Five Keys to a Giants Victory Over the Redskins

Added by Vin D'Anton on December 1, 2012.

Another week, another big primetime game for the G-Men as they take on the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. If they win, the Giants the road to 2012 Division Championship will be that much easier. FedEx Field will be rocking for RG3’s primetime debut on Monday Night Football.

Here are the five keys to a Giants victory:

5. Get Eli going early: Eli’s slump began after that last second victory against Washington at MetLife back in Week 7. Eli had two interceptions and one touchdown that was the 77-yard winner to Victor Cruz. That was his last touchdown throw until he hit Reuben Randle this past Sunday Night.

Eli’s numbers are mediocre at FedEx with 8tds and 6ints in eight career games. His best game in Landover, coincidentally, came on a Monday Night in 2009 when Eli tossed three scores and no interceptions.

The ‘Skins pass defense has been atrocious this year allowing 23 passing touchdowns, tied for last in the league. They are also one of two teams to allow over 300 passing yards a game. If the Giants take a few shots down the field early, that will open up the offense for the pivotal running game that will keep RG3 off the field.

4. Rotate the D-Line more than usual: RG3 is going to make you work on every play. He’ll run across the field three times until he finds an open receiver. Justin Tuck even said he would take RG3 over Cam Newton and Michael Vick, so he and the D-Line know what he can do.

Hitting Griffin is the only way to get a little off of his game. He complained about cheap shots after a loss to the Rams and than the Bengals came after him hard the next week, another loss.

Keep the legs fresh as you rotate Tuck, Osi, JPP, Lival Joseph, Chris Canty and the linebackers. Come out with a new blitz package or disguise if you have too; this game is too vital.

3. Don’t get beat deep: The Redskins have made amazing plays through the air this year and we saw a boat load of them on Thanksgiving against a great pass defense. The Giants defense is so easy to make big plays on with Corey Webster and Prince Amukamara not having good years.

Giants QB Eli Manning speaks with Redskins QB Robert Griffin III after their first meeting at MetLife Stadium on October 21 (Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

They’ll have to be aggressive at the line of scrimmage with Santana Moss, Pierre Garcon and others. They can beat you deep and break tackles. The safeties are going to have to help a lot, so Stevie Brown has to be on his A-game as well as Kenny Philips if he plays.

Philips is a key with in his own right as we saw Sunday Night. Kenny is good enough to handle the secondary with Brown so Antrel Rolle can play the box. Rolle in the box would mean a long day for RG3.

2. Pound the rock!: The Giants will have to keep that Skins offense off the field so while the passing game will matter, the running game will matter more. With Andre Brown out, the Giants will have to mix in David Wilson who has not seen a lot of action this year and offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride wants to utilize him.

“I think he’s making fewer mistakes and I think you see a little bit of it, an incremental growth,” Gilbride said. “It’s never as fast as a coach would want, but it is definitely happening. We’re encouraged.”

The Giants also have an extra day to prepare newly acquired backs Kregg Lumpkin and former Redskin Ryan Torrain. If they really want to have an effective run game, the Giants will need sprinkle these guys into the gameplan.

1. Contain RG3: He’s been mentioned in each key so might as well give him his own right? Look, I’m going to make this short and sweet: stop RG3, you stop a Redskins defeat. Pittsburgh did it and the Skins offense was dead.

Pressure the edges and don’t be afraid to send the house. These moving quarterback are easier to stop than people think, and a good D-Line can do just that. Hit him hard, hit him early.