Washington Commanders vs N.y. Giants Picks and Predictions September 15th 2024

FOX will broadcast the week two NFC East matchup between the Giants and Commanders at 1:00 ET. The Commanders are favored at -145 on the money line and -2.5 on the point spread. The game is being played at Commanders Field in Landover, MD, and the over/under line is set at 43.5 points. The Giants’ money line odds are +121.

New York vs. Washington Key Information

• Teams: Giants at Commanders
• Where: Commanders Field Landover
• Date: Sunday, September 15th
• Betting Odds WAS -145 | NYG +121 O/U 43.5

The Giants Can Win If…

The Giants are now 0-1 after their 28-6 loss to the Vikings. New York was hoping for a better start to the season, but they were outplayed from the start. Even though the Giants took an early 3-7 lead with a field goal from Graham Gano, the Vikings responded with a touchdown and led 7-3 after the 1st quarter. From there, the Giants were outscored until they added another field goal in the 3rd quarter.

After the Giants’ initial field goal, the Vikings scored 21 unanswered points, including two touchdown passes from Sam Darnold in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. The Giants were 1-point underdogs in this one, and the 22-point loss meant they didn’t cover the spread.

Despite converting 38.9% of their third downs, the Giants were limited to just 166 yards passing in their 28-6 loss to the Vikings. New York managed only 14 first downs and 74 yards rushing on 21 attempts. Daniel Jones went 22/42 for 186 yards, but he was also sacked five times and threw two interceptions.

Malik Nabers led the Giants with 66 receiving yards, while Devin Singletary was the top rusher with 37 yards. The Giants failed to score a touchdown and struggled in the passing game, averaging only 4 yards per attempt.

In their 28-6 loss to the Vikings, the Giants’ defense allowed 79.2% of passes to be completed for 201 yards. They gave up two passing touchdowns and struggled to get off the field, as the Vikings converted 70% of their third down attempts. The Giants’ defense did come up with one interception and one sack.

On the ground, the Giants allowed 111 rushing yards on 26 attempts, giving up 4.3 yards per attempt. Overall, the Giants gave up 312 total yards in the game.

• New York has put together a record of 1-2 in their last three games (regular season). This also includes going 2-1 ATS, and posting an over-under record of 1-2.
• Across New York’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 4-6. Their record vs the spread sits at 6-4 in these matchups, while posting a 5-5 over-under mark.

The Commanders Can Win If…

Washington is coming off a 37-20 loss to the Buccaneers, putting them at 0-1 for the season. They were +4-point underdogs on the road and didn’t cover the spread. The game finished with a combined 57 points, going over the total line of 42.5 points.

The Commanders fell behind early, with Tampa Bay leading 6-0 after the 1st quarter. Washington’s only touchdown in the 2nd quarter was a 7-yard run by Brian Robinson Jr. The Commanders added another touchdown in the 3rd quarter on a 1-yard run by Jayden Daniels, and the Buccaneers sealed the game with a touchdown in the 4th quarter.

In their 37-20 loss to the Buccaneers, the Commanders’ offense managed 22 first downs and 138 rushing yards on 30 attempts. Jayden Daniels, not only the team’s leading rusher with 88 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, but also their top passer, threw for 184 yards and completed 70% of his passes. He didn’t throw any touchdowns and was not intercepted.

Washington struggled on third down, converting only 25% of their chances, and Daniels was sacked twice. The Commanders’ passing game totaled 161 yards, with Daniels also leading the team in rushing with 88 yards on the ground, including two touchdowns and a long run of 17 yards. Austin Ekeler was the top receiver with 52 yards through the air.

The Commanders’ defense struggled on third down in their 37-20 loss to the Buccaneers, allowing a 69.2% conversion rate. They gave up four passing touchdowns and allowed Tampa Bay to complete 80% of their passes for 280 yards. Washington’s defense managed only one sack in the game.

Overall, the Commanders gave up 392 total yards to the Buccaneers, with 112 of those coming on the ground across 30 rushing attempts. Washington will need to improve in coverage and generate more consistent pressure going forward.

• The Commanders have gone 0-3 over their last three regular season games. In these matchups, they ended with an ATS record of 0-3 and an over-under mark of 2-1.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Commanders have gone 2-8 straight up. In these matchups, they ended with an ATS record of 1-8-1 and an over-under mark of 5-5.

The Lean

Our pick vs. the spread is to take the Giants to cover as road underdogs in their week two matchup vs. Washington. Right now, the point spread lines have the Giants at +2.5, and we have Washington winning by a score of 25-23.

For the over/under, we are leaning towards taking the over, with a projected combined score of 48 points and the O/U line sitting at 43.5 points.

Giants’ Daniel Jones Faces Familiar Foe in Commanders as Both Teams Seek First Win

Daniel Jones and the New York Giants (0-1) are looking to rebound from a disappointing season opener when they face off against the Washington Commanders (0-1) on Sunday in Landover, Md. After struggling in Week 1, Jones will look to rediscover his form against a familiar NFC East opponent, a team he has excelled against throughout his career.

Jones’ Dominance Over the Commanders

If Daniel Jones could face the Washington Commanders every week, his career trajectory might look quite different. Jones holds an impressive 5-1-1 record in seven starts against Washington, with 10 touchdowns, three interceptions, and a 98.0 passer rating. No other team has been as generous to Jones as the Commanders, giving him more wins than any other opponent in his career.

The Giants hope to lean on Jones’ past success against Washington to rebound after a rough Week 1 performance against the Minnesota Vikings, where Jones threw two interceptions—including a pick-six—and was sacked five times in a 28-6 loss. His 44.3 passer rating was the second worst among NFL starters in the opening week.

Despite the struggles, Giants head coach Brian Daboll emphasized that improvement needs to happen across the board, not just with Jones.

With Jones’ record against Washington and the team’s road trip ahead, the Giants will hope to erase the memories of Week 1 with a strong showing on Sunday.

Rookie QB Jayden Daniels Impresses for Commanders

On the other side, Washington’s rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels shined in his NFL debut, despite the Commanders falling 37-20 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1. Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, showcased his dual-threat ability by completing 17 of 24 passes for 184 yards and rushing for a team-high 88 yards with two touchdowns.

While Daniels impressed with his legs, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn emphasized the need for the rookie to focus on developing as a passer first.

Daniels will look to build on his promising debut by taking more shots downfield, especially to star wide receiver Terry McLaurin, who was held to just two receptions for 17 yards in Week 1.

Key Areas for Improvement

For the Giants, a major point of focus will be improving the offensive line’s protection of Daniel Jones. The line allowed five sacks last week, which contributed to the team’s offensive struggles. Additionally, the Giants’ defense, which played relatively well against the Vikings, will be tasked with containing Daniels and limiting his big-play ability on the ground.

The Commanders, meanwhile, will need to tighten up their defense after giving up four touchdown passes to Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers last week. If Washington wants to slow down Jones, they’ll need a stronger defensive performance, especially with Jones’ history of success against them.

Injury Report

Both teams enter Sunday’s game with injury concerns. For the Giants, rookie linebacker Darius Muasau (knee) will be out after an impressive debut that included six tackles and an interception. Wide receiver Darius Slayton (concussion protocol) practiced fully on Friday and is expected to play, while rookie wideout Malik Nabers (knee) was limited earlier in the week but practiced fully on Friday.

For Washington, cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. (thumb) underwent surgery and will miss the game, while rookie defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton (foot) and defensive end Clelin Ferrell (knee) are listed as questionable. Safety Quan Martin (hamstring) was limited in practice and is also questionable for Sunday.

What’s at Stake

Both teams enter Week 2 looking for their first win of the season. For the Giants, a victory would provide much-needed confidence after a poor Week 1 showing and build momentum heading into the heart of the season. For Washington, another strong performance from Daniels could establish him as the team’s quarterback of the future, while a win would help them avoid a dreaded 0-2 start.

With both teams trying to rebound, this NFC East battle promises to be an intense showdown as the Giants and Commanders seek to gain an early-season edge in the division.