Underdog Washington Redskins Potential Spoilers For NY Giants

NFL News - December 15th, 2009 - Written by John

What seemed like just another ill-conceived Monday Night Football came has suddenly become a must-see divisional game that could have major implications in the playoffs. The New York Giants, just a game away from the final wild card spot, travel to Washington to play the Redskins at FedEx Field.

They are favored by three, according to BetUS, against a resurgent Redskins team that has only recently become relevant. The over/under for the game is 43.

The Giants are 1-7 ATS in their last eight games, and have typically flopped in Monday night games. They are 4-10-1 ATS in primetime games, recently losing to the Denver Broncos 26-6 on Thanksgiving Day.

And they couldn't have run into Washington at a worse time. After mauling the Oakland Raiders last week, the Redskins finally won their fourth game of the year and have been within range in their two games prior. Both losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints were by three points and a loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 11 was by one.

Certainly, the team has turned the ship around after a miserable start to the season, and look poised to pull an upset against the Giants. Despite lingering in the basement of the NFC East, the Redskins have been arguably better than the Cowboys in recent weeks, thanks to improved play by Jason Campbell. The five-year veteran has five touchdowns and only one pick in the last two weeks and graded out with a rating over 100 in back-to-back weeks for the first time all year.

A meager running game hasn't helped, though, averaging out at only 3.9 yards per carry with only seven touchdowns for the year.

New York has only won two of it's last eight games, and was on the short end of a 45-38 shootout against the Eagles. Eli Manning threw for 391 yards and three touchdowns, but the defense was torched for 261 total yards and two scores by DeSean Jackson. The Giants have lost each of the last two in games that have hit the over.

Manning has 10 touchdowns and only three picks over the last five games, and has 3,316 yards on the year. Three of his receivers have over 650 yards receiving, including team-leader Steve Smith who career-high totals currently sit at 1,053 yards and five touchdowns.

Hakeem Nicks leads the team with six touchdowns.

The Giants also boast a diverse backfield with Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw combining for 1,433 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.

New York has won six of the last seven, including three of four on the road. The favorite in this rivalry has covered the spread in seven of the last ten, and the over/under has been crossed in six of the last eight in Washington.