'It's going to be a battle' – The Commanders must send a message against the Giants and erase a game-changing player on Sunday

Daniels will be the one on the field having to worry about the defensive line trying to get at him with a target on his back, but offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is the guy preparing for the challenge and making sure they aren't a factor.

"Yeah, it's as good as we'll see," Kingsbury said. "With those guys, they've invested a lot in that group and rightfully so, and they're very good. I think [Dexter] Lawrence is one of the premier defensive players in the league. There's no doubt. I mean, he's a game wrecker if you don't have a plan for him each and every snap."

Dexter Lawrence is clearly one of, if not the best, defensive tackle in the NFL, and he's the real staple of the Giants' defensive line. Lawrence was voted the 17th best player in the league on the NFL top-100 list, and he was actually the most double-teamed defensive tackle in the NFL since 2018. It didn't matter, though; he was still dominant.

A pass rush committee

Lawrence isn't the only player the offense has to worry about, as the Giants have spent a lot of capital on the line, including the 3rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft on Abdul Carter.

"I’ve always had a tremendous amount of respect for [Brian] Burns and his style of play and kind of
the relentless effort he plays with," Kingsbury added. "And then [Kayvon] Thibodeaux, a top pick, and Abdul [Carter] now. So, the front seven is as challenging as we'll face. We're going to have to be prepared and know it's going to be a knockdown, drag-out type game, just like they were last year. It came down to the wire in both games last year, and our team understands that.”

The Commanders' offensive line is much improved with Tunsil and Conerly Jr. protecting the edges for Daniels, and the whole front five will need to play four quarters of flawless football to leave Week 1 with a 1-0 record.