Game Preview, Week 5: New York Giants at Washington
October 9, 2026
by Steve Thomas
Last week’s game against the Indianapolis Colts in London proved to be something of a disaster, both in terms of injuries and results. Washington has an opportunity to rebound this week against a New York Giants team that, if we’re being honest, is probably a better overall team than Washington, at least in this current iteration. That having been said, the games between these two opponents can sometimes turn into hard-fought, close battles. Washington’s best shot this week is probably for that two happen against, especially if Jayden Daniels can’t start again or does and gets hurt again (which seems inevitable at this point). If nothing else, this should be entertaining. Let’s root for the best and see what happens. Our game preview is below.
Game time & location: Sunday, October 11, 2026, 1:00 p.m. ET, Northwest Stadium, Raljon, Maryland; Gates open 11:00 a.m. ET; Red Zone parking lots open 8:00 a.m.; all other parking lots 9:00 a.m.
Television: FOX
Television announcers:
TV broadcast map: Click here
DC-area radio: BIG-100 (WBIG FM)
Washington radio network: Click here
Giants radio network: Click here
Satellite radio: SiriusXM: 200 (Wash. broad.), 831 (Wash. broad.)
Washington roster: Click here
Washington depth chart: Click here
Giants roster: Click here
Giants depth chart: Click here
All-time head-to-head record vs Giants: 74 – 107 – 5 (last 10: 6 – 3 – 1)
Last meeting: W, December 14, 2025, 29 – 21
Giants record: 3 – 1 (1st place) / away: 0 – 1 / NFC: 2 – 1; NFC East: 1 – 0
Washington record: 1 – 3 (4th place) / home: 0 – 1 / NFC: 1 – 2 ; NFC East: 0 – 2
Early odds: Washington, -3.5
3 KEYS TO THE GAME
Washington’s running game needs to produce
Washington running back group has been bad so far this year. Their overall rushing stats have been boosted by runs from their quarterbacks and last week’s addition of Austin Ekeler. The Giants have issues – they haven’t been particularly successful in their rushing defense, surrendering 4.7 yards per carry in their first 4 games, including 4.7 yards per carry to the Cardinals. The success of Washington’s offense this year seems to be predicated on the team’s ability to dedicate itself to the ground game in order to set up screen passes and the occasional deep ball. I don’t see the Giants aren’t the type of team that’s likely to put up 30+ points with regularity – recognizing that they scored 33 last week against the Cardinals – so Washington needs to control the ball, gain yardage in regular clips, and win in a slugfest.
Keep the Giants from getting big plays in the air
The Giants basically have two players who have gotten significant targets and receptions, receiver Malik Nabors and tight end Isaiah Likely. Washington’s offense is too much of a mess right now, due to injuries and overall sloppy play, so in my view their best chance to win is in a lower-scoring slugfest. This means clamping down on New York’s two most productive receivers, Nabors and Likely, and keeping them from getting easy long receptions and scores.
Protect the quarterback
The Giants aren’t good this year in pass rushing, with just 3 sacks in four games, including 2 against the Cardinals. Whomever ends up starting at quarterback for Washington, whether it’s Daniels, Kaliakmanis, or someone else, needs time. That should be easily accomplished against the Giants, at least theoretically. This is always important in every game, of course, so to say “protect the quarterback” isn’t exactly a revelation. In this game, though, which, again, may be a slugfest, Washington can’t afford to give away too many possessions as a result of poor protections. I consider this to be critical this week, in particular.
3 KEY MATCHUPS
Amik Robertson vs. Malik Nabers
Robertson has become Washington’s most successful corner, at least considering that Trey Amos is on injured reserve. Robertson has made a couple of outstanding defensive plays in nearly every game this season, including in last week’s terrible loss against the Colts in London. The Giants aren’t a particularly dangerous passing team, especially with backup quarterback Jameis Winston at the helm in place of the injured Jaxson Dart, but Nabers is key for them. As I mentioned above, he’s one of their two main weapons in the passing attack. Washington needs to make every effort to keep Robertson on Nabers as much as possible throughout this game. Keep an eye out on this matchup during this contest, and see if Robertson can keep up his streak of quality play.
Sonny Styles vs. Isaiah Likely
As I said above, Likely is one of one two Giants to get significant targets and receptions this year. Washington’s rookie linebacker, Sonny Styles, has more or less lived up to his draft billing thusfar in this early part of the season. Styles is also much better in pass defense than any of the linebackers who have been with this franchise is recent years. Therefore, this Styles vs Likely matchup is pretty important: the Giants need their tight end to produce, and Washington finally has a linebacker to counteract a productive tight end. I expect to see this matchup be highlighted numerous times throughout the game.
Brandon Coleman vs. Kayvon Thibodeaux
Brian Burns was the Giants only All-Pro selection last year, and is their edge rusher. Unfortunately for New York, he’s out for the year with a knee injury suffered two weeks ago against the Titans. This means that Kayvon Thibodeaux, who is a decent pass rusher in his own right, is next up on the chopping block. Coleman continues to fill in for injured left tackle Laremy Tunsil, and has done fairly well in the process. Thibodeaux hasn’t had the same level of success as Burns throughout his career, although Thibodeaux did have 11.5 sacks in 2023. I expect the television announcing team to highlight this matchup in the trenches throughout the game, if for no other reason than there isn’t much else of note for television purposes in these two groups.
OFFICIAL INJURY REPORT (active roster only)
LP – limited practice FP – full practice DNP – did not practice
NIR – not injury related Q – questionable O – out
D – doubtful
| Washington | Giants |
| C/G N. Allegretti, hip, achilles; Wed: LP; Thurs: DNP | DL C. Golston, neck; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP |
| S P. Butler, hamstring; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP | CB J. Pinnock, concussion; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP |
| WR S. Diggs, hamstring; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP | TE I. Likely, knee, groin; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP |
| QB M. Mariota, knee; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP | TE C. Manhertz, shoulder; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP |
| WR T. McLaurin, hamstring; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP | WR M. Nabers, knee; Wed: DNP; Thurs: LP |
| DE C. Omenihu, groin, ankle; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP | RB C. Skattebo, shoulder; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP |
| S T. Owens, hamstring; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP | OL A. Thomas, groin; Wed: DNP; Thurs: LP |
| CB T. Amos, ankle; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP | DB T. Banks, calf; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP |
| RB J. Croskey-Merritt, groin; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP | RB N. Harris, NIR (personal); Wed: DNP; Thurs: FP |
| S N. Cross, illness; Wed: FP; Thurs: LP | OL B. Hudson ankle; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP |
| LB F. Luvu, groin; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP | |
| RB J. McNichols, quad; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP | |
| TE C. Okonkwo, hamstring; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP | |
| RB R. White, shoulder; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP | |
| DE D. Wise, quad; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP | |
| WR T. Burks, shoulder; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP | |
| G S. Cosmi, concussion, throat; Wed: LP; Thurs: FP | |
| QB J. Daniels, left elbow; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP | |
| DT J. Kinlaw, shoulder; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP | |
| CB F. Moreau, knee; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP | |
| S J. Reaves, finger; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP | |
| TE B. Sinnott, rib; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP | |
| LB S, Styles, groin; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP |
Steve’s Prediction
Washington wins an ugly slugfest, 20 – 17.