Big Blue View
Can the Giants build on a good outing in Week 2?
The New York Giants have their first rematch of the 2024 season as they return home to take on the Washington Commanders in Week 9.
It might seem like a distant memory, but the Giants’ two games against Washington were looked at as “likely wins” on an otherwise tough schedule. Then the Giants lost their Week 2 matchup against the Commanders despite not allowing a touchdown. That game, even more than the Giants’ Week 1 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, rung alarm bells that things might not go as planned this year for the Giants.
Six weeks later, the Commanders lead the NFC East with a 6-2 record. The Giants, meanwhile, are in last place with a 2-6 record and an 0-3 record within the division.
While the Giants’ record is dismal and their offense is even less prolific than it was in 2023, they’ve consistently been in games. That has been due, in large part, to the Herculean efforts of Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, and the rest of the Giants’ defense.
What can the Giants’ defense expect from the Commanders’ offense this time around?
(Note: The cited win rates might not be accurate to date. At this point they’re likely generally accurate, however ESPN either hasn’t updated for Week 8, or has a typo as to when they are updated through. The numbers will be updated if new ones arrive.)
No, those aren’t typos up above. I sincerely doubt anyone saw it coming, but Washington has fielded one of the best offenses in the NFL through the first half of the season. Given the presence — and running ability — of Brian Robinson and Jayden Daniels, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that Washington has one of the best rushing offenses in the NFL.
It is, surprising, however, that they’ve fielded one of the best passing offenses in the NFL.
There were plenty of questions regarding the Commanders’ passing offense before the season started. How would rookie Jayden Daniels perform, and what would Kliff Kingsbury’s offense look like? Would their protection hold up and could Daniels get Terry McLaurin the ball? Could the Commanders find productive receivers not named “Terry McLaurin”?
So far the answers have been overwhelmingly positive. Daniels has acquitted himself spectacularly well and Kingsbury has done a great job of scheming to Daniels’ strength as well as expanding over time upon what works. The Commanders’ offensive line has come together and currently ranks eighth in the NFL in true pass sets. They’ve diversified their passing offense and Daniels is distributing the ball well.
McLaurin and Zach Ertz are, by far, his most targeted options at 57 and 45 targets, respectively. However, running back Austin Ekeler and receivers Noah Brown, Olamide Zaccheaus, Dyami Brown, and rookie Luke McCaffrey have all been targeted between 27 and 13 times. The Commanders don’t do much that’s...
