Just when most thought the situation couldn't get any more interesting in the NFC East, the Washington Redskins and New York Giants collide on Thursday Night Football.
To say the showdown is important would be a gross understatement. With the Dallas Cowboys hobbled at key positions and the Philadelphia Eagles outthinking themselves into losses, the division looks wide-open.
Well, except for the fact that Washington sits at just 1-1 despite an elite rushing attack and New York doesn't have a win.
Below, let's take a look at everything to know about the divisional showdown.
When: Thursday, September 24, 8:25 p.m. ET
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Television: CBS, NFL Network
Live Stream: NFL Game Pass
Tickets: ScoreBig.com
The odd situation with Kirk Cousins and Robert Griffin III under center takes away from what should be the focus with this Washington team—the offense can move the ball with elite efficiency on the ground.
In fact, few teams can match the one-two punch that coach Jay Gruden's team touts. Alfred Morris has always been a productive runner, but even a small semblance of rookie hype couldn't have prepared onlookers for the strong showing so far by rookie Matt Jones.
"To have that solid, one-two punch—and both of those guys are so much alike—keeps the pressure on the defense," tackle Trent Williams said, per ESPN.com. "It takes a gang to tackle them. It's priceless, man, to have that type of backfield. It don't come too often."
Keep in mind that the strong performances so far came against an Ndamukong Suh-led Miami Dolphins defense and a St. Louis Rams defense that had held the Seattle Seahawks' Marshawn Lynch in check the week prior.
It shouldn't worry Morris and Jones, then, that New York ranks third in the NFL with just 68.0 rushing yards per game so far.
Really, Washington doesn't have a choice. Cousins has thrown as many touchdowns as picks, and gaudy rushing numbers didn't help the offense produce enough points in a Week 1 17-10 loss. If Washington is to pull off an upset, the offense's strength needs to excel against the opposing team's strength.
One glance at the injury report should tell observers this short turnaround has made it a whole lot trickier for the Giants to avoid the dreaded 0-3 hole.
The defense will be without corner Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, which isn't as big of an issue as it could be if Washington was suiting up DeSean Jackson. Still, the unit could have used the help containing Pierre Garcon and others after allowing 27 and 24 points in the first two games.
Most of New York's problems come on offense, though.
There was the odd time-management gaffe in Dallas to start the season, while Eli Manning threw for only 193 yards on 36 attempts. The woes continued in Week 2, as the unit rushed for just 97 yards and nobody stepped up across from Odell Beckham.
Despite Beckham's presence, Manning simply hasn't been able to push the ball down the field in a meaningful manner. ESPN's Adam Schefter provided the numbers:
With Victor Cruz out of the lineup, it's imperative that someone like Rueben Randle steps up and helps shoulder the load. The ground game can't get going when defenders don't worry about the ball going over their heads.
It's going to take more than desperation to avoid 0-3. It's going to take execution for a full four quarters.
It's a good thing this one comes at home for New York.
The Giants might sit winless, but the team went to Dallas and suffered a one-point loss to a healthy Cowboys team. Tom Coughlin's team then turned around and lost by four to Atlanta, making it a pair of losses to NFC contenders.
The situation doesn't sound so bad in that context. Thursday, Washington's ground game will struggle to get going against a strong defensive front, only worsening the team's 2-12 NFC East streak and current 0-4 streak against the Giants.
Look for defense and a strong ground game of their own to carry the Giants out of the hole Thursday night.
Article Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2571391-thursday-night-football-week-3-tv-schedule-live-stream-for-redskins-vs-giants
Article Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2571391-thursday-night-football-week-3-tv-schedule-live-stream-for-redskins-vs-giants
