Washington at N.Y. Giants

EAST RUTHERFORD (Oct. 26, 2005) -- When their schedule came out, the New York Giants probably didn't expect to be facing one of their toughest opponents of the season this week in the Washington Redskins.

It's also likely neither team expected the game would be for first place in the NFC East.
The Giants and Redskins renew a storied rivalry and try to maintain at least a share of the division lead when they meet at the Meadowlands.

Few could have expected the Redskins, a team that endured a turmoil-filled 6-10 season in 2004, to make such dramatic strides in their second season since Joe Gibbs returned as coach. With a much-improved offense led by quarterback Mark Brunell and receiver Santana Moss, and a dominant defense that's allowing only 157.5 yards per game through the air, Gibbs has shown he hasn't lost his winning touch.

The Redskins had dropped two straight before last week, but forcefully ended that slide with a 52-17 home rout of lowly San Francisco. Washington led 35-7 at halftime, piled up 448 yards and scored on seven of its first nine possessions.

None of the Redskins' first five games had been decided by more than seven points.
"We are a Rocky Balboa-type team, but it's good to get a young Mike Tyson-type win and knock someone out," linebacker Marcus Washington said.

Brunell completed 13 of 20 passes for 252 yards and three touchdowns, and Moss continued his torrid start with a 32-yard TD reception and five catches for 112 yards, his fourth 100-yard game in five weeks.

Clinton Portis, whom the Giants couldn't stop in the teams' last meeting of 2004, ran 19 times for 101 yards and scored his first three touchdowns of the season.

With Washington having all its offensive weapons working, the game against New York could be a high-scoring affair. That would mark a wholesale departure from the run-heavy, defense-dominated games the franchises engaged in when they routinely battled for NFC East supremacy in the 1980s, during Gibbs' first tenure as Redskins coach.
Led by second-year quarterback Eli Manning, New York has an offense to match the Redskins' and leads the NFL with 28.8 points per game.

"We've got a real tough one next week," Gibbs said after last week's win.
Manning continued to build on his growing reputation as a clutch player last week, directing a drive that culminated with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Amani Toomer with 5 seconds remaining that gave the Giants a 24-23 win over Denver.

Dominated for much of the game by the Broncos, who came in with a five-game winning streak, Manning rallied his team from a 23-10 deficit with 13:18 left.

"A two-minute drive against a good team that's playing well, and to score a game-winning touchdown -- that's definitely the biggest play of my career," Manning said.
With players such as Toomer, Plaxico Burress, Jeremy Shockey and Tiki Barber on offense, Manning has had plenty of help as the Giants have given opposing defenses headaches this season.

The trouble for New York has been its own defense. The Giants are ranked 31st in the league in total defense and have particularly had trouble against the pass, allowing nearly 296 yards per game through the air.

While New York won't abandon its high-powered passing game even if Washington is able to contain Manning and Co., Giants coach Tom Coughlin could pick this week to put more emphasis on the ground attack. Barber and several other Giants complained publicly about not employing the run more after a 16-13 overtime loss at Dallas two weeks ago, and the Redskins are only 15th in the league in run defense at 108.5 yards per contest.

With the 4-2 Philadelphia Eagles playing at 5-2 Denver this week, the winner of this game could find itself alone atop the division.

The Giants will be looking to go 5-0 at Giants Stadium. They've outscored opponents 137-76 at the Meadowlands.

STANDINGS: Redskins -- 1st place (tied), NFC East. Giants -- 1st place (tied), NFC East.

REDSKINS LEADERS: Offense -- Brunell, 1,492 passing yards and 12 passing TDs; Portis, 544 rushing yards and 3 rushing TDs; Moss, 38 receptions, 743 receiving yards and 5 receiving TDs. Defense -- Cornelius Griffin, 3 sacks; Sean Taylor and Lemar Marshall, 1 INT.

GIANTS LEADERS: Offense -- Manning, 1,414 passing yards and 12 passing TDs; Barber, 483 rushing yards and 4 rushing TDs; Burress, 36 receptions, 535 receiving yards and 5 receiving TDs. Defense -- Michael Strahan, 5 1/2 sacks; Shaun Williams, 2 INTs.

REDSKINS TEAM RANK: Rushing Offense -- 139.8 yards per game (4th in NFL); Passing Offense -- 247.3 ypg (8th); Total Offense -- 387.1 ypg (2nd). Rushing Defense -- 108.5 ypg (15th); Passing Defense -- 157.5 ypg (4th); Total Defense -- 266.0 ypg (4th).

GIANTS TEAM RANK: Rushing Offense -- 108.5 yards per game (17th); Passing Offense -- 223.7 ypg (13th); Total Offense -- 332.2 ypg (15th). Rushing Defense -- 116.0 ypg (21st); Passing Defense -- 295.8 ypg (31st); Total Defense -- 411.8 ypg (31st).

LAST MEETING: Dec. 5; Redskins, 31-7. At Landover, Md., Washington scored more than 20 points for the first time all season. Portis rushed for 148 yards on 31 carries, running for one TD and scoring another on a shovel pass.

STREAKS AND NOTES: Redskins -- Brunell has thrown at least two TDs in each of his five starts. He has thrown three in each of his last two games, and his two INTs this season are tied for third-fewest in the NFL. ... Portis has averaged 108.5 yards in two games against the Giants. ... The defense is allowing only 14 first downs per game, second-fewest in the league. Giants -- Manning has a TD pass in seven straight games, with 15 TDs and five INTs in that span. ... Barber needs 90 rushing yards to become the first Giant with 7,500. ... DE Strahan has 15 sacks against Washington, his second-most against any club.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Redskins -- 1-2 on the road; Giants -- 3-0 at home.
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