***SWAMPDADDY TNF REDSKINS @ GMEN***
***WASHINGTON REDSKINS @ NEW YORK GIANTS***
This is game in a division that is WIDE open and a very tough one to cap as I think it will land right around the number that is now standing at GMen-3 and O/U 44. I can see a 27-24 or 24-20 game either way, but tonight I will roll with good 'ol Charlie Brown himself, Eli Manning. As much as I like the Skins this year and the way they have started the season, I trust Eli with his back against the wall tonight will get it done at home.
Let it be known that I love how the Skins have answered the bell after the whole RG3 fiasco and went ahead to officially name Kirk Cousins their starting QB to start the season. It has seemed to have worked wonders for him and his psyche and thus far, he is playing the position for them very well. In my eyes they should've won their first game at home against MIami that just got away from them after a late punt returned for a TD by Jarvis Landry. In a nutshell, they have played extremely well versus two stellar defensive fronts in both the Dolphins and the Rams. However, these teams are better at rushing the passer than they are at stopping the run. Quite frankly, I believe both the Phins and Rams may have made the mistake of taking the Skins a little lightly. The Phins probably went in there a little too confident week 1 than they should've been and with all their offseason hype versus the Skins who were presumably in turmoil, it is understandable. As far as the Rams, they had just come off of a huge win at home versus their division nemesis in the Seahawks and were probably feeling a little too confident themselves heading into Washington in week 2 while facing an 0-1 Redskins team.
Tonight the Skins go on the road for the first time this year to face a better QB than they have thus far who can air it out with the best of them. Yes, their defense has been outstanding so far and are riding a high right now as they should be with their early success. I am digging the 'swagu' that they are building in Washington with the Bride of Chucky (Gruden) leading the helm. Their gameplans have been on point with loading the offensive line with as many as eight guys to block and forcefully pound the rock down their opponent's throat. It has worked like a charm as RB Alfred Morris now has a buddy to share the handoffs with in rookie RB Matt Jones. This kid has been great early on and may even take over the lead carries moving forward. It looks like the "Hogs" are definitely back in town. This also allows Cousins to quietly have success in the passing game when needed as defenses try to load up on the run.
However, in the NFL suprising schemes and gameplans like this only last so long and the Redskins have made a point especially in their own division that they are a legit contender and will not lay down this year. That being said the Gmen are in a nice spot where they are catching a home game on a short week with a chance to quickly turnaround all the negativity and doubt that is slowly but surely seeping into the tri-state area regarding Big Blue. Eli is one of the guys that I hate to go against when facing adversity and with a weapon like Odell Beckham Jr. at his side, he can be very dangerous. He has been taking TONS of cirticism early on knocking his game management and rightfully so, but this is when Eli tends to shine. NY has also made a very smart move in cutting WR Preston Parker who has been single handedly sabotaging them in both weeks 1 & 2. This guy looked like the grown man version of "Hott-Hands Hanon" from the Little Giants and they made the right decision in letting him walk. If he doesn't drop the passes that he had in both games, the Giants may very well be 2-0 right now. Not to say there weren't a lot of other things that factor in to them sitting winless at the moment but that in my eyes was a big time killer for their offense. Now WR Ruben Randle should get a chance to prove that he belongs in that WR core and produce off all the attention Odell draws, look for him to have a big night tonight. I also like RB Shane Vereen to get heavily involved once more in the passing game and get into the endzone off a screen pass or two behind the Redskin heavy pass rush.
It is simply do or die for the Giants as their schedule only gets harder from this point on. If they don't get a win here they are looking at a very ugly season in 2015. Normally if you know me I love a good underdawgie especially one that is trending upward versus a team with all the pressure on them and playing badly....but the Giants are one of the few that I have faith in to turn things around and get it right. Metlife will be howling tonight and despite some injuries for the Giants I think the they will feed off the crowd, and have some success slowing down the run game of Washington as they have been pretty solid in doing so in weeks 1 & 2. They get one of their defensive and emotional leaders in the return of veteran LB Jon Beason to also help provide a surge. This will force Cousins to pass more and get away from their gameplan to keep up with Eli and the points the Giants should get early as I think they will try and do so to start the game. Without Redskin WR DeSean Jackson as a deep threat, I think the Giants can handle the Cousins passing game even without injured CB Rodgers-Cromartie on the field. Tonight will be a nail-biter either way but Swampy is rolling with Eli & Coughlin to do what they are very used to doing here, and that's righting the ship! GMEN -3
