NFL Week 13: New York Giants vs. Washington Redskins

The playoffs are on the line in a key NFC East battle between two of the best defensive teams in the NFL.

NY Giants vs. Redskins Overview:
The defenses of the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins are among the best in the league, ranking fifth and third overall, respectively. With a 10-1 record, the New York Giants have an advantage over the 7-4 Washington Redskins in the race to the NFC East Championship. Both teams also like to run the football with the New York Giants leading the NFL in rushing while the Washington Redskins come in third overall.  Fans with New York Giants tickets will get to see a physical brawl in FedEx Field.

New York Giants Offense:
The New York Giants offense is built around one of the best offensive lines in football. Led by G Chris Snee, the New York Giants line is both powerful and mobile. Fans with New York Giants tickets will see 6-foot-4, 264-pound RB Brandon Jacobs leading a trio of running backs that also features all-around back Derrick Ward and speedster Ahmad Bradshaw. FB Madison Hedgecock is a monster blocker that also factors into the running game. QB Eli Manning is almost forgotten behind the league’s best running attack, but the younger Manning is shining when the heat is on thanks to weapons like Plaxico Burress and Kevin Boss.

New York Giants Defense:
The defense probably sells more New York Giants tickets than the offense because fans love to see opposing quarterbacks destroyed by the complex stunts of the 4-3. DE Justin Tuck leads the pass-rush assault with 9.5 sacks, but his bookend partner Mathias Kiwanuka has racked up a lot of sacks as well. The DTs even get in on the action, and the defensive line of the New York Giants does not give opposing QBs a second to rest. New York Giants tickets feature excellent CBs Aaron Ross and Corey Webster, who are joined in a ball-hunting secondary by rookie S Kenny Phillips.

Washington Redskins Offense:
The Washington Redskins offense is based on the West Coast system, but the running game has excelled beyond traditional versions of Bill Walsh’s classic philosophy. RB Clinton Portis is having a career year and fights through injury to carry the load of his team on his back. Clinton Portis allows the many weapons of the Washington Redskins to be fully utilized on the passing attack. QB Jason Campbell may not light up the scoreboard, but he moves the chains and almost never gives the ball away. WR Santana Moss stretches the field while TE Chris Cooley dominates the flats.

Washington Redskins Defense:
Veteran MLB London Fletcher is a big reason that the Washington Redskins defense is third overall as he brings an aggression and accountability missing since the days of LeVar Arrington. DEs Jason Taylor and Andre Carter also provide great experience and heart to the excellent front seven. The Washington Redskins truly hang their defensive hat on their impressive secondary. CBs Carlos Rodgers, Shawn Springs, DeAngelo Hall, and Fred Smoot are fantastic cover men, but headhunting safeties LaRon Landry and Chris Horton make the pass rough on receivers.

New York Giants Keys to Victory:
Any fan who has ever bought New York Giants tickets will tell you what the G-Men want to do offensively, and they love it. The New York Giants will slam the Washington Redskins front seven with their offensive line and trio of running backs. The contrasting styles in the backfield mean that if one runner comes up short, another will fill in nicely. Fans with New York Giants tickets saw Brandon Jacobs poundthe Washington Redskins in their previous meeting, and Eli Manning made enough throws to win. The New York Giants live and die by this style of offense, and they will not abandon it.

Fans with New York Giants tickets know that the New York Giants defense is at its best hunting the passer, but they need to stop Clinton Portis first. They held the fantastic runner to under 100 yards in their last meeting and will try and do so again. With some nagging injuries, Clinton Portis may not be able to weather too many hits from the likes of MLB Antonio Pierce. If the New York Giants can stop Clinton Portis, then Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka will have a ball chasing down the young Jason Campbell. The Washington Redskins rarely commit turnovers so the secondary must pounce on every opportunity.

Washington Redskins Keys to Victory:
Head coach Jim Zorn would love to have his pass-happy West Coast offense going, but he has ridden the warhorse that is Clinton Portis so far, and he will against the New York Giants. A good running game will both tire the front seven of the defense and cause a simplification of the stunts called. The development of rookie WRs Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas is starting to bring the passing game around and along with veterans like Santana Moss, the WCO is really starting to gel. TE Chris Cooley continues to be the “X” factor against LBs and safeties across the middle.

Plenty of defenses have vowed to stop the New York Giants running game, but so far all have failed. The defensive line of the Washington Redskins is made more to rush the passer than stop the run, but the great play of MLB London Fletcher has hemmed in most running backs. The ability of safeties Chris Horton and LaRon Landry to play in the box as almost a second level of linebackers give the Washington Redskins defense great versatility. The impressive corners of the Washington Redskins can play one on one with the New York Giants receivers.

NY Giants vs. Redskins Outlook:
Fans with New York Giants tickets have seen their team defeat the No. 1 defense and No. 2 offense in the past two weeks. The New York Giants won the equivalent of a heavyweight fight against the Baltimore Ravens and survived the offensive firepower of the Arizona Cardinals. The Washington Redskins offer the defensive strength of Baltimore but with a much more balanced attack than the ball-control Ravens. The New York Giants’ victory over the Washington Redskins cannot be looked at as a blueprint since the offensive system was still in its infancy and not fully implemented yet.

Even on the road, the New York Giants still have the advantage. If the running game is somehow kept in check, Eli Manning still has the poise to make the throws when it counts. Like in the Super Bowl, the pass rush of the New York Giants will be the difference maker. The line of the New York Giants can protect Eli Manning if the running game falls short, but the Washington Redskins cannot do the same for Jason Campbell. Fans with New York Giants tickets will witness their team putting the finishing touches on the NFC East Championship in NFL Week 13.