When the New York Giants and Washington Redskins met several weeks ago the Giants won easily, 31-7. At the time that made the Giants 8-4 and seemingly en route to a certain playoff berth, and it was the second of four consecutive losses for the Redskins.
The scenario is a little different this time around. The Giants need a win and a Green Bay loss to qualify for the playoffs, a stunning fall for New York. The Redskins (6-9) have a new quarterback with Rex Grossman replacing Donovan McNabb, and are coming off an inspired 20-17 upset of Jacksonville a week ago.
Statistically, this is a game that heavily favors the Giants. They are third in the league in offense and sixth in defense, while the Redskins are 19th offensively and last in the league on defense. Still, after the last two weeks Giants fans can certainly not feel comfortable.
Which Giants team will show up? The one with the efficient, explosive offense and dominant, quarterback-crunching defense? Or, the turnover-prone team that gives up too many big plays on defense and has been physically manhandled at the line of scrimmage the past couple of weeks?
Coach Tom Coughlin, who many have speculated is coaching for his job this weekend, has been concerned about the lack of physical play from his team.
"I just see us getting knocked back. You have to penetrate. You have to drive people back off the ball. Your leverage people on the outside have got to knock people back off the ball. You have to have a place to run. You have got to feel like you are in control of the line of scrimmage - whether it be the front seven, whether it be the front eight. I don't care how many we have got down there - just be more physical," Coughlin said. "That is what we need to be. That is supposedly what we are. And for whatever reason it wasn't that way the other day. For us to play the way we are built and the way we are capable of playing, we have to win the line of scrimmage."
Washington quarterback Rex Grossman is hoping to leave a good impression on coach Mike Shanahan in his third start, something which could give him the Redskins' quarterback job to open next season.
"I'm just excited that I'm getting a chance to play," Grossman said. "I'm getting a chance to prove that I can play and play at a high level. However it comes, I'll take it."