The Washington Commanders are back at Northwest Stadium, and this one has the feel of a must-have. After a trip overseas didn’t produce a win, Washington now gets a home date with the New York Giants in its third division game in three weeks. The first two went the wrong way, with losses to the Eagles and Cowboys, so this matchup carries real weight if the Commanders want to keep pace in a crowded NFC East.
Jayden Daniels is back in the lineup and will start, with rookie Athan Kaliakmanis behind him. That’s a major shift from the last two weeks, when Marcus Mariota handled the job before reinjuring his MCL and landing out for a few weeks. Washington also rolled out a long injury report, ruling out six players as the setbacks keep piling up.
The opponent arrives in a very different spot. The Giants are 3-1 and sitting atop the division, with Jameis Winston at quarterback after Jaxson Dart was lost for the season.
New York has beaten the Cowboys, Titans, and Cardinals, though the Rams blew them out when Dart went down. It’s a team that has changed a lot since John Harbaugh took over the organization, and it presents a real chance for Washington if Daniels gives them a lift at home.
The game is set for October 11 at 1 p.m. ET at Northwest Stadium in Landover, MD.
FOX has the broadcast with Chris Myers on play-by-play, Jonathan Vilma as analyst, and Megan Olivi on the sideline. Radio coverage is on Big 100 with Bram Weinstein, London Fletcher, and Logan Paulsen.
The Spanish broadcast features Moisés Linares and Juan Romero.
The betting line has Washington as a 3.5-point favorite, with the total at 41.5. The moneyline lists the Giants at +160 and the Commanders at -190. Scott Jennings picked Washington 23, New York 17.
Washington’s season so far has been uneven. It opened with a 24-22 loss at Philadelphia, followed by a 37-20 defeat at Dallas.
The Commanders then picked up their first win, outlasting Seattle 33-31 at home, before falling 30-13 to Indianapolis in London. After this week, they head to San Francisco on October 19 for Monday Night Football, then get a bye in Week 7 before a heavy stretch that includes the Eagles, Rams, Giants again, Bengals, Cardinals, Titans, Texans, Falcons, Vikings, Jaguars, and Cowboys.
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That also puts Brandon Coleman in a harsher spotlight than usual, because the left side of the line is going to be tested in a matchup that will tell a lot about how well Washington can hold up under pressure. For a team trying to keep pace in a division where every week seems to matter, how Coleman handles this assignment could shape more than just one afternoon. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Enter Giants Game With Major Lineup Questions Still Lingering
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Washington also ruled out six players for the game, leaving the Commanders to navigate yet another week with some notable absences in place. The list of unavailable players adds to the uncertainty on both sides of the ball and leaves the club needing depth pieces to step into bigger roles at a time when every lineup decision seems to carry a little more weight. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Are Counting On A Familiar Name In A Game That Matters
Lucas Patricks arrival in Washington on Sept. 16 looked like a depth move at the time, the kind of signing teams make when they need reinforcement inside. It has turned into a much bigger part of the Commanders offensive picture, with Patrick stepping in for the injured Nick Allegretti and settling in at center, where he has logged 129 snaps and drawn strong marks from Pro Football Focus.
Now the schedule has given him a familiar backdrop for an important assignment. Patrick is set to snap to Jayden Daniels against the Giants, the same team that let him go during roster cuts earlier this offseason. For Washington, it is another test of how well the middle of the line can hold up, and for Patrick it is a chance to show the decision-makers in New York what they moved on from. [Read more 🡒]