The New York Giants have lost three straight and will take a short break this Sunday when they face the Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium.
Meanwhile, as the Giants continue to battle through a losing season, the Commanders emerge as winners of back-to-back games and six of their last seven games after completing a Hail Mary on the final play of Week 8 to defeat the Chicago Bears. .
This will be the second time this season that the two teams will play against each other. Washington defeated Big Blue in Week 2 despite not scoring a touchdown in the game.
These games against divisional rivals will be games the Giants will fear for years to come, as quarterback Jayden Daniels’ emergence and growth is seen week in and week out.
Here are three reasons for concern ahead of Sunday’s divisional showdown.
Home is not so sweet Home
Most teams want to play at home in front of their home crowd. Not these Giants, and certainly not Daniel Jones.
Jones’ home/away split is well documented as being incredibly lopsided when playing on the road.
This season, the Giants played four games at MetLife Stadium and four on the road. They are 0-4 at home and have lost those games 93-31. Meanwhile, on the road, the Giants maintain a 2-2 record, outscoring their opponents 86-82.
Needless to say, MetLife Stadium was not kind to Big Blue.
commander ground attack
The Commanders enter Week 9 as the team that ranks second in the league in yards per carry, third in rushing yards per game and second in rushing touchdowns per game.
On the other hand, the Giants were unable to stop their rapid progress throughout the season. No team has given up more yards per rush than Big Blue.
Washington has the fourth-highest run play percentage in the league, and that number will probably be a little skewed Sunday when compared to the soft Giants’ run stops.
injury and effort
Cornerback Deonte Banks was benched last week, but his lack of effort has been talked about in recent weeks. The Giants will be facing a team led by the league’s second-highest success rate.
The Giants have already lost Andrew Thomas and Kayvon Thibodeau, and as of Wednesday, rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. remained in protocol with a concussion.