Rivera is sticking with Allen at quarterback with Alex Smith as the backup again today.
“You hear me talk about it, we have not sustained success,” Rivera said. “When you watch the things that we do, you see it’ll be first-and-10, second-and-3 and then we’ll do something and end up at third-and-8. That’s the frustration is that we don’t sustain a positive thing. On the defensive side, same thing. We get a team into third-and-long and we’ll allow a first down. That’s the frustration, is that the consistency is not where it needs to be.”
On offense clearly they have to get their play-makers more involved, and that starts with Terry McLaurin, a legit weapon on offense for Allen and his rookie running-back Antonio Gibson who is a dual-threat runner and receiver. Neither got enough touches last week. Part of that has to get credited to the Rams’ defense and the schemes they set.
The WFT ranks last in the NFL in so many categories. They rank 32nd with 263.0 total yards of offense per game, and 30th in passing yards per game with just a 181.6 per yard average, and 31st in rushing yards per game at 81.4 yards per game. None of that will cut it. Washington is averaging 17.8 points per game to rank 30th, and this is why they have won just one game. Add to all of that a quarterback controversy like the days of Kirk Cousins and Robert Griffin III. It turned out they were right on the switch back then, but what about now? Dwayne Haskins appears to be inactive again today and maybe that is because of the illness that sidelined him from practices over the last week.
Washington QB Dwayne Haskins, who returned to practice Friday after battling a gastrointestinal illness, will be inactive again today, per source. Kyle Allen (left shoulder) practiced all week and gets the start against the #Giants. Alex Smith backs him up.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 18, 2020
Many felt that Haskins would sit again and that doesn’t sit well with his old coach from Ohio State, “I was disappointed,” Urban Meyer said. “I’ve been involved in coaching players that went on to the next level for 30 years. It’s a very different level of play,” Meyer said. “It’s a huge jump, even if you come from Ohio State.” The only way to know if the move is the right move is to see what happens today and reanalyze the situation.
The WFT defense has to step it up this week. That all begins with top pick, Chase Young (2nd overall in the first round) and Ryan Kerrigan who have to penetrate the Giants’ line and get in Daniel Jones’ face. Jones, who is the Giants quarterback, has also been under fire like Haskins, but with no Saquon Barkley, the Giants just are not the same without their Pro Bowl running back. Oddly, Jones is the Giants leading rusher this season. That probably says more about their running game than it says about Jones, but a point that Washington has to be aware of that Jones will take off running if there is an opening.
The last time these two teams met it was a 76 point shootout with the Giants prevailing with a six point margin in a 41-35 final on December 22, 2019. This is the 177th game between these two storied franchises going back to 1932. In recent history, the Giants are riding a three game winning streak in head-to-head games. But each team looks almost entirely different in this short span of time both in player personnel and on their coaching staffs.
This game will be played at MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J. and televised on FOX at 1 pm EDT. The final Vegas line had Washington as a 3 point underdog.
