Game 3: Redskins (2-0) vs. Giants (0-2)

vs.

The winless Giants come to town today to play the undefeated Redskins, a great chance to see if these teams are really as they appear: the Giants seem to be a team struggling with injuries and weak tea on defense and the Redskins seem to be a team with a conservative offense, mounting injuries and an effective defense.

The Redskins owe the Giants an ass whooping after the 2005 36-0 shutout viking funeral game for Wellington Mara and another for letting Tiki Barber run all over them to put the Giants into the 2006 playoff with an 8-8 record.

Tiki is gone, still living in New York and talking bad about his former coaches and teammates. Tiki learned a lot and this feud is good for his Q rating and bad for the team, they should just stfu about Tiki and play football.

Speaking of football Michael Strahan was out soul searching in California during all of camp while racking up over 400 thousand dollars in fines about half of which the team forgave. He's not in football shape yet, the outside linebackers are not strong and in the secondary RW McQuarters and Corey Webster can't cover toast with butter.

This is a game the Redskins shoud win and win big. Of coarse I say should because this is also the exact type of game the Redskins typically lose, a chance to make a statement, get a real personality.

3-0, that's all I want to see, 3-0 teams turn weird stuff and coaching errors into points and despite a winnable game 4 (4-0 would be insane so don't even mention it) I'll be happy at 3-0 so get's walk through it:

One of the stories this week was the Redskins movement to youth. The defensive line, linebackers and secondary all have starters under 25 and on offense only the line is aging with young Stephon Heyer maybe a future starter. Another was how well the Redskins are executing third down, on both sides of the ball. These numbers are vastly improved from last season.

I agree with the WaPo (PDF): great opportunity for a Redskins letdown; need more points from the offense (the defense can't win all 16 games); prove the third down efficiency is real not fluky; the right side of the offensive line will be tested.

Other things to watch today:

The quarterback: Jason Campbell has been in sync with his receivers so far despite a low quarterback rating for a starter. He hasn't been called on to win a game yet, only not lose a game. This week may not be any different and he may get the chance to have a big game.

The offensive line: it continues to evolve, the latest changes due to the left triceps tear Randy Thomas suffered last week which required surgery and will put him out until the end of the season. The line has changed every week with injury, not right guard Jason Fabini becomes the latest new starter who's already 'getting to know' his right side mate elevated backup Todd Wade aka 8 Ball, they better get a routine because they are replacing establshed and quality players. The team also signed Rick DeMulling off the street, by week five he'll be a starter. The Giants have not been solid at the defensive line and this game is a chance to learn and win.

The running game: so far I like the way Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts are being used in tandem and thanks Mike Sellers but no thanks we need to keep your carries to a minimum, if the Redskins can continue to put out 160 yards per game and limit Clinton to injury exposure and Ladell to fumble exposure by working them as a unit I'll be satisfied. The Giants run defense is in the middle of the pack.

The defensive line: so far the line has outplayed my expectations. With Philip Daniels sidelined last week young and untouted players were forced to carry the load and did, two games with good pass rush and one game with good run defense. Anthony aka Tony Montgomery was an afterthought last season as Kedric Golston evolved into a starter and now he's in better shape and about to start his fourth game. Progress, progress. Eli Manning (lol) has taken quite a beating and I hope to see that continue.

For the Giants, Brandon Jacobs is still out, Eli is playing with a hurt shoulder though the Redskins have not been able to get to him recently and allegedly (PDF) are not going for his injury (right), Osi Umenyiora will be back buy is slowed and now Plaxico Burress, the team's leading receiver has been limited by an ankle injury (op. cit.). Bascially they are a mess, Tom Coughlin is dead man walking. The team has gone into a shell and the New York media sharks smell blood in the water (example 1 / example 2). I can't wait until Eli has to get up on a podium to speak and his voice breaks bwahahaha I love watching him shrink slowly into a bust.


Other previews: Washington Post Redskins Gameday (PDF), Post Game Heroes, Hog Heaven, The Redskin Report (preview / statalicious), Hogs Haven 5 Questions with Giants' Big Blue View.

This is a gameday open thread.