Giants vs. Redskins

New York -3 1/2 vs. Washington

The best thing the Redskins can do this weekend is to win. Easier said than done when they welcome in the division leading Giants to FedEx Field. It is imperative for Washington to keep pace with the Giants and, more importantly, the Cowboys.

The Giants (10-1) are three full games in front of both the Redskins and Cowboys. Even if Washington is victorious, they realistically have a slim chance at taking the division. Their more pressing concern is Dallas. The teams split their meetings this season, which means if the teams’ have identical records, which they do now, the deciding factor is conference record. Right now, Washington boasts a 6-3 NFC record against Dallas’ 5-4.

The Cowboys are in an easy portion of their schedule at the moment, they host Seattle on Thanksgiving, and the Redskins must keep pace as it seems more likely only two teams from the NFC East will go to the postseason because the NFC South contains all above .500 teams.

It is doubtful, however, that Washington will have Dallas on their minds when they play New York Sunday. They are looking to avenge the first game of the NFL season in which the Giants made the Redskins look like the worst team in the NFL by winning 16-7. Washington (7-4) recovered and have surprised many by their ability to contend in one of the toughest divisions in the league.

Last week the Redskins put a stop to a two game losing streak by beating the aforementioned Seahawks on the road last Sunday 20-17. Meanwhile the Giants kept on rolling.

New York traveled to their Mecca last Sunday. They went to Arizona, the site of last February’s Super Bowl triumph, and beat the Cardinals 37-29. The Giants did not have their best game both offensively and defensively, but they made the key plays when needed to hold off the West-leading Cardinals to come home riding a six-game winning streak.

The New York Giants gave the Cardinals their first home loss of the season last Sunday and the Redskins hope to do the same thing to the Giants, who are 6-0 at home. They already have topped their home victory total from last season when they went 3-5 at Giants Stadium. Washington has been almost equally as effective on the road, winning all but one of their five road games.

Giants’ running back Brandon Jacobs who missed last week’s game with an injury is still day-to-day.

The teams split their games last season, with each team winning on the road. With the Giants Week 1 victory, New York has won four of the last five and five out of the last seven.

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