Sports
Redskins game day » Week 13 vs. Giants
By: John Keim
Examiner Staff Writer
November 30, 2008
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| Kicker Shaun Suisham and the rest of the Redskins' special teams will need to be on top of their game against the Giants on Sunday if Washington is to win. (Joe Murphy/Getty Images) |
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Three keys to a Redskins victory
1. STOP THE RUN » The Giants proved last week that they can win with Eli Manning throwing the ball. However, the Redskins’ secondary will make that difficult for him. So the defensive success rests on stopping Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward. The Giants run many off-tackle power runs, which the Redskins have struggled to stop. Given the Redskins injuries — especially to middle linebacker London Fletcher — small ends and banged-up interior, this will be a monumental task.
2. USE SHORT CROSSING ROUTES » The Giants will bring a lot of pressure, mostly from its front four. But they will also blitz their corners. The Redskins did not do a good job of handling the pressure in the first meeting and it’s hard to imagine it not hurting them in this game. To combat this, the Redskins need to keep their offense moving by using a lot of short crossing routes, quick throws designed to beat pressure.
3. WIN THE SPECIAL TEAMS BATTLE » The only way Washington can spring the upset is if it plays flawlessly in all three phases. The Redskins’ special teams have been bad most of the season, from the kicking game to coverage. Punter Ryan Plackemeier is no better than Durant Brooks. The Giants have a strong special teams, so Washington’s coverage units must have a good game. And Shaun Suisham can’t come up short on 43-yard kicks..
Key matchups
| DE Mathias Kiwanuka |
vs. | LT Chris Samuels |
| He has six sacks this season and is more than capable of presenting problems with his speed. | It’s clear that his knee is bothering him; he walks with a slight limp. Samuels has not been sharp lately, especially against speed rushers. | |
| DE Justin Tuck |
vs. | RT Jon Jansen |
| He leads the Giants with 10 sacks and presented problems in the first game. He’s an explosive player. |
He’ll need extra help against Tuck and likely will get it from a tight end or back. Beware the inside move. | |
| WR Antonio Pierce |
vs. | RB Clinton Portis |
| He always seems to know what the Redskins are running. His tackles free him up to make plays. |
He’s banged up, but likely to play. The NFL’s leading rusher must have a good game. |
State of the teams
» New York is playing with more confidence than any team in the league. The Giants have won five straight games against teams with a winning record. And they won last week without Plaxico Burress and Brandon Jacobs.
» Washington is struggling offensively and with injuries. The latter could prove more troublesome because it affects the strength of the team: the defense. Entering a critical stretch, the Redskins are starting to wear down.
The Examiner predicts ...
The Giants are a bad matchup for Washington, with a physical defense, a dominant front on both sides and a burly running game.
Giants 21, Redskins 14
