Giants vs. Commanders Preview: A Tale of Two Rebuilds, and One Emerging QB
Week 15 brings us a matchup between two teams deep in the trenches of rebuild mode, as the 3-10 Washington Commanders head to MetLife Stadium to take on the 2-11 New York Giants. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, and while the records won’t turn many heads, there’s still plenty of intrigue-especially under center.
The Commanders opened the season with a convincing 21-6 win over the Giants, and since then, New York has managed just two wins-though those came against the Chargers and Eagles. That’s not nothing.
More importantly, the Giants may have found something in rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. Since taking over in Week 4, Dart has injected life into an offense that badly needed a spark.
Most of New York’s losses have come in one-score games, which speaks to a team that’s competitive, if not yet complete.
But the season hasn’t been without turbulence. Head coach Brian Daboll was dismissed after a Week 10 loss to the Bears, and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka was promoted to interim head coach. Kafka has since put his fingerprints all over this team, especially on the offensive side of the ball.
The Evolving Giants Offense
Under Daboll, the Giants leaned heavily on shotgun formations and RPO concepts, especially after Dart took over. The idea was to use Dart’s mobility and quick decision-making to keep defenses off balance.
But once Kafka took the reins, the offense shifted. More Pistol looks.
Fewer designed runs for Dart. A greater emphasis on pushing the ball downfield.
It’s been a mixed bag statistically, but not without promise. The Giants currently rank 15th in passing yards and 13th in rushing-respectable numbers for a team that’s still figuring things out.
The issue? They’re just 23rd in total points, which highlights the struggles in finishing drives and capitalizing on opportunities.
Dart, for his part, has shown flashes of being “the guy.” He’s got enough arm to make all the throws, and while he’s not Josh Allen in the open field, he’s a legitimate threat with his legs.
What stands out most, though, is the intangibles-poise, leadership, and a willingness to take hits and keep going. “Moxie” is the word that keeps coming up when people talk about him.
And it fits.
There’s still room to grow-he takes too many hits and needs to sharpen his decision-making-but the foundation is there. There’s real belief inside the building that Dart can be the franchise quarterback the Giants have been chasing since the Eli Manning days.
Defensive Woes and a Midseason Shakeup
If the offense is a work in progress, the defense has been a flat-out liability. Despite investing heavily in the front seven-Pro Bowlers Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns, plus No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter-the Giants have fielded one of the worst run defenses in the league.
They’re currently ranked 31st against the run, 24th against the pass, and 30th in points allowed. That’s not a recipe for winning football.
Part of the problem? Personnel misalignment.
Burns, Carter, and Kayvon Thibodeaux are all edge players, not interior anchors. Lawrence is still a force, but he’s been left on an island too often.
The linebackers haven’t held up their end, and the secondary hasn’t provided consistent run support. Add in poor gap discipline and missed assignments, and you’ve got a unit that can’t hold a lead-something that’s plagued the Giants all season.
After a Week 12 collapse against the Lions, Kafka made the call to fire defensive coordinator Shane Bowen. It was a move many felt was overdue. Linebackers coach Charlie Bullen was promoted to interim DC, but the immediate results weren’t encouraging-the Giants gave up 33 points to the Patriots the following week.
The team is coming off a Week 14 bye, so this weekend will be the first real test of whether Bullen can recalibrate the scheme and get more out of this underperforming unit.
The Abdul Carter Conundrum
Abdul Carter’s rookie season has been a rollercoaster. He’s been benched twice and hasn’t filled up the stat sheet the way many expected from a top-three pick. But calling him a bust would be premature-and inaccurate.
Carter actually leads all rookies in quarterback pressures and hits. The flashes are there.
The issue isn’t talent-it’s consistency and maturity. Coming out of Penn State, there were whispers about entitlement and a need for strong leadership.
Under Daboll, that structure may not have been in place. Since Kafka took over, the coaching staff has taken a firmer stance, benching Carter when necessary and setting clear expectations.
The hope is that with the right guidance, Carter’s raw ability will translate into production. He’s still the youngest player on the roster, and the upside remains sky-high. But the Giants need to get the development piece right.
Coaching Carousel and Front Office Fallout
The decision to fire Daboll but retain GM Joe Schoen raised eyebrows, but it wasn’t entirely unexpected. Giants ownership has made it clear they’re willing to separate the roles-even though Daboll and Schoen arrived as a package deal in 2022.
Daboll’s downfall wasn’t about one thing-it was death by a thousand cuts. The reluctance to move on from Bowen.
The inability to close out games. The lack of accountability with young players like Carter.
Even with a promising quarterback in Dart, the overall direction of the team felt off.
Schoen, for now, remains in charge. But his seat isn’t exactly cool.
If the Giants limp to a 2-15 finish, everything could be on the table. The organization still believes the roster has more talent than the record suggests.
If that’s true, coaching has clearly been part of the problem.
What to Watch on Sunday
This matchup might not have playoff implications, but it’s far from meaningless. For the Giants, it’s another opportunity to evaluate Dart, see how the defense responds post-bye under Bullen, and get a better sense of which young players are part of the long-term plan.
For the Commanders, it’s a chance to sweep the season series and test their own rookie quarterback, Jayden Daniels, against a vulnerable defense.
Two teams. Two struggling records.
But also two rookie QBs trying to prove they belong. And in the NFL, that’s always worth watching.