Daniel Jones will throw multiple touchdowns vs. Washington.
John Schmeelk: Fact- Washington has allowed nine touchdown passes this season, which is an average of about two per game. Three of those passes have come from 25 or more yards away from the end zone. Washington plays much less man-to-man than they did under the prior coaching regime, which might not present as many big-play opportunities for the Giants' passing game. It doesn't mean the Giants can't score in different ways. Their first passing touchdown will come on a wide receiver screen for Golden Tate. Jones will throw his second touchdown pass on a play-action bootleg inside the 10-yard line to Kaden Smith.
Lance Medow: Fiction- Four of the five quarterbacks Washington has faced this season have thrown for two touchdowns. The only exception is Cardinals signal caller Kyler Murray, who had just one in Week 2.
Daniel Jones hasn't thrown a touchdown pass in each of his last four games and the previous three quarterbacks who faced the Cowboys combined for 11 touchdowns and no interceptions. Despite that favorable trend, Jones wasn't able to take advantage, so it's not just about what looks attractive on paper. On top of that, Washington's pass defense ranks seventh in the NFL. Until Jones breaks the drought with at least one, it's hard to bank on him throwing for multiple scores, regardless of the matchup.
Devonta Freeman will rush for more than 100 yards.
John Schmeelk: Fiction- Washington is allowing 129.6 rushing yards per game this season, but that number is inflated by the fact they have trailed in most of their games, and opponents have taken to run the ball frequently in the second half. They are only allowing 4.24 yards per rush play, which is the 13th-best run defense in the league. The Redskins front is still formidable, and Wayne Gallman will continue to cut into Freeman's carries.
Lance Medow: Fiction- In the first five weeks of the season, only Cleveland's Nick Chubb (19 carries) surpassed the century mark on the ground against Washington. Devonta Freeman is coming off season-highs with 17 runs for 60 yards against the Cowboys last Sunday, but Wayne Gallman and Dion Lewis are also in the mix as well as Daniel Jones, who doesn't shy away from picking up yards on the ground. The Washington defensive front is not too shabby. When you take all of that into consideration, I think it's going to be challenging for Freeman to get over 100 yards rushing
Kyler Fackrell is the X-factor this Sunday after Lorenzo Carter suffered a season-ending Achilles injury.
John Schmeelk: Fiction- Let's go with "whoever lines up on the right side of the team's defense". Both Fackrell and Markus Golden have lined up on either edge so it's uncertain who will be on the right side this weekend. Morgan Moses is a very capable right tackle, but 2018 third-round pick Geron Christian has allowed 20 pressures this season, including five sacks and six quarterback hits, according to Pro Football Focus. The Giants need to win that matchup, whether it is Fackrell or Golden. Golden has been more consistent of a pass rusher of the two players this season. He only has 0.5 sacks, but he has three quarterback hits and seven hurries. Fackrell has only two quarterback hurries to go with his two sacks.
Lance Medow: Fiction- Kyler Fackrell is a strong candidate for that label, but I think Markus Golden tops the list. In the first four games of the season, he played 67 total snaps but that number skyrocketed to 57 in Week 5, when he had half a sack and two quarterback hits. Golden recorded a team-high ten sacks in 2019 and is one of the most relentless players on defense. With him getting more and more comfortable with this new scheme, I think his play will determine how well the Giants can make up for the loss of Lorenzo Carter as well as Oshane Ximines, in the short term.
Washington has the best opposing pass rush in the NFC East.
John Schmeelk: Fiction- I am still going to go with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles blitz less than Washington, but still get pressure on the quarterback 5.5% more frequently. Both teams will throw waves of rushers at opponents and the Eagles have done it for a long time.
However, Washington has the better group of edge rushers with Chase Young, Ryan Kerrigan, and Montez Sweat. Those three former first-round picks have 7.5 combined sacks. The Giants offensive tackles will be under pressure the entire game to protect Daniel Jones off the edge.
Lance Medow: Fiction- Washington has a very strong group of pass rushers - including Chase Young, Montez Sweat, Ryan Kerrigan, Jonathan Allen and Da'Ron Payne - but I'd put the Eagles' unit just ahead of them.
This is a results-oriented business and Philadelphia leads the NFC East with 18 sacks and 48 quarterback hits. The Eagles showcase Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett, Josh Sweat, Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave and Malik Jackson on the defensive line. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has the luxury to rotate those guys to keep them fresh.
To put things in perspective, Washington has collected 15 sacks in the first five games while the Eagles have double the amount of quarterback hits over that time (48-24). Washington's personnel up front is strong but based on production and depth, Philadelphia gets the edge.
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