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The New York Giants will face off against their division rivals, the Washington Commanders, on Sunday at FedEx Field.
The two teams will battle for the second time this season. The Giants came away with the victory in the first meeting and Big Blue will be hoping to sweep the season series.
A lot has changed since the two teams met a month ago, leading to the Giants being heavy road underdogs in this one.
Here are three reasons for optimism ahead of Sunday’s divisional matchup.
Giants own the Commanders
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The Giants have dominated the Commanders in recent memory.
Sure, Tommy DeVito being under center changes the confidence level for the Giants. However, they won the first matchup on the defensive side of the ball while making Sam Howell look pedestrian.
The Giants have a way of finding a way to gut out these games against the Commanders over the last few years.
Sunday sack party
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The two teams have given up the most sacks in the league this year, struggling to protect their quarterback.
Wink Martindale’s defense put together a season-high six sacks in their first matchup against the Commanders. And no team has a higher pass-to-run percentage across the entire NFL entering Week 11, playing right into the hands of the Giants’ defense.
Expect Martindale to use the first matchup between the two teams as a blueprint for how to win this one.
Kayvon Thibodeaux
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The Giants 2022 top pick has had a ton of success against Washington in his young career, making a difference in every game he’s played against them so far.
In each of the three games against Washington in his career, the Giants edge rusher has had at least one sack against them.
Thibodeaux also has 8.5 sacks on the year and getting pressure on Sam Howell will be a key to the game in this one.
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