The Washington Commanders host the New York Giants this Sunday at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, at 1:00 p.m. EDT.
After a disappointing loss to the Indianapolis Colts in London, Washington returns home Sunday without much room for error. The Giants are 3-1 and sit atop the NFC East, while the Commanders are trying to keep their season from slipping away before it really gets started.
On paper, this looks like a difficult matchup for Washington, but there are reasons for optimism.
In fact, there are three reasons in particular that could give the Commanders a legitimate opportunity to get another check in the win column.
Jayden Daniels is back
This is the most obvious reason to be optimistic. The Commanders are a different football team when Jayden Daniels is on the field.
Daniels has missed Washington's last two games while recovering from a dislocated left elbow, but he returned to practice last week, and on Wednesday was a full participant. Head coach Dan Quinn has said the plan is for Daniels to start Sunday against New York, barring a setback.
That's a massive development for a team that has struggled to find consistency at quarterback.
Daniels has only played six quarters this season, but he has completed roughly 57% of his passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns without throwing an interception. More importantly, he gives Washington something the offense has been missing: the ability to create plays when the original play breaks down.
The Giants have only recorded three sacks this season, which ranks last in the NFL. That's particularly encouraging for a Washington offense dealing with some uncertainty along the offensive line.
Daniels will wear a brace on his injured elbow, which means he won't look quite like the player we are used to seeing. But even an imperfect Daniels changes the equation.
His ability to threaten defenses with his legs, extend plays, and create something out of nothing gives Washington a dimension it simply didn't have in London. Plus, Daniels is 3-0 in his career against the Giants.
The Giants have some significant injury concerns of their own
Washington's injury report looks like a novel right now. Terry McLaurin, Stefon Diggs, Marcus Mariota, and several defensive players missed Wednesday's practice, while others were limited.
So this isn't an argument that Washington is healthier; they aren't. However, the Giants aren't exactly entering this game at full strength, either.
Wide receiver Malik Nabers, offensive tackle Andrew Thomas and safety Jason Pinnock all missed Wednesday's practice. Defensive lineman Chauncey Golston also sat out. Not to mention they lost Jaxson Dart and Brian Burns for the season. The Giants have managed to compensate for these losses, but missing those players matters.
Nabers is the biggest name to watch. The second-year receiver leads New York with 208 receiving yards through four games and recently exploded for 112 yards and a touchdown against Arizona. He is the kind of player who can completely change a game if given enough opportunities.
But he is dealing with knee soreness this week, which gives Washington something to monitor.
The Giants are a resilient football team, but they are also very beatable.
The Giants' offense isn't exactly lighting up the scoreboard
This might be the most overlooked reason for optimism. New York is 3-1, but the Giants aren't winning because they are overwhelming opponents offensively.
Through four games, New York is averaging just 20.5 points and 283.3 yards per game. The Giants rank 26th in the NFL in total offense.
Their running game has been particularly pedestrian, with the running backs averaging just 3.7 yards per attempt. This means that Washington's defense has an opportunity to make the Giants one-dimensional, putting a ton of pressure on Jameis Winston.
And while Winston is capable of making big plays, he's also capable of giving the opposition opportunities. The Giants have turned the ball over eight times this season, including three interceptions by Winston.
That's where Washington's defense needs to be aggressive without being reckless. They don't need to dominate every snap. They need to create a few game-changing moments.
If Washington can stop the run, force Winston into obvious passing situations, and turn those situations into turnovers, the Commanders can make this game much more uncomfortable for New York than the records suggest it should be.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders vs. New York Giants: 3 reasons for optimism
