If the 7-4 New York Giants are going to make the playoffs in a crowded, highly-competitive NFC field this season they cannot afford to lose any more slip-ups this season. The Giants have often been their own worst enemy this season, with a -6 turnover ratio and having basically beaten themselves in losses to Tennessee, Dallas and Philadelphia this season.
The Giants host the 5-6 Washington Redskins at New Meadowlands Stadium Sunday (1 p.m. EST). They are an eight-point favorite, according to Odds Shark. It's a game the Giants cannot afford to let slip through their fingers in order to keep pace with Philadelphia in the NFC East, as well as the remaining NFC playoff contenders
Statistically, this a game that tilts heavily toward the Giants. New York has the league's third-ranked offense (387 yards per game) and second-ranked defense (286.5 yards per game. The Redskins are 21st in total offense (332.7 yards) and last in the league defensively, giving up 400.9 yards per game.
The Giants are unlikely to get any of their injured offensive players back this week. That means receivers Steve Smith and Hakeem Nicks, and offensive linemen Shaun O'Hara, David Diehl and Shawn Andrews will remain out of action. The Giants showed against Jacksonville, though, that they can still move the ball effectively.
Standing in the Giants' way this week will be long-time nemesis Donovan McNabb. The six-time Pro Bowl quarterback will be making the 19th regular-season start of his career against New York on Sunday. In those games he has a 10-8 record, and has thrown 25 touchdown passes while being intercepted just six times. He has also run for three scores.
"He's still Donovan McNabb and he has a very, very strong arm, he will pull it down and run - he's shown the ability to do that numerous times this year. If he doesn't like what he sees, he will try to buy time and get the ball down the field. He has the strong arm - he can throw it any distance," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said Wednesday. "We have played against Donovan many times and he certainly is an outstanding quarterback and leader of his team."
Here are McNabb's thus far in 2010, a season which has seen him have a rather contentious relationship with Washington coach Mike Shanahan.