New York Giants (2-8) travel down to the Nation’s capital this Sunday afternoon to face their long-time rivals, the Washington Commanders (4-6), at FedExField in Week 11 of the 2023 NFL season.
The game will be televised on FOX at 1:00 p.m. ET. The broadcast crew of Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma, and Shannon Spake (sideline) will provide the call.
Here are five things to know before Sunday’s kickoff.
The series
This is the 181st regular-season matchup between the Giants and the Boston/Washington franchise teams since 1932
The Commanders have been the Giants’ most frequent opponent. New York leads the all-time series, 106-70-5. The series is tied 2-2-1 since 2021.
The Giants are seeking to sweep the season series versus Washington for the 35th time in their history.
In their first meeting this season, at MetLife Stadium, the Giants defeated the Commanders, 14-7, sacking Commanders quarterback Sam Howell a season-high six times in the win.
Washington is 40-49-2 at home against the Giants and 8-5 at home against the Giants in the month of November.
What's at stake
The Commanders are 4-6 on the season and have lost three of their last four, including their Week 7 matchup against the Giants.
Washington is currently in third place in the NFC East and the ninth seed in the NFC, two full games out of the seventh and final playoff spot currently held by Minnesota (6-4). They have an outside chance of a wild card but would need to outplay the Vikings by three games over the next seven weeks.
The Giants are 2-8, in last place in the NFC East and the 14th seed in the NFC. They have no chance at the postseason and currently hold the second overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft, per Tankathon.
The Giants are spiraling out of control
The Giants are last in the NFL in scoring, averaging just 11.8 yards per game, and are last in yards (259.2).
They are allowing 26.6 points (29th) and 368.5 yards (27th) per game.
Their point differential of -148 is by far the worst in the NFL this season and is already the fourth-worst in the 99-year history of the franchise in just Week 10.
The Giants have injuries up and down the roster and are down to their third-string quarterback, Tommy DeVito, an undrafted rookie who played his high school ball at local powerhouse Don Bosco Prep and who still lives in his parents’ home in New Jersey.
What's up with the Commanders?
The Commanders are coming off a stretch where they have lost three of their last four games, all by seven points or less. They are remaining competitive even after trading away their two stud edge rushers (Montez Sweat, Chase Young) at the October 31 trading deadline.
The Commanders have a budding star in quarterback Sam Howell. The 2022 fifth-round pick out of North Carolina has thrown for an NFL-leading 2,952 yards this season — the most ever by a Washington quarterback through 11 career games.
Howell’s 66.1 completion percentage and 18 passing touchdowns rank second among all Washington quarterbacks through 11 career games.
Howell has also been sacked 47 times in ten games. He is on pace to be sacked 75 times over 16 games and 79 times over 17 games. The NFL record for times sacked in a 16-game season is 76 by Houston’s David Carr in 2002.
Other players to watch
Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. has 485 yards rushing and another 256 receiving this season and has eight total touchdowns. His 132.1 fantasy points are fourth among running backs in the NFL.
Washington has an impressive duo at wide receiver in Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson. McLaurin has caught 51 of 79 targets for 601 yards with two touchdowns. Dotson has been targeted 59 times, catching 34 passes for 360 yards and three scores.
