By Dan Ryans
WASHINGTON–Thursday is finally here. The Washington Football Team is ready for a quick turnaround as they take on the New York Giants in a critical Thursday night matchup at home. With Washington already in a massive hole after its season-opening loss to the Chargers on Sunday, this game could dictate how the season will go for the team.
Besides Sunday’s loss, there are many questions about the quarterback situation with the burgundy and gold after the injury to QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. Washington knew the risks that came with bringing in the 38-year-old veteran. Let’s be honest; it wasn’t necessarily a great signing for a team trying to build off of last year’s playoff appearance. While the term Fitz Magic has been associated with short-lived runs of excellent football he has given his last eight teams, it didn’t mean that Fitzpatrick would bring instant success to Washington. He has only led teams to two winning seasons and never made the playoffs. Now he’s out with a hip injury. Given the fact that Fitzy has elected not to have surgery on the hip subluxation, it can take several weeks, maybe the whole season, to heal. Taylor Heinicke now slides into the QB1 spot, and he also has a lot to prove. Playing two and a half quarters of football on Sunday and completing 11 of 15 passes for 122 yards and throwing one touchdown is good, but it will not win you many games. With his style of play and confidence to lead the squad, Heinicke already has teammates who trust him and will do everything they can to rally around him on Thursday.
Washington, however, should have no problem beating a New York team that was dreadful in last week’s defeat against Denver. All Coach Ron Rivera needs to do is develop a game plan that utilizes the skills and strengths of Taylor Heinicke, the offense, and the defense. WFT has to be better on both sides of the ball. In the defense’s case, it’s all about containing QB Daniel Jones. He seems to have the best success against this Washington team, including an excellent performance in Week 6 of last season when Jones carried the ball seven times for 74 yards. Daniel Jones can run, but his fellow teammates in blue have a lot of trouble protecting him as he was sacked twice in Sunday’s game. Jones also has issues with ball security, given his 30 career fumbles. So Washington’s game plan is to pound the Giants offensive line and contain Daniel Jones. That, along with minimal penalties and a good game from Taylor Heinicke and the offense, should give you a nice win on a short week. As Coach Rivera told his team as they gathered last week, “One less mistake. That’s the difference in this football game. One less mistake, alright? That’s the truth of the matter.”
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