Redskins vs. Giants, round one: Storylines, how to watch, and more

Heading into Week 8, the Redskins have an irredeemable chance to extend their lead in the NFC East.

The Washington Redskins head to New Jersey to take on the New York Giants on Sunday, in a matchup that should be contentious, no matter the record. Yes, the Giants are 1-6 on the season, coming off an ineffective showing against the injury-riddled Atlanta Falcons. But in this division, no game is a given, and nothing is a guarantee.

Still, Washington matches up well against a Giants team that traded away two starting defenders in the past week, including one of the league’s best run defenders in Damon Harrison. The sorry state of their offense doesn’t help matters, either. Saquon Barkley, Odell Beckham Jr., and Evan Engram are all excellent talents, but they’re marooned in a grouping led by the wilting Eli Manning, guarded by an unreliable offensive line.

Pat Shurmur is still looking for answers seven games into his Giants tenure, and chances are, he’ll get more questions before finding a solution to the Giants’ woes. By mounting a midseason rebuild, the Giants are essentially lowering their own standard in 2018. Thus, relinquishing a win to the Big Blue is simply unacceptable.

Washington, if their 4-2 start is any indication, should be able to win this game. Their defensive line, stocked with Pro Bowl talents such as Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Matt Ioannidis, and Ryan Kerrigan, is a sizable mismatch for the Giants’ front five, and with Damon Harrison gone for the Giants on defense, Adrian Peterson should be able to keep his hot streak going, as long as Alex Smith keeps the turnovers to a minimum.

“Should” is the key word in any pregame exposition. But here’s another “should”. The Redskins should know how much of a problem the Giants can pose, even in a down year. Division games are never easy; teams are fueled by the thirst that rivalry urges on. Combine the 1-6 record with the recent trades, and the Giants are an easy team to overlooked. And to overlook any team in the NFL is a fatal mistake.

If you want to watch the game on live television, as long as you live in the local D.C. area, you should be able to. If you don’t, there are readily available streaming options such as FuboTV and NFL Game Pass. Before the game begins, however, be sure to check out our pregame links, of which there are many.

Riggo’s Rag Pregame Coverage

Redskins vs. Giants: Matchups, score predictions, and more

Redskins vs. Cowboys post-game Reality Checks

3 players Washington should consider trading for ahead of deadline

Relationship between Alex Smith, Jay Gruden a healthy one 

So far, Washington surviving early-season injuries in 2018

Giants playing dangerous mind games with Redskins in Week 8

Redskins plan to bring back rookie receiver from injured reserve

Washington’s latest Ingredients for Improvement: Don’t let up late

With this opportunity, the Redskins can solidify their surprising control of the NFC East. But don’t rule out the Giants, as the pieces are coming together for the ultimate spoiler role to be played. Who will reign supreme in this clash of fierce divisional foes? In time, we’ll soon find out.