*As the Washington Redskins get closer to the start of another season, Redskins.com will preview all 16 of the team's regular season games. Today is the Week 17 matchup with the New York Giants.
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*The Redskins visit the Giants at MetLife Stadium, where they won their previous matchup, to close out the season with New York for the second consecutive year.
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New York's Key Additions:Signed WR Brandon Marshall (New York Jets), signed OL D.J. Fluker (Los Angeles Chargers), signed QB Geno Smith (New York Jets), drafted TE Evan Engram (Ole Miss), drafted DT Dalvin Tomlinson (Alabama), drafted DE Avery Moss (Youngstown State).* *
New York'sKey Subtractions:WR Victor Cruz, K Robbie Gould
New York's Pro Bowlers:Odell Beckham Jr., Janoris Jenkins, Landon Collins, Dwayne Harris.
The Redskins will travel to MetLife Stadium marking the second straight year they have played the Giants on the final game of the regular season. They will of course hope for a better outcome than a loss that knocks them out of playoff contention.
Washington won their last matchup in East Rutherford, N.J., notching their first win of the 2016 season there in Week 3, when Su'a Cravens intercepted n Eli Manning pass over the middle, sealing the game.
The Redskins didn't leave without some injuries, however, afflictions that have bugged them the last couple of trips to the turf. Last year, DeAngelo Hall tore his ACL, an injury he is still working his way back from, David Bruton Jr. sustained a concussion, which knocked him onto Injured Reserve, along with left guard Shawn Lauvao (ankle injury) and center Kory Lichtensteiger (a calf injury that placed him on Injured Reserve).
It was a long list, and one the Redskins hope to avoid before they enter the New Year.
We focused on the Giants' offense in the Week 12 matchup preview, so we'll shift to look at the defense this time around.
The Giants didn't end up signing defensive lineman Jonathan Hankins in free agency, so they opted to find a good one in the draft instead. They selected Alabama product Dalvin Tomlinson and then added fifth-round pick defensive end Avery Moss to aid in the pass rush.
The Giants did go re-sign Jason Pierre-Paul to a multi-year deal, and between he and Oliver Vernon, the Giants should be strong against the run game.
Despite the question marks surrounding their pass rush, the Giants will still rely on their secondary, where they have three top cornerbacks. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Janoris Jenkins and Eli Apple all contribute in coverage and on blitzes, which defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo isn't afraid to use at any time.
Apple finished with 51 tackles, while Jenkins and Rodger-Cromartie both finished with 49 tackles. Together the three of them accounted for 10 interceptions.
Then there is Landon Collins, who returns to anchor the back end of the defense at safety. The Pro Bowler collected five interceptions and led the team in tackles with 125 along with four sacks.
No matter how you slice it, the game should be a good way to ring in the New Year and finish out the season.
2017 Season Previews:
- Week 1: Philadelphia
- Week 2: Los Angeles
- Week 3: Oakland
- Week 4: Kansas City
- Week 6: San Francisco
- Week 7: Philadelphia
- Week 8: Dallas
- Week 9: Seattle
- Week 10: Minnesota Vikings
- Week 11: New Orleans Saints
- Week 12: New York Giants
- Week 13: Dallas Cowboys
- Week 14: Los Angeles Chargers
- Week 15: Arizona Cardinals
- Week 16: Denver Broncos
