Thursday Night Football Preview: G-Men vs. 'Skins

The NFL approaches the season’s quarter mark beginning on Thursday night when the Washington Redskins (1-2) host the New York Giants (1-2).

Thursday’s matchup will be the 165th (including postseason) meeting between the NFC East foes. The Giants have won three of the past four games between the two teams and lead the all-time series 95-65-4. 

After an 0-2 start to the season, the Giants secured their first win with a 30-17 victory over the Houston Texans behind running back RASHAD JENNINGS’ career-high 176 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Giants also received touchdowns from tight end DANIEL FELLS and wide receiver VICTOR CRUZ, who had five catches for 107 yards. 

“I’m excited, it’s a benefit for our offense to play on Thursday night, because we’re going to go out there and we’re going to play up-tempo,” says Giants tackle JUSTIN PUGH on the team’s short turnaround this week. “We’ve got to go out there and go down to a hostile environment and win a divisional game.”

Heading into Thursday’s contest at Washington, New York quarterback ELI MANNING has won six of 10 regular-season starts against the Redskins at FedEx Field. In those 10 starts, Manning has 185 completions for 2,289 passing yards, the most of any active visiting player at FedEx Field since he entered the league in 2004. Manning’s 10 touchdown passes on the road against Washington rank second among active players, trailing only Dallas quarterback TONY ROMO (12). 

Eli Manning at FedEx Field

RECORD: 6-4
YARDS: 2,289
TD: 10
PASSES RATING: 83.9

Meanwhile in Washington, the Redskins look to bounce back from a 37-34 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. In the loss, quarterback KIRK COUSINS passed for a career-high 427 yards and three touchdowns, including an 81-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver DE SEAN JACKSON.

Jackson now has 16 career touchdowns (11 receiving, three punt-return and two rushing) against NFC East opponents, tied for the most by any player since he entered the league in 2008 (AHMAD BRADSHAW, 16). Of his 16 career touchdowns against the NFC East, seven (four receiving, two punt-return and one rushing) have come against the Giants, also the most by any player since 2008. 

DeSean Jackson against the NFC East

RECEPTIONS: 122
YARDS: 2,183
TOUCHDOWNS: 11

Matchup Stats

Thursday Games
GIANTS: 13-7-3
REDSKINS: 6-8

Series Leader
GIANTS: 94-64-4 (NYG won 3 of last 4)

Game Notes

GIANTS

• QB ELI MANNING aims for 3rd win in row vs. Was. Has won 9 of past 12 starts in series. Has started 154 consecutive games, longest active streak by QB
  
• RB RASHAD JENNINGS rushed for career-high 176 yards with TD last week.
  
• WR VICTOR CRUZ has 18 catches for 315 yards (105 per game) & TD (77 yards) in past 3 meetings. Had 5 catches for 107 yards & TD last week. 
• WR RUEBEN RANDLE had 37-yard TD in last Thurs. game (10/10/13 vs. Chi.). 
  
• TE LARRY DONNELL leads team with 18 catches. TE DANIEL FELLS aims for 3rd in row with TD.
  
• DE JASON PIERRE-PAUL has 6 sacks, 2 FFs & 2 FRs in 6 career meetings. Has sack in 4 of 6 career games vs. Was. Is only DE in NFL with 2 INT-TDs since 2012. 
• CB DOMINIQUE RODGERS-CROMARTIE had 75-yard INT-TD last year vs. Was. (10/27/13 with Den.). Had 1 of 3 NYG INTs last week (S ANTREL ROLLE & CB PRINCE AMUKAMARA). Has 5 career INT-TDs. CB TRUMAINE MC BRIDE had career-high 2 INTs in last meeting

REDSKINS

• QB KIRK COUSINS passed for 427 yards & 3 TDs last week. Is 2nd in NFC with 105.8 rating.
  
• RB ALFRED MORRIS has 2 100-yard games vs. NYG. In 2 games on Thurs., has rushed for 252 yards (126 per game) & TD. 
  
• FB DARREL YOUNG aims for 4th in row with TD
  
• WR PIERRE GARÇON had 11 catches for 138 yards & TD last week. Has 4 rec. TDs in past 4 on Thurs. 
  
• WR DE SEAN JACKSON has 7 TDs vs. NYG (4 rec., 2 PR, 1 rush). Had 5 catches for 117 yards & TD (81 yards) in Week 3 
  
• LB BRIAN ORAKPO has 3 sacks in past 2 vs. NYG & aims for 3rd meeting in row with sack. 
  
• Since entering NFL in 2011, LB RYAN KERRIGAN is 1 of 2 with 25+ sacks (28.5) & 2+ INT-TDs (2). Has sack & INT-TD in career vs. NYG. 
  

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