The Washington Commanders (1-3) return home to Northwest Stadium on Sunday to host the first-place New York Giants (3-1). Yes, you read that correctly; the Giants enter Week 5 atop the NFC East.
This is a huge game for Washington. A loss would not only drop the Commanders to 1-4, but also to 0-3 in the division. Even in what looks like a down year for the NFC East, a 0-3 start would put Washington in an almost impossible position.
The Commanders and Giants are dealing with several high-profile injuries. While the Commanders get star quarterback Jayden Daniels back for this game, wide receiver Stefon Diggs is one of six players ruled out. Washington’s top receiver, Terry McLaurin, is questionable with a hamstring injury. The Commanders’ offensive
line gets right guard Sam Cosmi back for this one.
How good are the 2026 New York Giants under new head coach John Harbaugh? To find out, we spoke with Giants Wire managing editor Dan Benton to get the lowdown.
The Giants are 3-1 and lead the NFC East. Are they a legit contender to win this division in 2026?
DB: The way the NFC East is shaping up, I believe so. But that says more about the division than it does about the Giants. A traditionally tough division looks like a mess this season, and that just happens to coincide with the Giants finally taking that first step out of their most recent rebuild. There have been notable improvements under John Harbaugh, but they’re still a year away from being legitimate playoff contenders and two years away from being potential Super Bowl contenders. Luckily for the Giants, a bad division will help get them used to winning after over a decade of losing.
Are Giants fans confident in Jameis Winston under center?
DB: Not exactly. And how could anyone be? We all know who Jameis Winston is. "The Jameis Winston" experience is a very real thing, and I think that adds uncertainty to any team he's ever started for. The good news? He can light up the scoreboard at times, and fans always know he has that potential in his back pocket. You just never know what you’re going to get from Jameis from week to week, game to game, and play to play.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Giants’ offense?
DB: The Giants actually have quite a few strengths offensively, from improved line play to talented wide receivers and big running backs who bully opponents. Then there are the tight ends, Isaiah Likely and Theo Johnson, who create mismatches all over the field. The biggest weakness, outside the unpredictability of Winston, is ball control. The Giants' backs have coughed it up entirely too many times this season, and it's becoming obvious it's not a flash-in-the-pan issue.
What are your impressions of the Giants’ defense through four weeks?
DB: They’re a mixed bag. They are truly a bend but do not break defense through four weeks, and while I expect that to settle down, they have some issues. Teams are getting the ball out very quickly against them, which has neutralized their pass rush. They’re still getting to the quarterback, but they’re struggling to bring them down to get into longer down-and-distance situations. That puts incredible strain on the secondary, which is primarily man coverage under Dennard Wilson. Thus far, they’ve been able to survive and navigate those waters, but eventually the dam will break (as we saw against the Los Angeles Rams).
What are your early thoughts on the Giants rookie class?
DB: They’ve been extremely impressive. I think Arvell Reese is a legitimate Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate; Francis Mauigoa has been especially strong as a run blocker; Malachi Fields is mature and professional; and Jake Kelly has been an under-the-radar special teams contributor. The one struggling thus far is cornerback Colton Hood. His introduction to the NFL has not been kind.
Prediction and why
DB: I’m torn on this one. The Commanders have had the Giants’ number over the past four meetings, and Jayden Daniels typically plays them well. However, he’s coming off an injury, and the game will be played in sloppy, rainy conditions -- the third week in a row for New York. There’s also the John Harbaugh factor, which we’ve seen in back-to-back weeks with last-second wins. I don’t think the Giants can threepeat that result, but I'll side with the changing tide and believe they won't have to. Giants 27, Commanders 17.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: 5 things to know about the Commanders' Week 5 opponents
