So do I think either the Washington Redskins or New York Giants are any good? I don't. But I am not ruling out either winning the NFC East. That division is now totally wide open with Dallas losing both Tony Romo and Dez Bryant for likely two months and the Philadelphia Eagles massively underachieving thus far. Amazingly, the Eagles remain +130 favorites at Sportsbook.ag to win the division despite that 0-2 start. Dallas is +150, Washington at +600 and New York at +800.
I'd say the one thing the Redskins and Giants do have in common is that neither head coach will be back next season. I'm not sure that New York's Tom Coughlin makes it to October if the G-Men lose here to fall to 0-3. Meanwhile, Washington's Jay Gruden simply looks overmatched as a head coach, although his team comes off a moderately surprising win on Sunday. Reportedly Gruden has alienated former franchise QB Robert Griffin III so much that RGIII can't even be in the same room with current starter Kirk Cousins right now. The Redskins just need to trade Griffin. You hear some scuttlebutt of a deal to Dallas for RGIII, but there's no way that Redskins owner Dan Snyder would sign off on trading him to Washington's bitter rival. Griffin has been inactive in the first two games.
Redskins at Giants Betting Story Lines
The Giants completely blew their Week 1 game in Dallas because of horrible clock management by Eli Manning. And they pretty much blew their Week 2 home opener as well, a 24-20 loss to Atlanta. I'm not a head coach nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. But how do you let the Falcons' best player, Julio Jones, get open for a 37-yard late-game pass from Matt Ryan? That set up Devonta Freeman's go-ahead 2-yard TD run with 1:14 left. So thanks to another fourth-quarter meltdown, the Giants are the first team in NFL history to blow a double-digit fourth-quarter lead in the first two games of the season. The Giants have now opened three straight seasons at 0-2, a first in franchise history.
Manning has to take the blame again, I think. He fumbled on a sack late in the third quarter, with the Giants ahead by 10 and inside the Falcons' 10. In the fourth quarter, he committed a crucial delay of game penalty. He did complete 27-for-40 for 292 yards and no picks. And Odell Beckham was his usually non-guardable self, catching seven balls for 146 yards and a touchdown. Beckham, who now has 103 career receptions, surpassed the 100-reception mark in his 14th career game, the fastest by any player in NFL history. Beckham's 1,495 career receiving yards are the most by a player through his first 14 games. New York No. 2 receiver Victor Cruz hasn't played yet this season due to a calf injury and won't Thursday. Also likely out is left tackle Ereck Flowers, who is dealing with an ankle injury. Justin Pugh would move from right guard to left tackle with Flowers sidelined. John Jerry will start at right guard.
The Redskins appeared to catch the Rams in a letdown game Sunday after St. Louis upset Seattle in Week 1. Washington won 24-10. Cousins was very good, completing 23-for-27 for 203 yards and a touchdown -- most important, no turnovers, which has been his problem. And there's going to be a guy who is a big waiver-wire pickup in your fantasy leagues this week. That would be Redskins running back Matt Jones, who rushed 19 times for 123 yards and two scores. And it's not like the Skins don't already have a good back in Alfred Morris, who carried 18 times for 59 yards. But it looks like we may have a running back-by-committee thing happening. Through the first two weeks of the season, the Redskins lead the league in rushing with 343 yards (171.5 yards per game). Washington is the only team that has two players with at least 150 rushing yards. Morris has rushed for at least 100 yards or scored a touchdown in four of six career meetings vs. the Giants.
Washington remains without receiver DeSean Jackson due to a hamstring injury. Ryan Grant took his starting spot opposite Pierre Garcon vs. the Rams. Grant caught three passes for 45 yards.
Redskins at Giants Betting Odds and Trends
At 5Dimes , New York is a 4-point favorite with a total of 43.5. On the moneyline, the Giants are -210 and the Skins +175. There are no alternate lines posted yet. The Redskins are 1-1 against the spread this season and 0-2 "over/under." This is their first road game. The Giants are 1-1 ATS and O/U.
Washington is 2-8 ATS in its past 10 after a win. It is 2-5-1 ATS in its past eight on Thursday. New York is 6-1 ATS in its past seven on Thursday. The over is 5-0 in the Redskins' past five following an ATS win. The over is 4-1 in the Giants' past five vs. the NFC East. The under is 6-1 in the past seven meetings. Washington is 3-7-1 ATS in its past 11 in New York.
Free NFL Picks: Redskins at Giants Betting Predictions
The Giants have won the past four games against Washington, including a 45-14 victory over the Redskins on "Thursday Night Football" last season at MetLife Stadium. Manning threw five touchdown passes in that one, three to tight end Larry Donnell. Cousins started that one and was pretty horrendous, going 19-for-33 for 257 yards, a touchdown, four picks and a lost fumble. Washington turned it over six times, leading to 31 New York points. The Giants have not lost at home to the Redskins since 2011. And they won't here. Give the points and go over the total.
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Read more articles by Alan Matthews
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