The New York Giants host the Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium on Thursday in a prime-time Thursday Night Football matchup that carries major implications for the NFC East race.
Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET with live streaming on Amazon Prime Video, according to Action Network. The Giants enter the contest with a 5-2-1 record following a 19-11 road victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, while the Washington Commanders sit at 2-5-1 after falling 20-13 to the Los Angeles Rams, as reported by Sporting News.
The Giants hold a 1.5-point favorite status at DraftKings Sportsbook, with the over/under point total set at 40.5 points, according to CBS Sports. New York is listed at -122 on the moneyline, while Washington stands as a +105 underdog, as detailed by Action Network.
The teams previously met on October 11 in Week 5 at Northwest Stadium, battling to a 27-27 tie after the Giants erased a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit, noted by Sporting News. A win tonight would take another step toward an NFC East title for New York, according to SportsLine.
Forecasts at MetLife Stadium call for wet and windy conditions with the potential for thunderstorms and hail, similar to the nor’easter environment of their first meeting, reported Yahoo Sports. The inclement weather could favor a heavy ground workload for the Giants, who expect the return of running back Cam Skattebo alongside quarterback J.J. McCarthy, according to Yahoo Sports.
In historical head-to-head play, the two franchises have squared off 187 times in the regular season. The Giants hold a 107-74-6 advantage in the all-time series, though they are searching for their first home victory against Washington since Week 7 of the 2023 campaign. Overall, the Giants rank 17th in rushing yards per game with 112.1 yards, whereas the Commanders sit 11th in the league by averaging 118.3 rushing yards each contest.
McCarthy is expected to start for the Giants despite dealing with a hip pointer sustained in the previous game, noted by Sporting News.
On the defensive side, linebacker and reigning NFC Defensive Player of the Week Arvell Reese recorded 12 tackles and three sacks against Philadelphia, according to Yahoo Sports and Yahoo Sports.
Reese leads the Giants’ defense with 68 total tackles—comprising 49 solo tackles and 19 assists—alongside a team-best 4.5 sacks, and is expected to serve as a spy against Washington dual-threat quarterback Jayden Daniels, who rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns in their first encounter, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
Among offensive targets, tight end Isaiah Likely has been a reliable option for the New York passing attack, averaging 5.8 catches and 56 receiving yards per game while logging 94 yards and two touchdowns on 11 receptions against Washington earlier this season. Meanwhile, wide receiver Malik Nabers anchors the Giants’ receiving corps with 509 yards on 36 catches over his last four games, including 121 yards and a touchdown in the teams’ earlier matchup.
“The Giants don’t win pretty, but they just win. New York will win another ugly game to improve to 6-2-1 on the season with its defense forcing some timely turnovers against Jayden Daniels and the Commanders,” said Jeremy Cluff, writing for Usatoday.