New York Giants Vs. Washington Football Team | Gameday Blog and Discussion

The Giants (1-7) have a chance to get back in the win column against the one opponent they've seemed to find their only smidgens of success against in recent years: the Washington Football Team (2-5).

The Giants are 3-0 against the WFT in the Daniel Jones era, their most recent victory being a narrow 20-19 thriller in Week 6 at MetLife Stadium.

That win came thanks to a failed gamble by Washington head coach Ron Rivera to go for two after a would-be tying touchdown with no time left in the fourth quarter.

The Giant defense held for the one play and came out with the nail-biting one-point win, but since then, they've been on the opposite end of two close games, losing by one point and two points to the Eagles and Bucs, respectively.

Can the Giants continue their dominance over the WFT? It all gets started shortly after 1 PM ET, so join in on the discussion below with your fellow Giants fans as led by Giants Country writer Jackson Thompson (@Jacksonbht), who will update you throughout the game.

Giants: What to Watch For Today

The team aims for the ninth consecutive game with at least 2.0 sacks. The Giants' 20.0 sacks through Week 8 are tied for seventh in the NFL.
Aim for the fifth consecutive win against Washington.
Aim for sixth consecutive game forcing a turnover.
Aim for fourth consecutive game holding an opposing team under 100 yards rushing.
QB Daniel Jones aims for his fourth consecutive win against Washington. In three career starts against Washington, Jones is 3-0 with a passer rating of 102.1.
TE Evan Engram aims for the third consecutive game against Washington with at least five receptions.
WR Sterling Shepard aims for his third consecutive game against Washington with at least 70 yards receiving.
DL Leonard Williams aims for his second consecutive game against Washington with at least 1.0 sack.

Pregame

How will the Giants offense fair without wide receiver Golden Tate?

It seems like the team just got its full receiving corps back together a few weeks ago when Sterling Shepard came back. Now by virtue of disciplinary action by the coaching staff, the Giants will be without their veteran wide receiver.

Quarterback Daniel Jones hasn't been able to get much out of the team's backup wide receivers so far this season, leaning heavily on Tate, Shepard and Darius Slayton.

If the Giants are able to succeed through the passing game without Tate, then it could spell the end of his time with the Giants sooner rather than later.

First Quarter

The Giants try to get aggressive on their opening drive, going for it on a fourth-and-short from midfield, but the Washington defensive front holds up and forces a turnover on downs.

On Washington's first play on offense, a reception by running back Antonio Gibson turns into a chaotic fumble and the Giants are able to jump on top of it and get the ball right back.

The Giants defense has been effective in creating early turnovers this season, just as it did last week against Tampa Bay, turning a first-quarter fumble recovery into a touchdown.

Jones is able to complete a couple passes to get the Giants inside the red zone, but Washington's defense holds up and forced a 38-yard Graham Gano field goal.

Giants lead 3-0.

Giants tight end Evan Engram's drops continue. Engram's latest folly even featured a drop followed up by a bump of the ball into the air. Engram just got away with giving away another turnover as he did in Week 7 in Philadelphia, but the ruling of an interception was overturned.

The Giants capitalize another big turnover, as a muffed punt gives them the ball inside the Washington red zone. Jones hits Austin Mack for what was initially called as Mack's first career touchdown, but after further review, the call is reversed and the Giants get the ball on the two-yard line.

Running back Wayne Gallman is able to punch it in for the Giants' touchdown and give the Giants a double-digit lead.

Washington quarterback Kyle Allen has exited the game after getting kicked in the leg by safety Jabrill Peppers. Allen landed awkwardly and had to be carted off the field.

Veteran quarterback Alex Smith, who made his return to the NFL this season after a year-long rehab process from a serious knee injury suffered in November 2018, is on now the field for Washington at quarterback.

Second Quarter

Smith throws three passes but the Giants' defense holds up in the red zone and Washington settles for a 48-yard Dustin Hopkins field goal to get on the board.

Giants lead 10-3

The Giants are able to sustain a nine-play 40-yard drive, but Washington defense holds up at their own 30-yard line and the Giants settle for a 48-yard Gano field goal to extend the lead back to two possessions.

Giants lead 13-3.

The Giants get to Smith, aggressively bringing down the veteran with a combo of cornerback Isaac Yiadom and defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson as they share a sack to get the defense off the field.

Engram gets his first touchdown reception of the season on a 16-yard strike from Jones to the end zone. It's been a long season for Engram, underperforming overall and committing a series of costly mistakes.

Giants lead 20-3.

A great pass by Jones caught by Engram for 6! When Evan wants to be good, he is a great piece for this offense. Washington aren’t slouches on defense, and the Giants are having their way.pic.twitter.com/6R9UepZI5Z
— Talkin’ Giants (@TalkinGiants) November 8, 2020

But now Engram can at least breathe a sigh of relief as his touchdown drought to this point in the season is officially over. The Giants should be hoping that the touchdown can help Engram come to a mental better space and finally get things going in the receiving game this season.

Linebacker Blake Martinez comes up with the Giants' third turnover of the game, plucking a Smith pass near midfield to kill Washington's last drive before the half.

Halftime

Good first-half play continues for the Giants, as they pitch a lopsided 20-3 effort through the first two quarters.

Their 17-point lead is the largest they've had at any point all season as the offense has been mistake-free and the defense has been dominant.

The Giants are +3 in turnover differential and have once again forced another starting quarterback out of the game. Back in Week-5 the Giants knocked Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott out of the game with a season-ending ankle injury and now veteran Alex Smith, who first took the field in Week 5 against the Rams, will command Washington's offense until further notice.

Third Quarter

The Washington offense comes out of the gate with a different energy in the third quarter, marching 70 yards down the field in six plays to score a critical touchdown to start the half.

Giants lead 20-10.

The Giants are able to answer with another sustained 12-play 61-yard drive but a series of penalties and sacks kills the drive outside of the red zone. Gano is able to connect from 42 yards out to get the lead back up to 13 for the Giants.

Giants lead 23-10.

Giants defensive tackle Leonard Williams gets his sack total up to five on the season bringing down Smith outside of the Giants' red zone, in a play that ultimately helps the Giants force a fourth down.

Hopkins connects from 44 yards out for Washington, as they've exchanged field goals on the last two series.

Giants lead 23-13.

Fourth Quarter

Giants rookie offensive tackle Matt Peart started the game at right tackle, but has now moved over to the left side taking over for fellow rookie Andrew Thomas.

Peart made his first careers start at left tackle in place of Thomas back in Week 6 against Washington, and played exceptionally, holding Washington rookie edge rusher to no sacks. Thomas would be re-inserted in the game later as the two rotated throughout the game.

The Giants are keeping up that rotational strategy again today, and it's bought a lot of time for Jones.

And as soon as it seemed that Engram was turning the corner, he reverts to his 2020 form, dropping a critical pass that would have given the Giants a first down and put them well within field-goal range. Instead, the Giants go three-and-out and give Washington the ball back, as their defense will have to come out to protect a 10-point lead.

Washington keeps their foot on the gas on offense, as Smith hits wide receiver Terry McLaurin for a 68-yard touchdown to cut the Giants' lead to just three in the fourth quarter.

Giants lead 23-20.

The Giants break down offensively again, as a promising drive is halted by penalties, predominantly an offensive pass interference by Engram, and the Giants have to punt the ball back with just a three-point lead now.

The Giants defense comes up in the clutch with a third-down blitz, while Smith gets the pass off but the ball bounces off the hands of running back J.D. McKissic and into safety Jabrill Peppers' hands for an interception.

The Giants offense now has a chance to seal the game with a couple first downs. There's just 2:14 left but Washington has all three timeouts and the two-minute warning.

The Giants offense can't close it out, only running three plays and taking 18 seconds off the clock, but still forces Washington to burn all of its timeouts.

Washington will get the ball at their own 27-yard line with 1:48 needing a field goal to tie.

Smith throws another interception, this time to cornerback Logan Ryan and the Giants defense holds up again. The Giants will be able to kneel it out for their second win.