Redskins willed their way to victory in the Big Apple

Talent is what makes NFL teams good. Synergy is what makes teams work. Will is what can be the difference between winning and losing, and the Redskins displayed just that in the Big Apple.

Sunday’s 20-13 win against the Giants was a perfect example of how a team can will their way to victory. In a seemingly empty Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the Washington Redskins found a way to grind out a victory against their NFC East foes.

It was a game where Washington completely denied Giants first-round pick Saquon Barkey with any room to work on the ground and sacked Eli Manning seven times, on top of grabbing two interceptions. Adrian Peterson shined brighter than ever before in burgundy and gold, rushing for 149 yards, as well as catching his first touchdown since 2013.

Washington had lost four of their last five games in Metlife, and the rumbles around the city of a “trap game” had worried fans about the Redskins not taking advantage of a reeling Giants team.

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But the Redskins wouldn’t be denied.

The Giants are terrible. That is one thing to keep in mind. The selection of Saquon Barkley, the contract extension with Odell Beckham, and the freight train of money they poured into left tackle Nate Solder have failed to produce any fruit. In fact, the entirety of the Giants offensive line has completely imploded.

The defensive fire sale of Damon Harrison and Eli Apple was an attempt to escape from bad contracts and picks that just haven’t panned out for New York. For the second straight year, the fans are doing a lot more than wearing blue on Sunday.

They’re singing the blues.

With all that being said, division games are different. No matter what the record says, the Giants have always made life difficult for the Redskins. But this win was a different type of win for Redskins fans.

The Redskins never put the Giants away, which always sends fans on Twitter into a panic. But they pounded the Giants into submission on the ground. With 3:16 left in the game, it was a second and six run from Adrian Peterson that saw him barrel 64 yards to paydirt that put the cherry on top and sent the Redskins to 5-2.

In a league where the Rams and Chiefs put up 35 points without even looking, Washington’s style of winning has been a reminder of what Jay Gruden is trying to accomplish; run the ball effectively, and stop the run at all costs. To some, it leads to ugly games. It directly correlates to never really pulling away from opponents. It is what has left fans wanting more from their first-year quarterback, Alex Smith. It leaves us direly wanting to use Josh Doctson downfield.

But it has also led to a 5-2 record, and most fans would sign up for that. Ugly wins are a lot better than pretty defeats.

Washington’s next test comes in the form of a dominant Falcons air attack. As Alex Smith becomes more and more comfortable with the offense, can he lead Washington to put more points on the board? Can a banged-up secondary contain Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley when called to action?

That is yet to be seen, as the Redskins make their way home again for a Week 9 tilt against the Atlanta Falcons, hoping to advance to 6-2.

Next. 3 studs from the Redskins victory in N.Y.. dark

(6-2. No, that is not a typo. Take it in, folks.)

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