GIANTS VS REDSKINS THANKSGIVING DAY NFL LIVE STREAM – Even though it’s been a tradition to have NFL football on Thanksgiving for well over 70 years and to have annual games for the Lions and the Cowboys for over 35 years, the addition of a third game in the evening happened as recently as 2006. But when the New York Giants travel to Washington to take on the Redskins. THANKSGIVING DAY NFL LIVE STREAM: NEW YORK GIANTS VS WASHINGTON REDSKINS online on your PC, laptop, Mac, I-pad, Tab, Ps4/3, I-phone Android or any other online device.
GIANTS VS REDSKINS THANKSGIVING DAY NFL LIVE STREAM: http://nfl2017live.org/
New York Giants -
Even though they got the win last week there is still not a lot right in New York. They won but they only put up 12 points against Kansas City last week. Eli Manning continues to have an average season. He did not make the big mistake last week but only one pass play was more than 20 yards.
Given that the Giants are not exactly shredding it in the running game it is going to be tough to put points on the board against more opponents. Even though they gave up a lead to allow overtime the fact that they were winning most of the contest made it easier for the offense to remain conservative. It is hard to see how this group makes any sort of jump without Odell Beckham Jr.
The defense played very well against Kansas City and perhaps that is something to build upon. Alex Smith had just one interception coming into the game and they forced two. They kept Kareem Hunt in check two. Though the Redskins are not a team that features the running game all that much. They feature their tight ends. That is worrisome because the Giants had no answer for Travis Kelce, one of the best at that position in the NFL. Washington’s tight ends are very good too.
New York Giants vs Washington Redskins
Where: FedExField, Prince George’s County, Maryland
When: Thursday, November 23, 8:30 PM EST
TV Broadcast: NBC
Washington Redskins -
I am not sure what the Redskins’ real prospects were to make the playoffs but they had the Saints dead to rights and then blew it. Given the state of the season that loss might stay with them. In the loss Samaje Perine had his best day as a pro with 117 yards rushing. All season long they have been hoping someone would grab the lead back role and now maybe they have found one.
Kirk Cousins continues to be maligned but he almost always puts up good numbers. They lost but he was really good and is having his best season as a pro. Washington hopes to get TE Jordan Reed and WR Terrelle Pryor back in the lineup for this one. Their offense can be really good. New Orleans is a strong offensive team but the defense has to be reeling after last week.
They gave up 18 unanswered to lose the lead and the game in OT. The Saints are one of the most balanced offense in the league but New York is not nearly as efficient. This is the perfect matchup to get right on that side of the ball.
Three Things to Watch -
1. Can Samaje Perine earn a full-time job?
The weakness for the Giants “D” this season has been their play against the run. They rank just 30th in the NFL, allowing 132.7 rushing yards per game after surrendering 134 to the Chiefs last weekend.
The Redskins, further hobbled by the loss of versatile running back Chris Thompson are thin at the position entering this game. Both he and Rob Kelley are out, leaving the rushing duties to Perine, their fourth-round draft pick out of Oklahoma.
But maybe leaving Perine (right) in charge in the backfield can be a good thing. He starred on Sunday, rushing for 117 yards in the loss to the Saints. It was the first 100-yard performance for Washington this season and it helped open up the field for Kirk Cousins, who had a spectacular game (322 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs).
Perine now has a chance to earn the full-time job for the rest of 2017 and beyond. Simply stepping up in back-to-back weeks might be enough to put away the beleaguered Giants.
2. Can Giants head coach Ben McAdoo remain aggressive?
Following a brutally honest meeting with all his players last week McAdoo came out swinging against the Chiefs. The head coach followed a playbook all 1-8 teams need to be able to win, pulling out unconventional strategy to keep their opponent on its heels.
Among the surprise plays were a fake punt; a halfback option pass, and a college-like play where the tackles lined up wide of center. The team also went for it three times on fourth down, including from the Chiefs' 36-yard line with two minutes left to play.
I think that level of creativity from the coaching position, even though it was only moderately successful, invigorated this team. By showing he wasn’t giving up, McAdoo got rewarded with a team that didn’t give up on him. There’s also a realization from both sides that this partnership will now last the season. If McAdoo wasn’t fired after the 49ers game, it’s not going to happen before the end of the year.
That said, there were still a number of lucky breaks that went the Giants’ way. The miracle, fourth-down catch by Sterling Shepard set up the team’s game-winning field goal in overtime; without it, we were probably looking at a tie.
The offensive talent level for the Giants right now means they’ll only score so many points. These types of trick plays have to be in the book and they must continue to use them on Thanksgiving night.
3. Can the Giants' secondary step up one more time? Or will Cousins have another spectacular game?
New York's secondary, despite missing Eli Apple, had its best game of the season Sunday against likely Pro Bowl candidate Alex Smith. Smith entered the game with just one interception through his first nine games; against the Giants, he threw two.
Add in another pick, from Travis Kelce on a trick play and the Giants suddenly resembled the formidable defense they were supposed to be at the start of the season. Those 51 points allowed against the Rams in Week 9 proved to be a distant memory.
But now they get another quality quarterback in Cousins coming off his best performance of the season. It’s been the Redskins' defense, not the offense costing them as of late; they’ve allowed 30-plus points in four of their last five contests.
But with how depleted the Giants are, scoring 30 points would be a Thanksgiving miracle. They have to force Cousins into the late-game turnovers that typically keep him from being one of the top five QBs in this league.
Final Analysis -
The Giants’ defense may have woken up on Sunday but the offense? That leaves much to be desired. That’ll be a problem against a Redskins team that’s still very good at putting points on the board.
While Eli Manning’s not the problem, it’s hard to see him putting the offense on his back when 24-31 points are needed to win the game. That’s what we’ll see here, leading to a Thanksgiving night celebration for the ‘Skins to keep their faint playoff hopes alive.
Prediction: Redskins 28, Giants 10
GIANTS VS REDSKINS THANKSGIVING DAY NFL LIVE STREAM: http://nfl2017live.org/
