Official Game Thread - Week 1 - Giants @ Commanders

[Primus Porcus]

New York Giants @ Washington Commanders

When: Sunday, September 7th, 2025 - 1pm EST
Where: Northwest Stadium - Landover, MD
How to Watch: Fox


Reminder - Santana Moss to be inducted into the Ring Of Fame

NFL Coverage Maps <~~~~ Link (Updated Wed before game)

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[NoCalSkins]

I didn't see an official Week 1 Giants game thread yet so I will ask in here: Do you think a lot of the fanbase is overly worried about the Giants defense in Week 1? I think the Giants defense has the potential to be pretty good later into the season, but I am not sure about right out of the gate. Maybe this is just normal "Week 1 is upon us" jitters and the same feelings would be bubbling regardless of the opponent.

 

[bowhunter]

I didn't see an official Week 1 Giants game thread yet so I will ask in here: Do you think a lot of the fanbase is overly worried about the Giants defense in Week 1? I think the Giants defense has the potential to be pretty good later into the season, but I am not sure about right out of the gate. Maybe this is just normal "Week 1 is upon us" jitters and the same feelings would be bubbling regardless of the opponent.

"Overly worried?" Not at all, I feel any concern is justified. The Giants D has had our number and quite frankly they scare me. I'd love to see our team manhandle that front, but I most certainly wouldn't bet on it. Perhaps Tunsil can keep Thibidoughstick in check.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

I didn't see an official Week 1 Giants game thread yet so I will ask in here: Do you think a lot of the fanbase is overly worried about the Giants defense in Week 1? I think the Giants defense has the potential to be pretty good later into the season, but I am not sure about right out of the gate. Maybe this is just normal "Week 1 is upon us" jitters and the same feelings would be bubbling regardless of the opponent.

A little more worried than before, I think everyone knows how good the Giants looked in preseason. Their rookie QB Dart is getting a lot of hype in fantasy circles as a key pickup for at least BYE week fill-ins whenever Russell Wilson gets benched.

It's not unjustified worries, teams normally don't blowout all of their opponents in the pre-season. Even if it's meaningless it's caught people's attention.

 

[RedWolf]

I didn't see an official Week 1 Giants game thread yet so I will ask in here: Do you think a lot of the fanbase is overly worried about the Giants defense in Week 1? I think the Giants defense has the potential to be pretty good later into the season, but I am not sure about right out of the gate. Maybe this is just normal "Week 1 is upon us" jitters and the same feelings would be bubbling regardless of the opponent.

I think that is Primus Porcus

 

[skinsinparadise]

5 questions for Giants now that the preseason is over
How do you attack the Commanders?

As general manager Joe Schoen said during the preseason opener in Buffalo, the Giants have "got to be ready to play when September comes." That's why they played their starters in the preseason. That's why they held two joint practices with the Jets. That's why they signed players like Wilson, who knows what it takes to win consistently.

The Giants are just 2-8 in their last 10 games in September. They started 2-0 in 2022, which uncoincidentally led to their last postseason appearance.

The Giants open the season Sept. 7 at Washington, their first leg in back-to-back road games against NFC East rivals. The Giants lost both of their games last season to the Commanders – who went on to make their first NFC Championship Game since 1991 thanks to the play of Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels – by a combined eight points. The first was decided on a field goal as time expired after the Giants had taken the lead into the fourth quarter.

But every season is different, for better or worse. The Giants have built positive momentum in the preseason, which will take them only as far as they perform in Week 1.

5 questions for Giants now that the preseason is over

Here are five questions for the Giants as they navigate the next two weeks before kickoff in Landover, Md.

www.giants.com

 

[Primus Porcus]

Here's the Giants game thread

 

[Spearfeather]

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I think there should be a real healthy respect for the Giants as a whole and specifically the defense.

They have a monster defensive line, Nabers is a legitimate WR who can take over a game. As far as I can tell, Russell Wilson is starting for the Giants week 1. Though I can't find a "qualified source" that states that definitively, so it's possible they pull a fast one on us.

Either way, they either have a rookie QB making his first start, or Russell Wilson, who at this point is probably an average NFL level starting QB.

I think the keys to this game are really simple, and possibly the same as every week, but amplified this week:

1. Get the ball out SUPER FAST. Do not let the Giants DL get the opportunity to get into a groove in pass-rushing. If the ball is out in 2.2 seconds, the pass rush is basically nullified.
2. Run the ball right at the DL. Allow our OL to lean on the Giants DL. Let them go forward more often than backwards.
3. On defense, everything starts with stopping the run on the way to the QB. They have to be stout in the middle and clog up running lanes as they bring pressure on Wilson. Pressure needs to come straight up the middle. This should be a Newton/Kinlaw/Payne game. If they can own the interior of the LOS, they can basically stall the Giants offense.
4. Don't do stupid things to give the Giants extra life: Turnovers, numerous penalties, missed FGs. Just play clean.

The biggest matchup to me is how our DL handles their OL. I think a lot of the other stuff can be schemed around, and Kliff is good at that. But our newly revamped DL has to own the LOS when they are on offense or it's going to be a long, long day.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

5 questions for Giants now that the preseason is over
How do you attack the Commanders?

As general manager Joe Schoen said during the preseason opener in Buffalo, the Giants have "got to be ready to play when September comes." That's why they played their starters in the preseason. That's why they held two joint practices with the Jets. That's why they signed players like Wilson, who knows what it takes to win consistently.

The Giants are just 2-8 in their last 10 games in September. They started 2-0 in 2022, which uncoincidentally led to their last postseason appearance.

The Giants open the season Sept. 7 at Washington, their first leg in back-to-back road games against NFC East rivals. The Giants lost both of their games last season to the Commanders – who went on to make their first NFC Championship Game since 1991 thanks to the play of Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels – by a combined eight points. The first was decided on a field goal as time expired after the Giants had taken the lead into the fourth quarter.

But every season is different, for better or worse. The Giants have built positive momentum in the preseason, which will take them only as far as they perform in Week 1.

5 questions for Giants now that the preseason is over

Here are five questions for the Giants as they navigate the next two weeks before kickoff in Landover, Md.

www.giants.com

It's true, the Giants have been positively Jay Gruden and Ron Rivera-esque in their ability to start slowly the last several years.

Ironically, so has Cincinnati.

 

[Anselmheifer]

I really think there is a chance that we steam roll the Giants. If we can really get the running game going this year, our offense is going to be hell to stop.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I really think there is a chance that we steam roll the Giants. If we can really get the running game going this year, our offense is going to be hell to stop.

Anything is possible. But we have been the Giants bitches for basically my entire life.

So until it happens I reserve the right to have dread every time we play them.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I really think there is a chance that we steam roll the Giants. If we can really get the running game going this year, our offense is going to be hell to stop.

I'd love it. It's the only scenario that I have a hard time seeing happen.

I am somewhere between these three scenarios

A. The Giants beat us in a tight game. 30% chance.
B. The Giants romp us. 30% chance.
C. Washington wins a tight one. 40% chance.

As I mentioned Washington is the perfect opponent for New York in game 1. The best team in preseason who took it the most seriously as to playing their starters to fine tune for game 1 versus the worst team of the preseason who couldn't give a rats ass about fine tuning for game 1.

Last year was awesome. But I was at game 1, where the team looked flatter than a pancake both on the field and on the sideline. I fear round 2 of that this coming Sunday. Hope I am wrong.

 

[heisenberg]

I'd love it. It's the only scenario that I have a hard time seeing happen.

I am somewhere between these three scenarios

A. The Giants beat us in a tight game. 30% chance.
B. The Giants romp us. 30% chance.
C. Washington wins a tight one. 40% chance.

As I mentioned Washington is the perfect opponent for New York in game 1. The best team in preseason who took it the most seriously as to playing their starters to fine tune for game 1 versus the worst team of the preseason who couldn't give a rats ass about fine tuning for game 1.

Last year was awesome. But I was at game 1, where the team looked flatter than a pancake both on the field and on the sideline. I fear round 2 of that this coming Sunday. Hope I am wrong.

Have you bet your life savings on the giants yet?

Because according to that math theres a 100 percent chance they cover.

 

[HOF44]

I get the Giants fear, they have owned us. But they haven’t owned JD. He’s going to explode against them. Only chance they will have is to keep up. Can they do it?? Depends on if our D shows up. But JD will show up.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Have you bet your life savings on the giants yet?

Because according to that math theres a 100 percent chance they cover.

Unless am missing it, I got the Giants at 60% chance of a win. so not sure what the 100% is.

 

[Anselmheifer]

Unless am missing it, I got the Giants at 60% chance of a win. so not sure what the 100% is.

Must be based on the spread. You said the other 40% was that we would win a tight one.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Must be based on the spread. You said the other 40% was that we would win a tight one.

OK, good catch yeah based on the spread.

Yeah I think its either a close win or a close lost or a Giants rout -- if I were a betting man, the Giants would be the play.

 

[Faithful Fan]

It's true, the Giants have been positively Jay Gruden and Ron Rivera-esque in their ability to start slowly the last several years.

Ironically, so has Cincinnati.

I like DQ, but he also has a history of phoning in the preseason and starting slowly. I looked this up recently, and if I recall, he is something like 0-18 in his last five preseasons as head coach and 2-5 in his last seven season openers.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I like DQ, but he also has a history of phoning in the preseason and starting slowly. I looked this up recently, and if I recall, he is something like 0-18 in his last five preseasons as head coach and 2-5 in his last seven season openers.

Yeah that's my fear. If the Giants had a kicker in that game we'd have started 0-2. Normally, no big deal but if they start 0-2, can they make up ground easily in this bear of a schedule? Probably but it won't be easy.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/2019/08/19/grudens-preseason-apathy-breeds-slow-starts-redskins/

Gruden’s preseason apathy breeds slow starts for Redskins​

It took only two games for Redskins quarterback Case Keenum to realize that coach Jay Gruden treats the preseason with indifference. For the sixth straight year, the coach hasn’t tried to gain any momentum in August.

Buy Commanders road to NFC championship game poster

And boy, will this team need to find momentum in Thursday’s game against the Falcons. But based on Keenum’s mindset entering the dress rehearsal for the regular season — given the preseason finale versus Baltimore on Aug. 29 is a pure throwaway — Washington will again be exposed come September.

“We don’t want to be at our best right now,” said Keenum, who will try to win the starting job with his performance at Atlanta. “Going into games, I want to be perfect and I want to make all the right checks and all the right reads and all the throws and go score touchdowns every time, but this is a process. That’s what training camp is about, it’s about learning. … I feel like we haven’t even tapped into even a portion of our potential that we have as an offense.”

No team wants to peak in the preseason, but the Redskins usually don’t seem to even be awake when games start to count. Washington lost its first four season-openers under Gruden before it waxed hapless Arizona in Week 1 of last year. The Redskins too often look confused at the start of the season because many starters play so little in August. And it’s happening again.