The NY Giants and the Washington Football Team kick off week 2 of the NFL as they collide at FedEx Field for primetime Thursday night football. Both the Giants and WFT lost their season opener. As a result, they’re sitting at the bottom of the NFC East standings, along with the Dallas Cowboys, with a 0-1-0 record. However, according to online betting sites and the NFL odds, Ron Rivera’s side has a real shot to gain some ground in the standings this week.
The WFT is priced at -175 on the money line and at -3 (-110) in point spread betting markets with William Hill sportsbook. The total is trading at a low 41 points.
NY Giants vs. Washington Football Team
Thursday, September 16, 2021 – 8:20 PM EDT at FedEx Field
Giants Disappoint in Week 1
The Giants took a 27-13 loss in Week 1 against the Denver Broncos as the closing +3-point home underdogs across top online sportsbooks. Daniel Jones was a hot mess, RB Saquon Barkley’s much anticipated return didn’t amount to much and questionable performances from top to bottom raise some serious questions in New York.
Teams lose home openers all the time, but this wasn’t pretty at all. In particular, for third-year quarterback, Jones, it was a forgettable performance as his well-documented butter fingers proved to be an issue yet again. It was an issue in 2019 when he made his rookie debut, replacing Eli Manning. And it’s still an issue in 2021, when he’s trying to prove that he’s a viable NFL starter.
Going into Sunday’s much-anticipated season home opener at MetLife Stadium, Jones was the proud owner of a dubious record: 29 fumbles, of which 17 were lost fumbles, in 27 games. It doesn’t take a maths wizard to figure out that Jones is averaging at least one fumble a game. Nevertheless, the hope was that this was behind him now. That in his third year – the point in the maturation and development of young quarterback’s career that the training wheels are taken off – his decision-making and overall play will have clicked into place. Apparently not, although he does improve his record to 30 fumbles and 18 lost fumbles in 28 games.
Granted the Denver D-unit is something fierce. It’s potentially going to be one of the top defenses in the league this year— case-and-point: Barkley was stifled throughout the game and finished with just 26 yards on 10 carries. But Jones simply has to do a better job protecting the ball otherwise the Giants’ season will be over before it even gets going. Fumbles, turnovers, interceptions, so on…..these are total momentum killers and costly mistakes that lead to a big fat “L” in the column.
The ill-fated fumble happened in the third quarter as Jones decided to scamper up the middle and grab some yards on the ground. He was driving the offense into Denver territory, but lost the ball as he disappeared into an Avalanche of Broncos defensemen. The Broncos took over and…well… ran away with the game.
Jones finished with 267 yards and one touchdown after going 22-of-37 passing. He also rushed for a touchdown as the clock was winding down on the Giants’ season home opener.
Ryan Fitzpatrick Out; WFT Look To Bounce Back
The WFT were losers in week 1 after succumbing to a narrow 20-16 loss to the LA Chargers at FedEx Field on Sunday, failing to come through as the closing 2-point home chalk in NFL betting markets. However, Ryan Fitzpatrick’s hip injury in the first quarter was THE defining moment of the game and it more than likely tipped the scale in favour of the visitors.
Ron Rivera’s side entered the 2021 season as the defending NFC East champions, but right out of the gates, they’ve been dealt with a massive setback. As things currently stand, Fitzpatrick is expected to miss several games. It’s not certain when he’ll return, which means backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke is the likely starter for the foreseeable. Heinicke looked sharp; last Sunday, despite being thrown into the game so early.
Heinicke went 11-of-15 for 122 passing yards and a touchdown and zero interceptions. Antonio Gibson led the team in rushing with 90 yards on 20 carries and Terry McLaurin and Logan Thomas combined for 92 yards receiving and a touchdown.
It’s those glimpses of promises from the backup on offsense, along with Washington’s highly regarded defense, that have bookmakers installing Washington as the home chalk in this game. The fact that the Giants don’t strike a convincing pose either probably has something to do with the NFL odds too.
NFL Predictions and Picks
While this game may not be straightforward, the hosts do have the better shot to bounce back at home at the expense of the Giants this Sunday. The Giants were really quite bad in week 1. The offense was lacklustre, the play-calling was underwhelming and the defense looked lost. If this is a sign of what’s to come, it’s going to be a trying season for the Big Blue.
Rivera’s side fought hard in the face of adversity last Sunday but time ran out on them. That and the clutch play from last year’s offensive rookie of the year, Justin Herbert, in the closing minutes of the game to drive the Chargers down field and eat up the clock proved to be deciding. This week, Heinicke will have an additional week of practice with the No.1s; the defense will be raring to go and atone for last week’s disappointment, and Washington fans will be eager to cheer on their side in a pivotal divisional game. Rivera is a great motivator and there’s nothing better than a divisional rivalry to inspire a bounce-back performance.
NFL Picks: Washington Football Team -3 (-110) with William Hill
