Week 2! TNF: New York Giants vs Washington Football Team

 

I don't think the Giants have a chance tonight.

Guess I'm starting at the end, today. This isn't going to be a high-scoring game. In fact, the Giants will probably have a lead at some point in the fourth. I don't think it will matter, though. There are three things you can look at to kind of gauge how a game is going to go. The location, the defenses, and the quarterbacks.

The Football Team have the advantage in all three categories: they're at home, have the better defense, and the quarterback least likely to give the ball to the other team.

Even if we look at the offensive weapons, Washington retains their advantage. The Giants have some pretty serious injuries right now. Evan Engram being out hurts, and Saquon isn't fully healthy yet. Minus Fitzmagick, Washington seem to be doing just fine – there's no one listed on their injury report.

I know that the Giants swept the Football Team last year. But I just don't see it being competitive tonight. Maybe Daniel Jones manages to keep his team in the game. Which seems probable because Taylor Heinicke isn't likely to light it up exactly. But I have a feeling the Team are going to try to play keepaway ball tonight. That's what I would do. Get a lead and then just sit on the ball for as long as possible, using the athleticism of my quarterback and my already-good running game to keep the score low and the drives long.

As I'm looking at and listening to what other people have to say about this game, I saw an interview with Saquon Barkley. I think it was with Kay Jones. I wasn't paying attention to who asked him how he felt about playing two games in five days on a surgically repaired knee – largely because I wasn't interested in the answer. That is, until I heard it. It wasn't that he said that he wasn't exactly excited to play on so much after a “major knee surgery,” (as he called it). It was the way he said it.

His tone was not that of someone who was doing what he needed to do to help his team win. His tone was that of someone that was not ready to be on the knee, but felt that he had an ultimatum from on high.

That sounds to me like Joe Judge is making his players play hurt. Which is exactly the kind of thing a 2 – 15 coach does before being bounced from the League.

As for Ron Rivera.... I think he's a good coach. Do I think he gives Cam Newton a sniff if Heinicke shits the bed tonight?

I'm not sure. Maybe that's actually what I want to write about. Because the NFC East is boring.

Is Cam an improvement over Heinicke? I don't know. I'll say that right out of the gate. I've watched way too little of Heinicke. But I am pretty sure he still has a functional throwing arm. At this point, I actually think I'd rather have Taysom Hill for 18 weeks than Cam Newton – at least he can complete a forward pass.

But does Ron Rivera pull that coaching move where you think your seat is hot so you bring in a veteran you've had success with before? You know – does Ron Rivera talk himself into thinking that he can save his season the same way Adam Gase did with Jay Cutler? And will it blow up in his face as spectacularly?

Because from what I've seen, Ron Rivera's career seems to be one of big decisions spectacularly blowing up in his face. Why did he take the Football Team job, anyway? Is any job really better than no job? Is Rivera the kind of person who can't play second fiddle anymore? Not that I would blame him. He got close. Real close. And then got real close to being close again, with another team. He's obviously a good coach.

Does he have a good supporting cast?

He has a terrible owner.

And I've postulated in these pages before that the owner is the most important piece of the puzzle.

So, Thursday Night, Week 2.

I think we're going to see a lot of runs. From both teams, but especially the Football Team. I think Rivera is going to be smart and keep his QB's attempts below 25 heading into the last five minutes of the game. I don't know enough about the Giants and Joe Judge to predict how they're going to play this game. But, if they're smart, they do exactly the same thing. Keep Daniel Jones away from Chase Young and Montaze Sweat.

Now that I've mentioned his name for a second time, what is going on with Daniel Jones? He was the surefire pick in his class. The Mac Jones. The one whose floor was the highest.

Golly jee, did that floor fall all the way out.

The fumbling thing in college was a red flag. But who would have expected it to be this bad? Not me, that's for sure. And it seems inexplicable. So what's actually going on here? Because I think I know, and I'm not sure I want to say it. So I'll just ask this: is it just me, or does Daniel Jones have little noodle arms, even for a quarterback?

Is he strong enough to hold onto the ball when professional defenders are stripping at it and throwing their helmets into it? Because it seems like he isn't. And it also seems like he hasn't figured out that he needs to get the hell down when he's running with it. Then he wouldn't have to worry about strips and big hits tearing the ball away.

So I wonder. Is Daniel Jones doing what I do when I'm trying to play a song on my bass or a game of Civilization 6 that's too difficult for me – is he permanently pressing to prove he belongs? Or is this just what it looks like when he plays football?

I don't know. I haven't been afforded the privilege and opportunity of studying his game film. I'll get to watch him tonight! Which is fortunate – because this might be the last season I get to study him as a starter.

I have nothing but doom and gloom to say about the Giants, do I?

Whatever.

This is going to be an ugly one. Let's say that the Football Team are able to cross the 20-point plateau early, but the Giants force them to win on a late field goal. 23 – 20.

That sounds like a pretty good game.

And from these teams, I'll take what I can get.