7 bold Washington Commanders predictions vs. the NY Giants in Week 2
By Dean Jones
It's a long season. Nobody will remember that the Washington Commanders got beaten in Week 1 if they managed to put a consistent run of results together in the coming months. This all starts by beating the New York Giants and reannouncing themselves within the NFC East for good measure.
Things didn't go according to plan right away, and that's fine. The Commanders churned over two-thirds of their roster under general manager Adam Peters this offseason. Some growing pains were expected. Fans remain expectant before their home opener despite the loss. It won't take long for that to change if a better performance doesn't arrive.
Dan Quinn and his accomplished coaching staff will be turning over every stone to progress in all phases. The bar isn't exactly high in that regard following a subpar showing at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They cannot take anything for granted, but this looks like one of the more winnable contests on their schedule looking at how woeful the Giants were during their home loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Another fascinating rivalry matchup awaits. With that being said, here are seven bold predictions for the Commanders in Week 2 at Northwest Stadium.
Bold Commanders' predictions vs. the NY Giants in Week 2
Commanders hold the Giants to 35% on third downs
It might be a new era for the Washington Commanders, but the same problems emerged defensively in Week 1 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. One glaring flaw above all else became an ongoing frustration throughout a less-than-stellar outing for Joe Whitt Jr.'s unit.
Getting off the field on third down was a seemingly impossible task for the Commanders. Baker Mayfield's elusiveness and lack of coverage capabilities meant Tampa Bay had its way in this key area. The Buccaneers' third-down conversion rate stood at 69.23 percent, which is nowhere near good enough and something that must change as a matter of urgency.
The Commandeers have some significant adjustments to make, and quickly. Whitt's probably read the riot act to his players throughout the week to ensure higher standards are met. Daniel Jones' ongoing struggles under center leave reasons for encouragement, but this could go either way.
If the Commanders can get this number down to around 35 percent or lower, that might be enough to give the offense a fighting chance. Easier said than done, but not impossible if everyone pulls together and improves collectively.