The league didn’t wait long to have the NFC East start cannibalizing itself. The New York Giants travel to Washington to take on the Commanders in Week 1, following an Eagles-Cowboys tilt on Thursday night. Having two divisional games on opening week is diabolical, and exactly how fans want to kick off the season. There’s nothing like jumping into the deep end immediately.
The G-Men enter 2025 as one of the NFL’s biggest unknowns. Their strength of schedule has been talked about ad nauseam — it’s tough... on paper. But games are played on the field, and this team is clearly improved over last season’s version.
Big Blue will test its roster overhaul against the NFC runners-up in a highly anticipated Week 1 matchup. If New York can keep pace with second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels and the Commanders’ high-octane offense, we’re talking unreal amounts of overreactions and expectations to follow. Here are four bold predictions for the Giants’ season opener in Washington.
4 bold predictions for Giants vs Commanders in Week 1 NFC East showdown
1. Giants pound the rock for 150-plus rushing yards
The Commanders’ run defense looked more like a doormat last season than anything else. They allowed 137.5 rushing yards per game, totaling 2,337 yards. That’s a lot. It’s hard to see them improving all that much with how their offseason went.
Out is two-time Pro Bowler Jonathan Allen, and in is... journeyman Javon Kinlaw. It's one of the biggest downgrades in the NFL. Bobby Wagner is a future Hall of Famer, but he's another year older and a step slower. Expect Tyrone Tracy Jr., Devin Singletary, and Cam Skattebo to form a hellacious attack and gash them on the ground time and again to the tune of 150-plus rushing yards.
2. Big Blue's defense incites Jayden Daniels sophomore slump narrative
If you follow the NFL, chances are you’ve heard of the infamous legend of the sophomore slump. It’s a title no second-year player wants to carry, especially a quarterback. Enter reigning Rookie of the Year, Jayden Daniels.
No one’s saying he’s actually going to have a slump. All that’s being predicted is the narrative that he’s going to have one after this new and improved Giants defense gets after him relentlessly for 60 minutes. Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Abdul Carter, and Chauncey Golston have the makings of the league’s most terrorizing defensive front.
What better way to start the season than by wrecking a division rival while casting doubt on one of the league’s brightest young stars?
3. Jaxson Dart will throw... and complete his first career pass
This might just be the boldest prediction of them all, but hear me out. During New York's second preseason game against the Jets, head coach Brian Daboll substituted Russell Wilson for Jaxson Dart mid-drive. The result was a 30-yard dump-and-run from tight end Theo Johnson in one of the cooler and unappreciated developments of the preseason.
Let’s do that again. Dabs already told the media that all three quarterbacks on the roster will be Week 1 ready, regardless of depth chart position. I mean, tell me Dart’s taking the field without telling me. The 22-year-old rookie out of Ole Miss has shown poise and confidence beyond expectations. It’s time to give him some live-game reps without throwing him to the wolves as the starter.
4. New York starts the season undefeated
This one is for the not-entirely-superstitious-but-little-stitious crowd that believes there’s something about everyone dumping on the G-Men and crowning the Commanders the class of the NFC before even playing a game. Truth is, the G-Men match up well against this Washington team. That’s why fans shouldn’t be surprised to see a 27-23 Giants victory to start the season 1-0.