Hogs Haven
With the Eagles beating the Cowboys on Thursday night, the NFC East is already starting to segment into the haves and have nots. The winner of this game will be 1-0 in division play and one of 16 teams across the league to finish Week 1 with an unblemished overall record; the loser will be in a hole and its fan base is likely to go into a panic about the disastrous season that awaits.
Last year’s stats and accomplishments (or failures) mean nothing. It’s a new season and every team starts with a blank slate. Northwest Stadium is sold out and the crowd is expected to be electric as QB Jayden Daniels, WR Terry McLaurin, LBs Bobby Wagner & Frankie Luvu and extra-point-holder Tress Way head onto the grass with the intention of logging the Commanders’ first win of the season.
The only player on either team to have an injury designation for the game is the Giants starting left tackle, Andrew Thomas, who was listed as “doubtful” on Friday’s injury report. He was inactive for this game, which could offer an advantage to the Commanders.
The Commanders are favored by 6.5 points, but Week 1 games in the NFL — especially those between division rivals — are notoriously unpredictable.
The weather was cloudy all morning, but the skies are expected to clear as the game gets underway with temperatures around 70 degrees.
The game opened with New York kicking off to the Commanders who set up for the first offensive drive of the season. Deebo Samuel ran the ball out of the end zone, but only got to the 20-yard line, giving up 15 yards of field position. Not the ideal start.
After earning one first down, the Commanders were let down (twice) by Zach Ertz who was called for a false start on 3rd & 5 and then dropped an easy catch on the replay of the snap. Tress Way had to punt the ball away with just under 13 minutes in the quarter.
Javon Kinlaw made the Commanders first tackle of the ‘25 season, hitting the running back a yard behind the line of scrimmage. Two plays later, the Giants punted on 4th & 7. Jaylin Lane returned the punt — his first NFL touch — but a holding call against Jonathan Jones on the return pushed the ball back to the Washington 11-yard line.
The question of which player would lead the running attack was answered early as Austin Ekeler played every snap of both drives. The big play of the drive was a 34-yard completion to the right sideline to WR Chris Moore, who had been activated from the practice squad for this game. Noah Brown also caught one in the middle of the field for 18 yards.
With the ball in the red zone with 1st & 10 at the 12-yard line with about 8 minutes remaining in the quarter, Daniels is 4 of 6 passes for 64 yards,...
