Instant Analysis: Five things we learned from Giants-Redskins

What did we learn from the New York Giants' 45-14 thrashing of the Washington Redskins on Thursday night? Let's look.

The Giants are in business

A couple of weeks ago the Giants looked like they were on the verge of another lost season. Now they look like a team that can and should contend for a playoff spot. The offense is humming, with Eli Manning doing the kinds of things the organization hoped he would when Ben McAdoo was hired as offensive coordinator. The defense has created nine turnovers in two weeks. With Prince Amukamara and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie they can cover. They can play the run and rush the passer. Special teams didn't hurt them for a change.

The Giants suddenly look like a team that has a chance to play meaningful football this season.

Larry Donnell really is a player

If it isn't obvious to you by now that Larry Donnell is not a fluke, let me beat you over the head with this. Donnell is  a heckuva player. Donnell caught three touchdown passes, finished with seven catches and has a team-high 25 catches in four games. The Giants have themselves a tight end, and it's pretty obvious Eli Manning and Ben McAdoo now how to use one.

The Giants aren't the same without DRC

The only real moments of success the Redskins had on offense came when Rodgers-Cromartie went out of the game in the second quarter with what was reported as a thigh injury. Trumaine McBride and Zack Bowman are good players, but they aren't special. When he is right, Rodgers-Cromartie is special.

Kirk Cousins is ... well ... Kirk Cousins

So much for Cousins playing Robert Griffin III out of a job with the Redskins. By the end of Thursday's easy Giants victory the talk was about how soon RGIII would be back, not whether Cousins could steal his job. Cousins threw four interceptions and lost a fumble. He looked completely lost during a third quarter that saw him throw three interceptions.

Eli Manning is ... well ... still Eli Manning

Anyone still think Eli Manning doesn't fit in the West Coast offense? He looks comfortable, he looks confident, he is throwing the ball accurately. It helps that his pass protection has been rock solid, but Manning is flourishing in the Giants' new offensive system. Manning completed 28-of 39 and is now 93-of-139 for the season, 66.9 percent completions.

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