The New York Giants (3-1) will take on the Washington Commanders (1-3) on Sunday afternoon at Northwest Stadium in their fifth game of the 2026 regular season.
Opening the week, the Giants were listed as 3.5-point road underdogs, and that's exactly where the spread remains as of this writing.
How does the Giants Wire staff see this Week 5 battle shaking out? Here's a look at our picks and score predictions.
Dan Benton: Giants 27, Commanders 17
I'm a little 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 same result, but I'll side with the changing tide and believe they won't have to.
John Fennelly: Giants 23, Commanders 20
The Giants have a long injury list. The Commanders have a longer one. Quarterback Jayden Daniels will play with a brace on his left arm, and no one knows what will happen if he gets hit again or how the brace will affect his movement. The Giants have been finding ways to win every week. They should find enough ways to win this game, too.
Tyler Henry: Giants 24, Commanders 16
The Giants are starting to find their groove playing with quarterback Jameis Winston. The defense seems to be improving each week, and the Giants have another beatable opponent this week. The coaching advantage has played a big role in the Giants' success this season, and I expect that to continue on Sunday. Even with Washington getting Jayden Daniels back, I expect the Giants to control the time of possession and take care of business on Sunday to improve to 4-1 on the season.
Serena Burks: Commanders 24, Giants 23
This is a tough one this week. On one hand, the Giants have managed to be successful without some of their key players. On the other hand, they also have a turnover problem. Or they did against Arizona. They got “lucky” that Arizona turned the ball over as much as they did, or the outcome could have been very different. Now, they’re on the road, in a divisional game, against a team that is getting its starting quarterback back on the field. There will be a bit of an adjustment early for Daniels, but I think this is going to be a close game regardless of the actual outcome. The Commanders’ run defense is formidable, but they can be beaten through the air as long as Jameis Winston doesn’t throw an interception. But that’s the rub, right? I’m giving the nod to the Commanders this week, mostly because they’re at home and they have something to prove, but it’s not going to be an easy win.
Kevin Hickey: Giants 23, Commanders 21
The Giants have been constantly viewed as underdogs this season and yet they stand with a 3-1 record. Despite missing key pieces on both sides of the ball, it's clear the coaching staff has had a substantial impact on the players’ mindset. Big Blue would have crumbled in each of the last two games under previous regimes. This team, instead, chooses to fight.
The Commanders will get Jayden Daniels back, which is huge for them. Still, the Giants have found ways to limit quarterbacks this season. It will be an ugly game in the elements, but the Giants have what it takes to pull this one out
Larry Brown: Giants 28, Commanders 17
The Washington Commanders are in a place of dismay, having had to resort to their third-string quarterback after injuries to their first two on the depth chart. Even with Jayden Daniels back, their offensive attack is a blur, and Terry McLaurin is still recovering from injury. It’s hard to see them defeating the Giants in Week 5.
Nevertheless, the Giants did show some weaknesses in their secondary against the Arizona Cardinals, who are staffed with a plethora of quality wide receivers.
Ultimately, the Giants need to commit to their ground attack and slowly unwind the passing attack with their dual set of tight ends. If they are able to win their time of possession, they can prevent the Commanders from getting any momentum and escape with a 28-17 victory.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants vs. Washington Commanders: Week 5 staff picks and predictions
