Silverman: Giants Set To Embark On A Dangerous Journey
By Steve Silverman
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This may be the Giants' last chance to breathe clean air for quite a while.
When Tom Coughlin's team gets to FedEx Field on Thursday night, they should have a good feeling about their chances of pulling out a victory. The Giants have had more than their share of success over the years when they go on the road to play the Redskins.
They have won six of their last eight at Washington, and they are coming off a much-needed win over the Houston Texans.
This is a game that Coughlin and Eli Manning clearly must have. Because once they get done with the Redskins, they face a series of challenges that have the potential to send them to another season of despair.
After returning from Washington, the next seven games will see them host the Atlanta Falcons, go to Philadelphia and Dallas, host the Indianapolis Colts, travel to defending champion Seattle and then have two home games against the San Francisco 49ers and the Cowboys.
The next breather doesn't come until Week 13 when they play at Jacksonville.
Based on the first two weeks of the season, the Giants could lose all seven of those games. But based on a prideful performance against the Texans in Week 3 that featured a running game and defense, the Giants will have a chance to hold their heads up in those games.
But a win at Washington is something that is needed to not only get the Giants up to .500, but to show that they are capable of playing with some kind of consistency.
The problem is that the Redskins have a number of key players who are capable of making Thursday night a long one.
The biggest concern for Manning is the presence of outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan, who already has four sacks this season and is a hungry player who wants to establish himself as one of the league's best pass rushers.
Kerrigan has a quick move that allows him to get past the outside shoulder of opposing right tackles, and he should have an advantage over Justin Pugh, who mans that position for the Giants. It seems likely that Pugh will need some help keeping Kerrigan away from Manning, and the Giants need to give it to him in the form of tight end Larry Donnell or Donald Fells. Both are big enough to chip away at Kerrigan and slow him down.
The Redskins' run defense has been dynamic through the first three weeks of the season, ranking third in the league. Overall, the Washington defense is ranked fourth. Inside linebackers Keenan Robinson and Perry Riley are relatively unknown, but they have been making plays against the run and that's why the Redskins are giving up just 64.7 yards per game on the ground.
The Giants are certainly going to test them after Rashad Jennings' breakout 176-yard performance against Houston, but he may have a hard time getting 70 yards Thursday night.
The most important thing the Giants have to do is keep the Redskins' deep passing game in check. Kirk Cousins may be just a backup who is in the lineup because of Robert Griffin III's ankle injury, but he has proven to be a remarkably effective long passer when his offensive line gives him time.
Cousins was 4-of-6 on passes of 20 yards or more against the Eagles last week, and those throws netted the Redskins 184 yards. His most dangerous target is former Eagle DeSean Jackson, who used to make his living torturing the Giants.
The Giants have to put pressure on Cousins so he doesn't have time to set his feet and step into his deep throws. That means Jason Pierre-Paul and Mathias Kiwanuka are going to have to play their best game of the young season.
All that win against the Texans did was give the Giants a chance to breathe and open their eyes. They can see the .500 mark in front of them and they will be able to reach it in Washington if they can match or exceed the effort they had last week.
But there is a long, torturous journey ahead if they can't pick up a win in a place they have held the edge for years.
Follow Steve on Twitter at @ProFootballBoy
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