1. Impact rookies.
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month, NFC Defensive Player of the Week, and Rookie of the Week are just some of the laurels picked up this year by the Giants' rookie class. "It doesn't happen right away," coach Tom Coughlin said in his exclusive weekly interview with Giants.com's Michael Eisen. "It takes a while for them. And you may see some guys on special teams that are starting to play well. It takes a while, but it's encouraging. Let's put it that way."
2. Injury Report.
Giants: LB Jacquian Williams and OT James Brewer are out with concussions; QB Eli Manning (back), LB Mark Herzlich (concussion), and LB Jameel McClain (knee) are probable. Redskins: RB Roy Helu (toe), S Brandon Meriweather (toe) and LB Keenan Robinson (knee) are out; DE Jason Hatcher (knee), DE Kedric Golston (back/foot), WR DeSean Jackson (shin), QB Colt McCoy (neck), and DT Chris Baker (chest/toe) are questionable; DT Barry Cofield (illness) and LB Will Compton (shoulder) are probable.
3. Colt at QB.
Colt McCoy will make his third straight start at quarterback in place of Robert Griffin III for the Washington Redskins on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. There was some doubt throughout the week because of a neck injury that McCoy sustained, but the fifth-year pro received medical clearance. In the meantime, Coughlin and his staff had to plan for two quarterbacks.
"It's extremely difficult," Coughlin said. "It's one of the questions you get asked any time there's a circumstance like this. You must embrace the talents of the people that you think may have a chance to play. In so doing, you have to defend it. There will be different things. Don't forget, McCoy has a 72 percent completion percentage and a 97.7 quarterback rating. And both of their other two (quarterbacks, including Kirk Cousins) are in the 80s."
4. Eli is good to go.
Quarterback Eli Manning appeared on the injury report this week with a back issue, but his consecutive start streak was never really in jeopardy as he practiced normally and is listed as probable for Sunday. Manning's 164 consecutive starts (plus 11 postseason starts) is the third-longest streak by a quarterback in NFL history, behind Brett Favre (297) and Peyton Manning (208). Eli Manning has the longest active streak, followed by Philip Rivers at 141.
5. One-two punch of Jennings-Williams.
Running back Rashad Jennings was able to play last week after recovering from an ankle injury but took just two carries as rookie Andre Williams posted the first 100-yard game of his professional career. After the limited reps against the Titans, Jennings came back stronger as the week went on and will likely take on more of the workload.
6. No week off.
Keep an eye on these five players as the Giants face Washington on Sunday
LB Devon Kennard Kennard is the reigning NFC Defensive Player of the Week after recording six solo tackles, two sacks, two tackles for losses and a forced fumble against the Titans. It was his second straight two-sack game for a Giants defense that has 15 in the last two weeks. "I think I played a good game, but there are always things. I'm very critical of myself, and there are always things that I could have done better or things that could have gone even better," Kennard said. "There is definitely still much room for improvement in my game."
LB DEVON KENNARD WINS DEFENSIVE AWARD
RB Rashad Jennings While rookie running back Andre Williams rushed for his first 100-yard game last week, Rashad Jennings carried the ball just two times in Tennessee because of an ankle injury that he suffered in the previous game. But now Jennings is returning to form as a one-two punch with Williams.
QB Eli Manning Manning made a rare appearance on the injury report this week with a back issue but is good to go after practicing fully on Friday. His 164 consecutive starts in a row is the longest active streak by any player.
WR Odell Beckham Jr. Odell Beckham Jr. is looking to extend his rookie record of six straight games of at least 90 receiving yards. (156 vs. IND, 108 at SEA, 93 vs. SF, 146 vs. DAL, 90 at JAX, 130 at TEN). "The one thing that I have always known is to never get complacent because there is always someone coming to take your spot," Beckham said. "Just keep pushing forward and get better each and every day."
WATCH ODELL BECKHAM HIGHLIGHTS VS. TITANS
S Stevie Brown After being switched with Quintin Demps in the starting rotation after Week 3, Brown worked his way back onto the field and started the last two weeks, recording eight tackles and a sack in that span. Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell sees a different player in Brown. "I think he had made a conscious effort to be more assignment-oriented and play the techniques that we are asking him to play," Fewell said. "We have tried to do more with him than just standing in the middle of the field, and be a post player. We have asked him to get down in the box a little bit, we asked him to have various roles. I think he has accepted that instead of just being a middle of the field player. We think he is a very good middle of the field player, don't get me wrong there, but we asked him to contribute and do more."
The Giants defeated the Redskins by 31 points in the first leg of the season series back in late September. But since then, the Giants have won just two more games and find themselves at 4-9 overall with three games remaining. Meanwhile, the Redskins have just one fewer victory in 2014.
"It should not be hard for us to understand where they are because we're there," Coughlin said. "You're taking shots every week, your back is against the wall. People are telling you you're not very good. They're going through the same thing we're going through. Understand it. The one thing I do say to anybody that wants to ask me – our practices over the course of the seven days are good. Our guys practice, they do. They got it, they went out, they practiced, the effort has been good. So I'm counting on it. I'm counting on, again, the effort. Effort, effort, effort, whether it be meetings or practice, I'm counting on a great effort from our guys, because they've done it. We've been beaten, but we have not lacked for that part of it."
7. Can the Giants keep up the pressure?
After having just 19 sacks in the first 11 games, the Giants notched 15 in the last two weeks against the Jaguars and Titans. Big Blue could keep it going against Washington, which has allowed 46 this season (second most in the NFL).
8. Beckham breaking records.
While becoming the first rookie in NFL history to record six consecutive 90-yard receiving games, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is closing in on tight end Jeremy Shockey's franchise rookie records of 74 receptions for 894 yards in 2002. Beckham is currently at 59 catches for 829 yards.
