Preview; Giants vs Redskins....

The historic NFL rivalry between the World Champion New York Giants and the Washington foreskins----err, sorry, I mean Redskins, resumes this Sunday at 1:00pm. The Giants (10-1) visit the skins (7-4) in what is virtually a must win game for Washington who are fighting for their playoff lives.

While the Redskins can afford a loss in theory, it certainly would remove what little margin for error they have. There is a glut of teams they are competing with for the two wild card spots. Tampa Bay and Carolina sit at 8-3 while Arizona, Atlanta and Dallas share 7-4 records. Chasing the pack are the Vikings, Saints and Bears at 6-5 with a couple of other teams like the Eagles (yes, Donovan, NFL games really do end in ties) just on the outside looking in.

Clearly, some of these teams (possibly the Cardinals, Bucs, Falcons, or Panthers----some combination thereof) will win their division and thus not hurt the Redskins wildcard chances. Still, it is a pretty crowded picture and it appears we are headed for a wild finish to the season. A divisional loss to our beloved Giants would not only sink the Skins to a dangerous 7-5, but would hurt them in terms of tie breakers---sure to be critical this year, as it would be another divisional and conference loss.

The picture for the Giants is much less muddled. The Champs own a three game lead in the NFC East (where they are currently 3-0) but also have a two game lead for the #1 seed in the conference (where they are 7-0). The NFC East race is virtually over, if not mathematically then realistically. The top seed, which would guarentee the road to the Super Bowl leads through Giants stadium, is also in great shape but still they have work left to do.

Thus, while a win on Sunday is not critical to the Giants, they are very well aware of the opportunity they have in hand. The Redskins on the other hand are going to be a very desperate team in front of a very vocal home crowd.

In the season opener, the Giants welcomed the Redskins to the Meadowlands (along with Michael Strahan and the Vince Lombardo trophy), and beat the Skins 16-7. In reality, it wasn't as close as the score indicated. However, the Skins are a different team now. Rookie headcoach Jim Zorn looked overmatched and confused that night but seems to have stabilized the situation. Washington is 7-3 since then.

The Redskins rank 7th in the league in rushing defense allowing just over 89 yards per game. They will be opposed by the Giants dominant, 1st ranked rushing attack, hopefully including Brandon Jacobs who sat out the Cardinals game with a sore knee. If Jacobs is back, rushing behind Sean O'Hara, Chris Snee and company, the Giants should be able to establish the ground game.

Establishing the run will be critical for the Giants as the Redskins are 5th in the NFL in passing defense---and have added Deangelo Hall to bolster the secondary. Offensively, the Giants need their customary, balanced attack against this defense to be successful.

Defensively, the Giants rank 6th against the rush while the Redskins, behind Clinton Portis are 3rd. This may very well be the key to the game. If the Giants can stop the run I doubt whether Jason Cambell can muster enough of a passing attack against Steve Spagnolos defense. The Giants MUST stop the run!

I think they will. The Giants, week in and week out, seem to find a way to get it done. They outcoach and outplay their opponents. The Giants are on a big time roll right now. The end of the regular season is near. The Giants players and coaches, by all accounts, seem to realize what a unique position they find themselves in. They are focused and determined. This Giants team desperately wants to repeat and prove last years Super Bowl run was no fluke.

In what will be a brutal, late season, NFC East rivalry game, the Giants will find a way to prevail. Giants 24-20.

Go Giants!