FNIA WASH at NYG: RGIII heads to the Big Apple

REDSKINS (3-3) AT GIANTS (4-2)

By Football Night in America’s Eliott Kalb

• The Redskins are coming off a home win over the Vikings in which Robert Griffin III ran
for 138 yards, the fifth-highest total for a quarterback in NFL history.
• What might be even more impressive about the rookie is that he leads the league with a
70.2 completion percentage. Griffin also ranks 15th among all players with 379 rushing
yards and his six rushing touchdowns are second to only Arian Foster (seven).
• But now the Redskins have tough road games in consecutive weeks, opening their NFC
East slate in New York then travelling to Pittsburgh.
• Waiting until Week 7 to start NFC East play is a major benefit, according to Mike
Shanahan: “It’s always an advantage if you’re going to play within your division if it’s
little bit later than earlier, especially with rookie players,” Shanahan said. “I think it is a
big benefit for us with Robert and a kid like Alfred.” The Giants have already played two
division games this year—both losses—but are undefeated outside of the NFC East.
• These are two of the best offenses in football, tied for third in the league with 178 points
scored (29.7 per game).
• The Giants, though, are the team more reliant on the passing attack. That tendency will be an
advantage this week, as the Redskins have allowed the most passing yards of any team.
• But in the Redskins’ last two games, the secondary has eliminated the big plays that
plagued them early in the season. Plus, corner Cedric Griffin—who has missed the last
three games with a hamstring injury—could be back this week.
• After last week’s dominant win in San Francisco, Eli Manning is now 25-5 (.833) as a
starter in the month of October, the best mark in the Super Bowl Era (minimum 20 starts).
• Victor Cruz has a touchdown reception in three straight weeks, and is second in the
league with six TD receptions.
• Ahmad Bradshaw is in top form, with 316 yards over his last two games. The 30 carries
he got two weeks ago against Cleveland and the 27 he got Sunday in San Francisco are
the two highest single-game carry totals of his career. Tom Rock, Newsday: “These
days, Bradshaw is more likely to be fighting for extra yards than he is to be burning down
the sideline in a touchdown sprint…Some may say that “the old Bradshaw” is back.
Numbers wise, perhaps. But this isn’t the old Bradshaw. This is a new one. Redefined and
reclassified. Evolving as few NFL running backs ever have.”
• Andre Brown is back from his concussion this week, however, and thus Bradshaw’s
workload will decrease a little bit.
• DT Chris Canty missed the first six weeks on the PUP list (knee surgery) but is healthy and
could be activated for Sunday. He started all 16 games in the regular season last year.
• Hakeem Nicks (foot/knee) was limited in practice on Thursday but could play for just the
fourth time this season.
• Fred Davis has been Griffin’s favorite target. He is the only tight end in the NFC to lead
his club in both catches (23) and receiving yards (312).
• Last season, the Redskins swept the season series vs. the Giants for the first time since
1999, winning 28-14 in Week 1 and 23-10 in Week 15. Prior to the 2011 season, the
Giants had won nine of the previous 10 meetings.
• Redskins wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard was with the Giants for eight seasons (1997-2004).
• Pierre Garcon (toe) is unlikely to play this week. Leonard Hankerson, Santana Moss and
Josh Morgan will be Griffin’s top three receivers.