The New York Giants’ Keys To Beating The Commanders

The Giants’ biggest strength on paper is the defensive front. Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Dexter Lawrence, and Abdul Carter make up a nightmare for quarterbacks. They need to show that on Sunday.

Carter was arguably the best overall prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft. He impressed in his preseason debut, beating four-time Pro Bowl tackle Dion Dawkins several times. He got his “welcome to the NFL moment” out of the way early and is ready to dominate.

Burns, Lawrence, and Thibodeaux are all entering their second year in Shane Bowen’s system. It seems like everyone will be healthy for Week 1, and if they can shake Jayden Daniels up, he’ll make mistakes. It’s time for the defense to live up to the hype.

The Running Back Trio Is Lethal

Veteran running back Devin Singletary was signed by the Giants last year. He went down with an injury, and fifth-round rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. ran away with the job (no pun intended).

This year, New York picked one of the Draft’s most underrated rushers in Cam Skattebo. They have a three-headed monster in the backfield, and they need to use it. What’s even greater is that all three backs can be scary dual threats, dominating on the ground, and in the air.

At this stage in his career, Russell Wilson is at his best when the entire offense doesn’t rest on his shoulders alone. If New York can dominate the run-game, and there’s no reason why they can’t, Wilson can play looser, and make big plays.

Protect. The. Quarterback.

Having a strong offensive line will make or break a team’s entire season. The Giants have struggled with this for roughly a decade, but they finally have some strong pieces. With Washington’s pass-rush being a notable weak spot, New York can win the battle in the trenches.

Left tackle Andrew Thomas is slowly making his way back into the lineup, but if he can’t play on Sunday, James Hudson and rookie Marcus Mbow are big blockers who can play well on either side. The line was strong early on last season, but injuries killed their momentum.

Outside of Thomas, who seems to be on the right track, everyone in this line is healthy and ready to go. Even the backups are in great shape and ready to be slotted in when needed. The Giants have an upgrade at the QB position and plenty of bodies to protect him.

Quarterback Play Is Everything

There is a reason to hammer home the offensive line and the running back room. The quarterback is the cornerstone of every offense. After the Daniel Jones experience ended, the Giants signed Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson, along with drafting Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart. 

Compare this year’s room with 2024’s group of Jones, Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito, and Tim Boyle, and the upgrade is unbelievable. If Week 17 of last season proved anything, it’s that this roster just needs some solid QB play. Malik Nabers is a game-changing wide receiver, but he can’t live up to that without a legitimate quarterback. Wilson provides that for him in his second season.

Wilson is a former Super Bowl champion, a 10-time Pro Bowler, and a former second-team all-pro. He knows how to play consistent, strong, and meaningful football. If he can turn back the clock here, his experience over Daniels might be a difference maker on Sunday.

End Of My Giants Rant

“Any given Sunday” isn’t just a saying; it’s a reality. Every week, there are surprises and upsets in the NFL. The Giants aren’t in a position to win now, and frankly, this season might be a painful one. They’ve pulled off upsets before, though, and they usually give the Commanders a run for their money.

While Washington is the obvious pick here, don’t let your jaws hit the floor too hard if New York pulls this off. They have the tools to succeed; it’s just a matter of how fast they can put it all together. A win in Week 1 would make a huge statement about the new era of Big Blue.