New York Giants vs. Washington Commanders Week 1 Preview: NFC East Battle
The New York Giants and Washington Commanders will be a part of one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL, with both teams having big aspirations for their 2025 season. The Commanders will look to build off of a strong 2024 season, where they fell short to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game. As for the Giants, their 2024 season was nothing to celebrate, but they’ve given the fanbase a lot to look forward to with a strong Free Agency and Draft.
Giants New Additions
The Giants were one of the worst teams in the NFL last season, and the 2024 Offseason Hard Knocks only made things worse for New York. Seeing Saqoun Barkley put up historic numbers and lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl had a lot of fanbase calling for both Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen’s jobs. They both knew they needed to have a big offseason in order to bring the fanbase back in, and they delivered.
In free agency, they looked to add to their weak point on defense, the secondary. Paulson Adebo was their first signing, a veteran corner who would start for New York alongside Deonte Banks. Adebo was coming off a broken femur he suffered in October of 2024. Next up was Jevon Holland, who’s been an anchor for the Dolphins’ defense ever since he was a rookie. Holland will start along the Giants’ 2024 second-round pick, Tyler Nubin. Offensively, they signed 7-time Pro Bowl QB Russell Wilson to a one-year deal, and he’ll be their starter.
The NFL Draft is where things really started to heat up for the Giants, as they were looking to find their franchise quarterback. They ended up taking Penn State Edge Abdul Carter with the 3rd overall pick, and made a splash in the back end of the first round. New York moved back into the first round, selecting Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart. Their next three picks have the potential to have a significant impact on the team this year: DT Darius Alexander, RB Cam Skattebo, and G Marcus Mbow.
The Giants were able to fix multiple holes on defense, while drafting what they hope is their next long-term option at quarterback since Eli Manning.
Commanders’ SB Aspirations
The Washington Commanders had high hopes for their Rookie QB Jayden Daniels, and he delivered in every way. Washington took the league by storm, making their first NFC Championship appearance since 1992. Washington’s most impressive win of the season came against the one-seeded Detroit Lions. They went on the road, beating the reigning NFC North Champions 45-31.
In the offseason, the team continued to build around its superstar quarterback, adding  five-time Pro Bowl LT Laremy Tunsil. They also added WR Deebo Samuel, who will pair alongside Terry McLaurin, giving Daniels another weapon at his disposal. In the NFL Draft, they added to their offensive line, taking Oregon LT Josh Conerly Jr with their first-round pick. They then added to their CB room, selecting Trey Amos with the 61st overall pick. Amos gave Washington depth at outside corner, a position of need heading into the offseason.
Adding more weapons on offense, the Commanders will once again be a team to look out for in 2025.
Can The Spiderman Come Out To Play?
The key for the Giants to win this game is going to be their defensive line getting after Daniels. Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Dexter Lawrence need to make their presence known in this game. New York can’t allow Daniels to have ample time in the pocket because that’s when he starts to find his rhythm. The new additions also need to be sharp. Holland and Adebo will be tested early today, as Adebo will most likely be on Terry McLaurin for most of the game.
The Commanders’ offensive line is much improved from last season, but the Giants have so much depth at the edge position that I’d expect them to get after Daniels all game long. The X factor in this game is going to be first-round pick Abdul Carter. We all know what Brian Burns and Dexter Lawrence are capable of, but Carter could have the biggest impact in today’s game.
Matchups To Watch
There will be a ton of talent on the field today, so here are the key matchups in today’s game.
Malik Nabers vs Marshon Lattimore. Nabers put together an impressive rookie season, despite bad numbers from his QBs. With the addition of Russell Wilson, I’d expect many deeps shot to come Nabers’ way.
Adebo vs Terry McLaurin. Now this matchup could vary throughout today’s game. In his time with the Saints, Adebo would line up on the right side of the field, while McLaurin would be on the left. If the Giants utilize him similarly to the Saints, we could see Deonte Banks or Cor’Dale Flott follow the Commanders’ superstar wideout for most of the game.
Abdul Carter and Brian Burns vs. Laremy Tunsil and Jack Conerly Jr. This matchup is extremely intriguing, and one that could decide the game. The Commanders’ offensive line was surprisingly impressive last year, adding talent in both tackle positions. But they will be facing one of, if not the best, defensive lines in all of the NFL early on.
Overall, this game is going to be amongst the most exciting matchups in the Week 1 slate. While the Giants struggled heavily last season, they played the Commanders tough in both of their matchups, and wouldn’t be surprised if they pull off the upset today.
