Big Blue View - Giants vs. Commanders 2022, Week 15: Everything you need to knowYour place for year-round New York Giants discussion and informationhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47371/bigblueview_fave.png2022-12-19T10:22:00-05:00http://www.bigblueview.com/rss/stream/232713232022-12-19T10:22:00-05:002022-12-19T10:22:00-05:00NFC playoff picture: Giants put themselves in great position to reach playoffs
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<img alt="New York Giants v Washington Commanders" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_eEnunB1nQk6Q_67OTC0QTVUnLs=/0x108:3908x2713/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71766607/1450231279.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>FiveThirtyEight gives New York 87 percent chance after victory over Washington</p> <p id="nf3K7c">The <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a> took a massive step toward reaching the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl-playoffs">NFL playoffs</a> with Sunday night’s 20-12 victory over the Washington Commanders.</p>
<p id="0PZBkz">Per <a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2022-nfl-predictions/?ex_cid=rrpromo">FiveThirtyEight</a>, the 8-5-1 Giants’ odds of reaching the playoffs increased from 52 percent to 87 percent with their thrilling victory.</p>
<p id="qhGHGA"><a href="https://twitter.com/JordanRaanan/status/1604698451907952641">ESPN Analytics</a> put the Giants’ chance of reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2016 at 90 percent.</p>
<p id="GfCB23">The Giants are now the No. 6 seed in the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl-playoff-picture">NFC playoff picture</a> with three games to go. The 7-6-1 Commanders are the seventh seed. The 7-7 <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seattle Seahawks</a> and <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Detroit Lions</a> are on the outside looking in.</p>
<p id="R8DioA">The Giants’ three remaining games are against the 11-3 <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a>, the 4-9-1 <a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Indianapolis Colts</a> and the 13-1 <a href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Philadelphia Eagles</a>. The Giants might need only one more victory in those three games to reach the playoffs.</p>
<p id="ZtRWFp">The Giants can, in fact, clinch a playoff spot next weekend. If the Giants beat the Vikings and Washington, Seattle, and Detroit all lose, the Giants would clinch a playoff spot. Washington faces the San Francisco 49ers, the Seahawks meet the Kansas City Chiefs and the Lions face the Carolina Panthers.</p>
<p id="vL5WnQ"><em>[NOTE: Story updated to correct playoff seedings and add clinching scenarios for Giants]</em></p>
https://www.bigblueview.com/2022/12/18/23515622/nfc-playoff-picture-giants-put-themselves-in-great-position-to-reach-playoffsEd Valentine2022-12-19T00:48:47-05:002022-12-19T00:48:47-05:004 Downs: Takeaways from Giants at Commanders
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<img alt="New York Giants v Washington Commanders" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/B61hqD0KOvcOLKsfq0WHVyhs4Nk=/0x0:4018x2679/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71766666/1450233644.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>What can we take away from the Giants win over Washington?</p> <p id="Q0bTLc">The <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a> beat the Washington Commanders 20-12 on Sunday night and are, in all likelihood, headed to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. </p>
<p id="HzE6re">It wasn’t a clean game, and it certainly wasn’t a pretty game, but the Giants are now 8-5-1. They still face a tough trio of games to finish the season, and they could still finish 8-8-1 on the season. But for now, the Giants have picked up their first win in the NFC East and avoided yet another 20-20 trip to overtime with Washington in the process. </p>
<p id="KXaEBg">What can we take away from the Giants’ win over Washington? </p>
<h2 id="9q1X8e">First down: Kayvon Thibodeaux</h2>
<p id="ou7U2p">I’ll freely admit, I’m writing this before the first half is over. </p>
<p id="7ZDKGp">I can already tell you that Ed is going to give Kayvon Thibodeaux a “Kudos”. Personally, I can’t say as I’m surprised by his play this game as he took over the first quarter and turned the game around for the Giants. He started with some great play against the run — granted, he was completely unblocked on two of hose run stuffs, but he still had to make the play. Then he had the sack-fumble-recovery-touchdown when the Giants <em>desperately</em> needed a spark from somewhere. </p>
<p id="2q1x4f">Thibodeaux has been a force in recent weeks and has flashed brightly throughout the season, even though the production hasn’t really been there. If you listen to The Chris and Nick Show, we’ve both consistently told fans to have patience and the production could come. I don’t know what the future holds, but Thibodeaux is quickly developing into a well-rounded foundational player. </p>
<h2 id="8q6DfS">Second down: Penalties and fractions of seconds</h2>
<p id="MHHfHx">This has been the story for the Giants all season long. So many of the Giants wins have come down to the bounce of the ball and mistakes by the opposing team, and this game was no different.</p>
<p id="3b4QQj">In this game, a slight holding penalty wiped out a first down run by Washington, setting up Kayvon Thibodeaux’s sack-fumble-touchdown. Another penalty took a 2-point conversion off the board and the loss of yardage lead to a missed extra point. Yet another Washington penalty took a touchdown off the board at the very end of the game and lead to the game-sealing defensive stand. </p>
<p id="8MyDDg">Meanwhile, Daniel Jones had a fumble overturned when his elbow touched <em>just</em> before the ball came loose. Washington recovered the ball and would have had excellent field position. Heinicke, meanwhile, had a “down by contact” overturned, likely taking points off the board and giving the ball to the Giants for their final drive. </p>
<p id="r8Jdqf">It is frankly amazing how many of the Giants’ games this year have come down to these types of instances. </p>
<h2 id="Q3QOhE">Third down: Kudos to the defense</h2>
<p id="i7dzzc">The Giants offense did enough — just enough — to win the game. They scored 13 points, with 160 yards passing and Saquon Barkley averaging just about 3 yards per carry before the final drive. The difference in the game was on the defensive side of the ball. </p>
<p id="NOS22Z">We already talked about Thibodeaux and his breakout performance, but this was a complete effort from the Giants’ defense. From Dexter Lawrence, Leonard Williams, and Azeez Ojulari providing pressure across the front, to Landon Collins stepping up in his new role as a linebacker. This wasn’t a perfect game by the defense, and the run defense continues to be a problem (though Washington certainly helped with some... questionable decisions to run Curtis Samuel instead of Robinson or Gibson). </p>
<p id="jlGqML">But the Giants were able to get ahead of the chains defensively often enough that their pass rush was able to pick up the slack, and that quite literally was the difference in this game. If the Giants even have an average defensive effort, this game likely has a very different outcome.</p>
<h2 id="dQVpVf">Fourth down: Turn the page — and quickly</h2>
<p id="3p56JT">The Giants finally have a win in the NFC East and are in control of their destiny. However, they down’t have much time to savor their victory over Washington.</p>
<p id="JW9DIi">The Giants have almost the equivalent of a Thursday night game as they prepare for the <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a> on Christmas Eve. The Giants still have to make their way back up to East Rutherford and will have to travel to Minneapolis in advance of their Saturday afternoon game — all while a potentially powerful blizzard moves across the midwest this week. The Giants could have just three to prepare for the Vikings. The Giants will likely be at a definite rest disparity with the Vikings, who have a normal week of practice after playing a home game on Saturday in Week 15 as well. That doesn’t give much time to scheme and prepare, nor does it give players much time to recover from a very physical game.</p>
<p id="gJSbkl">The Giants’ coaching staff has done an incredible job this year, and they’ll have their work cut out for them yet again. Time is flying as 2022 comes to a close, and Christmas Eve is right around the corner.</p>
https://www.bigblueview.com/2022/12/19/23515859/2022-nfl-week-15-ny-giants-20-12-defense-kayvon-thibodeaux-washington-commanders-takeawaysChris Pflum2022-12-19T00:12:38-05:002022-12-19T00:12:38-05:00Giants-Commanders final score: Giants get critical victory, 20-12
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<img alt="New York Giants v Washington Commanders" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SUndRErcMmg7ACcAgwAMGqv0Ax4=/0x0:4448x2965/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71766545/1450226860.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Giants get huge victory in fight for playoff berth</p> <p id="02gjee">The <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a> moved a step closer to their first playoff berth since 2016 with a critical 20-12 victory over the Washington Commanders on Sunday night.</p>
<p id="kV3fmi">The Giants are 8-5-1. The Commanders are 7-6-1. With the victory, the Giants now have an 87 percent chance of reaching the playoffs, per <a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2022-nfl-predictions/?ex_cid=rrpromo">FiveThirtyEight</a>.</p>
<p id="bweybk">The Giants got a goal line stand in the final minute to secure the victory. After a Brian Robinson 1-yard touchdown run was negated by an illegal formation penalty on Washington, two incompletions from the Giants’ 6-yard line sealed the victory.</p>
<p id="Zvqa5K">Two other critical defensive plays keyed the Giants’ victory. In the first half, Kayvon Thibodeaux had a strip sack of Washington quarterback Taylor Heinicke, and recovered the fumble himself for a touchdown.</p>
<p id="YKeFSw">In the fourth quarter, with Washington trailing 17-12 and threatening, Dexter Lawrence and Azeez Ojulari sacked Heinicke at the Giants’ 9-yard line. Heinicke was initially ruled down by contact, but a challenge by Brian Daboll resulted in an overturn and a fumble recovery by Leonard Williams at the Giants’ 14-yard line with 6:06 to play.</p>
<p id="D17en6">Following the replay overturn, Graham Gano made a 50-yard field goal to give the Giants a 20-12 lead with 1:55 to play.</p>
<p id="sWJCft">“It was four or five plays that it comes down to,” coach Brian Daboll said. “Our guys made those plays.”</p>
<p id="jl08zW">Thibodeaux had a dominant night for the Giants. He had a strip-sack/fumble recovery for a touchdown in the first half, the Giants’ first touchdown. Thibodeaux finished with 12 tackles, a sack, a quarterback hit, a forced, fumble, a fumble recovery and a touchdown.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">"I think he's consistently improved throughout the year. I've said this before: I'm glad we drafted him, I'm glad he's part of the team."<br><br>Brian Daboll on Kayvon Thibodeaux's play tonight: <a href="https://t.co/3xqzZVrYN3">pic.twitter.com/3xqzZVrYN3</a></p>— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) <a href="https://twitter.com/SNYGiants/status/1604702100524523520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2022</a>
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<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h2 id="qXzv9r">Stats</h2>
<ul>
<li id="GzvyBH">Daniel Jones went 21 of 32 for 165 yards. He also ran 10 times for 35 yards.</li>
<li id="tfZUY6">Saquon Barkley ran 18 times for 87 yards. He also had five receptions for 33 yards.</li>
<li id="WIl5md">Richie James had four receptions for 42 yards. He also had a 23-yard punt return.</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="UNbtsU">Giants inactives </h2>
<p id="GvhQHw">OL Shane Lemieux (toe)<br>CB Adoree’ Jackson (knee)<br>LB Tae Crowder<br>CB Rodarius Williams<br>WR David Sills<br>G Jack Anderson<br>QB Davis Webb</p>
<h2 id="jSxbEf">What’s next?</h2>
<p id="adwXr8">The Giants travel to Minneapolis to face the 11-3 Minnesota Viking on Christmas, Saturday, Dec. 24. Game time is 1 p.m. The Vikings are coming off the biggest comeback victory in NFL history, a 39-36 victory over the <a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Indianapolis Colts</a> on Saturday that featured a comeback from a 33-0 halftime deficit.</p>
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https://www.bigblueview.com/2022/12/18/23515625/giants-commanders-final-score-giants-win-20-12Ed Valentine2022-12-18T23:36:01-05:002022-12-18T23:36:01-05:00Live reaction! Talking Giants-Commanders, Week 15
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<p>Nick and Chris go live to talk about Week 15</p> <p id="Gdz1XY">Chris Pflum and Nick Falato go live on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/Bigblueview">Big Blue View YouTube channel</a> to react to the <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a>’ Week 15 performance against the Commanders.</p>
<p id="ch92VC">If you miss the live show, watch on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast app.</p>
<h2 id="ILQw2o">See it here!</h2>
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<h2 id="6bSIUt">Follow us on social media</h2>
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https://www.bigblueview.com/2022/12/18/23515768/live-reaction-talking-giants-commanders-week-15-podcastNick Falato2022-12-18T20:07:33-05:002022-12-18T20:07:33-05:00Giants-Commanders, Week 15: Live updates
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<img alt="New York Giants v Washington Commanders" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DXG2Fwn9RUh_1FcD5tfudP34Ys4=/0x0:3024x2016/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71766088/1450193325.15.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Follow Sunday’s action right here</p> <p id="FAr5qY">Will the <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a> take control in the fight for an NFC playoff berth on Sunday night, or will they cede that to the Washington Commanders when the two 7-5-1 teams meet in a critical game at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC?</p>
<p id="WlM8cH">Use this thread to discuss the game. Be sure to check out the post-game live stream by Nick Falato and Chris Pflum, and check out all of our post-game coverage.</p>
<h2 id="6X2Xem">Staff picks</h2>
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<h2 id="Jbkmnf">More Giants-Commanders coverage</h2>
<ul>
<li id="LJx3iK"><a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/2022/12/18/23512695/do-the-commanders-have-an-advantage-over-the-giants-because-of-their-bye-week">Do the Commanders have an advantage over the Giants because of their bye week?</a></li>
<li id="qFjGXy"><a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/2022/12/16/23513337/giants-playoff-scenarios-dont-ask-brian-daboll-to-figure-em-out">Giants’ playoff scenarios? Don’t ask Brian Daboll to figure ‘em out</a></li>
<li id="Dj1I3D"><a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/2022/12/16/23512552/2022-ny-giants-defense-wink-martindale-week-15-washington-commanders-offense-brian-robinson-news">Giants’ DC Wink Martindale: ‘We have our work cut out for us’ defending Washington</a></li>
<li id="JQdSVN"><a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/2022/12/16/23512548/poll-52-of-giants-fans-think-they-will-defeat-commanders-on-sunday-night">Poll: 52% of Giants’ fans think they will defeat Commanders on Sunday night</a></li>
<li id="264fnx"><a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/2022/12/15/23510403/like-giants-commanders-players-felt-week-13-was-really-a-loss">Like Giants, Commanders’ players felt Week 13 was really a loss</a></li>
<li id="K4PlRD"><a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/2022/12/15/23508558/giants-commanders-week-15-how-the-giants-offense-can-succeed-vs-washingtons-defense">Giants-Commanders, Week 15: How the Giants’ offense can succeed vs. Washington’s defense?</a></li>
<li id="fyirFw"><a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/2022/12/15/23509100/2022-week-15-ny-giants-defense-washington-commanders-offense-analysis-news">Giants vs. Commanders, Week 15: What to expect when Washington has the ball</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="vyZZsh">Follow us on social media</h2>
<p id="m5cR6M"><strong>BBV on Twitter:</strong> Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/bigblueview"><strong>@BigBlueView</strong></a><br><strong>Ed Valentine:</strong> Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/Valentine_Ed"><strong>@Valentine_Ed</strong></a><br><strong>BBV on Facebook: </strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Big-Blue-View-157292454292756/"><strong>Click here to like the Big Blue View Facebook page</strong></a><br><strong>BBV on YouTube:</strong> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/Bigblueview"><strong>Subscribe to the Big Blue View YouTube channel</strong></a><br><strong>BBV on Instagram:</strong> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/big_blue_view/"><strong>Click here to follow our Instagram page</strong></a><br><strong>BBV podcasts:</strong> <a href="https://podcasts.voxmedia.com/show/big-blue-view"><strong>Click here to subscribe to BBV Radio</strong></a></p>
<h2 id="IU14jg">Live updates</h2>
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<h2 id="YPqAPx">Remaining Giants schedule</h2>
<p id="fbMP20"><strong>Week 16 </strong>— @ <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a><strong> </strong>(Dec. 24 | <strong>Time: </strong>1 p.m. | <strong>TV: </strong>FOX)<br><strong>Week 17 </strong>— vs. <a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Indianapolis Colts</a> (Jan. 1 | <strong>Time: </strong>1 p.m. | <strong>TV: </strong>CBS)<br><strong>Week 18 </strong>— @ <a href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Philadelphia Eagles</a> (Jan. 7 or 8 | <strong>Time: </strong>TBD)</p>
<p id="Xi5a3V"></p>
https://www.bigblueview.com/2022/12/18/23515231/giants-commanders-week-15-live-updatesEd Valentine2022-12-18T19:14:27-05:002022-12-18T19:14:27-05:00Giants-Commanders inactives: Leonard Williams will play, Chase Young will not
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<img alt="Houston Texans v New York Giants" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/4JrxBBThg4Z6RHkSHAl_i3ZfU8M=/0x111:3275x2294/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71765955/1449965052.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Leonard Williams | Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Who’s in, who’s out for Giants-Commanders game</p> <p id="Dtee6d">Defensive lineman Leonard Williams, one of the key members of the <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a>’ defense, will be active Sunday night when the Giants face the Washington Commanders. Williams missed last week’s game against the <a href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Philadelphia Eagles</a> with a neck injury sustained Week 13 against Washington, and was listed as questionable.</p>
<p id="3k82uB">With Landon Collins elevated from the practice squad, linebacker Tae Crowder is also inactive. Crowder started eight games for the Giants this season, but has seen his role severely reduced in recent weeks.</p>
<p id="R3pvQk">The Giants elevated quarterback Davis Webb from the practice squad on Saturday, but he is a healthy scratch.</p>
<p id="NUsGic">For Washington, defensive end Chase Young will once again be inactive. He still has not made his season debut after tearing an ACL last season.</p>
<h2 id="UNbtsU">Giants inactives </h2>
<p id="GvhQHw">OL Shane Lemieux (toe)<br>CB Adoree’ Jackson (knee)<br>LB Tae Crowder<br>CB Rodarius Williams<br>WR David Sills<br>G Jack Anderson<br>QB Davis Webb</p>
<h2 id="RiexQY">Commanders inactives</h2>
<p id="ifaIxO">DE Chase Young (knee)<br>OL Saahdiq Charles (concussion)<br>CB Benjamin St-Juste (ankle)<br>QB Sam Howell<br>OL Chris Paul<br>LB Scoota Harris</p>
https://www.bigblueview.com/2022/12/18/23515639/giants-commanders-inactives-leonard-williams-will-play-chase-young-will-notEd Valentine2022-12-18T09:03:25-05:002022-12-18T09:03:25-05:00Do the Commanders have an advantage over the Giants because of their bye week?
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<img alt="NFL: Washington Commanders at New York Giants" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HVluY6NPCoalZVvHQPA-N8RLzl4=/0x0:5068x3379/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71764296/usa_today_19563745.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Over the long term the bye benefits teams a little in their next game; in any given season, not much</p> <p id="yBsxTQ">The Washington Commanders are favored by 4.5 points to defeat the <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a> this Sunday. Several reasons are given for this: The fact that Washington is the home team, and that Washington is “hot” while the Giants are “cold”. And one more supposed advantage - Washington is rested, coming off their bye week, with a lot of time for them to prepare for the Giants.</p>
<p id="RRbbZy">A lot of this is actually pretty head-scratching.</p>
<h2 id="5CTjl1">Home-field advantage?</h2>
<p id="1YdiRp">Here are the results of the last five games the Giants have played in Washington:</p>
<p id="iUSa4W">2017: WAS 20, NYG 10<br>2018: NYG 40, WAS 16<br>2019: NYG 41, WAS 35<br>2020: NYG 23, WAS 20<br>2021: WAS 30, NYG 29</p>
<p id="OTsEzY">The Giants are a Dexter Lawrence offsides away from being 4-1 in Washington during a time period in which the Giants have been one of the worst teams in the NFL.</p>
<h2 id="xXiXrV">Play the hot hand?</h2>
<p id="Oqf1Ss">No doubt the Giants have not played well in the past month and a half, going 1-4-1. A lot of it can be traced to the injuries on the offensive line and to defensive backs Adoree’ Jackson and Xavier McKinney, which have limited Mike Kafka’s playbook and blunted the effectiveness of Wink Martindale’s pressure schemes.</p>
<p id="AtrWNr">But the narrative that the Commanders have momentum is a bit of a mirage. Almost all of it derives from their impressive victory over Philadelphia last month. They have won six of their last seven aside from the 20-20 tie with the Giants. Their other wins are over Chicago, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Houston, and Atlanta. None of those are likely to see the playoffs, and three of them were beaten by the Giants when everyone saw the Giants as an ascending team. The Commanders were on the verge of losing three of those games, just as they were on the verge of losing to the Giants until Jon Feliciano decided to flex his muscles at an inopportune time.</p>
<p id="P39TkD">Credit to Washington for snatching victory from the jaws of defeat regardless of the opponent. But the 20-20 result of the first Giants-Commanders game sums up the state of these teams - they are evenly matched. As former <a href="https://www.camdenchat.com/">Baltimore Orioles</a> manager <a href="https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/earl_weaver_387691">Earl Weaver</a> said, “Momentum is the next day’s starting pitcher.” Whichever pitcher, er, quarterback, has the hot hand is more likely to decide Sunday night’s game.</p>
<h2 id="esDphw">Advantage, bye week team?</h2>
<p id="TrN1gh">There have been numerous studies looking at this question, with results suggesting that the bye helps good teams more than bad teams and that it helps more early in the season than late in the season. Here are <a href="https://www.lineups.com/betting/nfl-bye-week-betting-strategy/">statistics from one such study covering the years 2014-2018:</a></p>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eD8IrWG9M0hMiukjcyzSNiuGW-o=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24296886/Bye_Week_Charts_2014_18.png">
<cite>Chart courtesy of lineups.com</cite>
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<p id="DpAzQP">There is something to the idea of a beneficial bye week, but it is a relatively small effect that starts to emerge when many years of games are considered. Good teams seem to benefit from the bye on average more than poor teams. In smaller sample sizes like individual years, and for individual teams and games, though, the effect is dwarfed by other variables.</p>
<p id="qGadMn">Here is how the Giants and Commanders have fared since 2017 in their games coming off the bye:</p>
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<p id="YQDDHx">There is no evidence that the bye week has helped the fortunes of either team in recent years. Washington had a nice victory over Tampa Bay last year at a time when the <a href="https://www.bucsnation.com/">Buccaneers</a> were struggling. But both teams have suffered two embarrassing losses as well.</p>
<p id="l9nHvP">Six teams will have their bye this week, but here are the results for the other 26 teams coming off the bye in 2022:</p>
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<p id="31yt7n">Two games on this list were played by teams that were both coming off their bye facing each other (NYJ at NE, HOU at LV). For the other games, the team coming off its bye was 14-8. The bye teams have collectively outscored their opponents by 25 points, or a little more than one point per game. This makes it seem as if the bye really is something of an advantage.</p>
<p id="satkcK">But look more closely. There were two upsets that few people expected in which the team coming off the bye prevailed: Carolina defeating Seattle on the road, and Jacksonville coming from behind at home to beat the Ravens. But we also had upsets in the other direction: Well-rested Dallas losing at Lambeau to an inferior Green Bay team and Seattle losing to Las Vegas at home. Other games had an expected result but not an expected score: The juggernaut Detroit offense being completely shut down at Dallas, the impressive <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">49ers</a> squeaking out a home win over the injury-depleted <a href="https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/">Chargers</a> during their dominant seven-game winning streak, and frankly, the 6-2 Giants only defeating lowly Houston at home by 8 points. Most of the other bye week winners were expected to win their games anyway (Philadelphia, Minnesota, Buffalo, Miami, Tennessee, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Tennessee, and the Chargers).</p>
<p id="RCzTxC">The bye week, coming on top of the preceding game against the Giants, gives Washington extra time to rest and prepare. If this game were being played 100 times then it would make some difference in the odds of Washington winning. About the only meaningful advantage of Washington’s bye this week, though, was that they seem to have avoided any of their players taking rides on ATVs. These are two evenly matched teams. The team that plays better - and smarter - wins Sunday night. No excuses.</p>
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https://www.bigblueview.com/2022/12/18/23512695/do-the-commanders-have-an-advantage-over-the-giants-because-of-their-bye-weekAnthony Del Genio2022-12-17T16:56:10-05:002022-12-17T16:56:10-05:00Giants activate Ben Bredeson, elevate Landon Collins, Davis Webb
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<img alt="Atlanta Falcons v New York Giants" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/KwmdpgodFRdHcJq8PHLpRuraoT0=/0x1:4500x3001/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71762754/1235550293.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Ben Bredeson | Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu placed on IR</p> <p id="mVz5Jm">The <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a> made a series of roster moves on Saturday in preparation for Sunday’s critical game against the Washington Commanders.</p>
<p id="ZBExPY">The Giants activated guard Ben Bredeson from injured reserve. Bredeson started the first seven games of the season before placed on IR. The Giants have started Joshua Ezeudu, Shane Lemieux, Jack Anderson and Nick Gates at left guard. Whether Bredeson or Gates, who started the last two games at left guard, starts remains to be seen.</p>
<p id="55AL7R">The Giants placed Ezeudu, who has not played since Week 11 due to a neck injury, on IR. That will end his regular season, since Ezeudu will have to miss at least four games.</p>
<p id="z2TsDx">The Giants also announced a pair of interesting elevations from their practice squad. They are elevating linebacker/safety Landon Collins and quarterback Davis Webb for Sunday night.</p>
<p id="aGkBmS">Collins was signed to the practice squad before the Week 5 game against the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a>. He has played in two games, with one tackle in 30 defensive snaps.</p>
<p id="X6mpcU">Webb will be active for the first time this season, giving the Giants three quarterbacks. That is interesting as there has been no mention of starter Daniel Jones or backup Tyrod Taylor having any type of injury.</p>
https://www.bigblueview.com/2022/12/17/23514460/giants-activate-ben-bredeson-elevate-landon-collins-davis-webbEd Valentine