The New York Giants just ripped off two straight wins, but their starting QB J.J. McCarthy is dealing with a hip pointer, which is a massive headache as they gear up for a Week 10 NFC East rematch against the Washington Commanders on Thursday Night Football. This is a crucial showdown for the G-Men to extend their divisional lead, and the health of their signal-caller is absolutely front and center.
McCarthy’s Mettle and Nabers’ Receiving Reign
McCarthy’s been in for four games this season, racking up 622 passing yards and one touchdown, averaging 9.1 yards per attempt. The guy has been sacked nine times already, though, showing the pressure he is under. He was limited early in the week with that hip pointer, but Tuesday saw him as a full participant in practice, so he’s expected to roll. That’s a good sign, because Washington brings the heat, boasting 37 quarterback hurries, the third-most in the entire NFL. McCarthy’s O-line better hold up if they want to keep pushing the ball downfield.
Meanwhile, Malik Nabers is just torching defenses. He leads the Giants with 648 receiving yards, and he’s had some monster games, including an 11-catch, 121-yard, one-touchdown performance on 20 targets in that 27-27 tie on October 11. He also put up 165 yards on 12 catches against the Saints on October 18. Good news for Nabers and the Giants: Washington’s pass defense gives up 240 passing yards a game, which is the third-most in the league. You know Nabers is gonna get his chances.
Commanders’ Ground Game and Daniels’ Dual Threat
On the other side, the Commanders are sitting at 2-5-1 after falling to the Rams and are stuck in third place in the division. Their QB Jayden Daniels has been incredibly careful with the ball, throwing zero interceptions on 180 attempts so far. In six games, he’s got 1,250 passing yards and seven touchdowns, plus he’s a dual threat, adding 252 rushing yards and two more scores. He lit up San Francisco for 300 yards and two touchdowns on October 19, but he’s also been sacked 16 times, which is a real concern. The Giants’ pass defense is stout, allowing only 177.8 passing yards a game, third-fewest in the NFL, so Daniels is gonna need to use his legs and show some serious patience to beat them.
Washington’s backfield runs by committee, but Rachaad White is the guy catching passes, with 18 receptions and two receiving touchdowns, both more than any other back on their roster. He’s also picked up 228 rushing yards and a touchdown on 54 carries, with a season-high 55 yards in their 27-10 win over the Eagles on November 1. Here’s where White could feast: the Giants give up 123.6 rushing yards a game, more than 20 other teams. White should find some early running room and open up play-action for Daniels.
This Thursday Night Football game is set to be an NFC East slugfest with big implications for both teams’ season outlook. New Betr users, get in on the action and score $200 in bonuses plus four Sweat Free Picks by signing up with promo code FOXSPORTS before kickoff.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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