Redskins Reality Checks Week 8: Giants provide different kind of check

LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 23: Quarterback Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants fumbles the ball as he is sacked by linebacker Junior Galette #58 of the Washington Redskins in the fourth quarter at FedExField on November 23, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 23: Quarterback Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants fumbles the ball as he is sacked by linebacker Junior Galette #58 of the Washington Redskins in the fourth quarter at FedExField on November 23, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD – OCTOBER 21: The Washington Redskins celebrate after a fumble recovery for touchdown by linebacker Preston Smith #94 in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at FedExField on October 21, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – OCTOBER 21: The Washington Redskins celebrate after a fumble recovery for touchdown by linebacker Preston Smith #94 in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at FedExField on October 21, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

5.     Reality Is, if the Redskins win this game convincingly, it’s time to get excited.

If the Redskins are able to handle the Giants in convincing fashion – the type of game that is never really in doubt – they will have to be considered “for real”. If they can dominate in the trenches again, run the ball effectively again, and contain Beckham, Barkley, Engram and Shepherd much like they contained the Cowboys’ offense, then it will be time to start getting optimistic about what this season really could hold for the Redskins.

A 5-2 record with a 2-0 mark in the division is the kind of start to a season that every team hopes for, but if the Redskins get to that mark with some late-second miracle, it will feel very different than if they do so in convincing fashion against the worst team in the division.

Prediction: Prepare to be underwhelmed. I think the Giants are a bad matchup for the Redskins, and we can expect this one to come down to the wire yet again, leaving us wondering what this Redskins team is going to end up becoming.