NFL Week 4 Thursday game preview: Washington and Giants look to escape NFC East cellar

This Thursday the NFL will hit the season’s quarter mark when Washington (1-2) hosts one of their NFC East rivals in the New York Giants (1-2).  Both teams currently trail the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys in the division standings.

After an 0-2 start, the Giants secured their first win with a 30-17 victory over the Houston Texans behind running back Rashad Jennings' career-high 176 rushing yards – the most in a game by a Giant in his first month with the team – and one touchdown.

“It feels good to get a win,” said New York defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who had seven tackles against Houston. “We’ve just got to keep taking it one game at a time, and that’s what we’re going to do. We can’t let this win get to our heads. We still have a lot of work to do and we’ve got a short week for the Washington Redskins.”

The Giants also received touchdowns from tight end Daniel Fells and wideout Victor Cruz, who had five catches for 107 yards.

“The energy level is high on this team," said Cruz.  "We’re confident. Everybody feels good and we’re excited to get things going forward.”

Heading into Thursday’s contest at Washington, New York quarterback Eli Manning has won six of 10 regular-season starts at FedEx Field.  Manning’s 10 touchdown passes on the road against Washington rank second among active players, trailing only Dallas quarterback Tony Romo (12).

Thursday’s matchup will be the 165th (including postseason) meeting between the NFC East foes. The Giants have won three of the past four games between the two teams and lead the all-time series 95-65-4.

“I’m excited, it’s a benefit for our offense to play on Thursday night, because we’re going to go out there and we’re going to play up-tempo,” says Giants tackle Justin Pugh on the team’s short turnaround this week.  “We’ve got to go out there and go down to a hostile environment and win a divisional game.”

Meanwhile, Washington looks to bounce back from a 37-34 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

“We battled back but failed to convert,” said Redskins head coach Jay Gruden about the team’s three-point loss to the Eagles. “Very disappointing but I like the way we battled back. There were a lot of things to like. The things we can correct, we will correct. We have to get them corrected for us to get this thing turned around.”

In the loss, backup quarterback Kirk Cousins passed for a career-high 427 yards and three touchdowns, including an 81-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver DeSean Jackson.

Jackson now has 16 career touchdowns (11 receiving, three punt-return, and two rushing) against NFC East opponents, tied for the most by any player since he entered the league in 2008 (Ahmad Bradshaw, 16).  Of his 16 TD's against the NFC East, seven (four receiving, two punt-return, and one rushing) have come against the Giants, also the most by any player since 2008.

Still, Washington's offense has been effective of late, having scored 75 points over the past two weeks due largely to Cousins.  In two games, Cousins has posted a 105.8 passer rating, the second-highest mark in the NFC.


WEEK 4 INJURY REPORT – NY GIANTS at WASHINGTON


NEW YORK GIANTS

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Monday
WR Odell Beckham (hamstring), CB Zackary Bowman (quadricep), LB Devon Kennard (hamstring)

Tuesday
LB Devon Kennard (hamstring)

 
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Monday
LB Jon Beason (foot, toe), T James Brewer (back), T Charles Brown (shoulder), P Steve Weatherford (left ankle)

Tuesday
LB Jon Beason (foot, toe), WR Odell Beckham (hamstring), CB Zackary Bowman (quadricep), T James Brewer (back), T Charles Brown (shoulder), P Steve Weatherford (left ankle)


WASHINGTON
 
OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)

Monday
QB Robert Griffin (ankle)

Tuesday
QB Robert Griffin (ankle)

 
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Monday
TE Jordan Reed (hamstring)

Tuesday
G Shawn Lauvao (knee), TE Jordan Reed (hamstring)

 
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Monday
DE Chris Baker (ankle, hip), DE Kedric Golston (groin), DE Jason Hatcher (hamstring), WR DeSean Jackson (shoulder), LB Akeem Jordan (knee), DE Frank Kearse (ankle), G Shawn Lauvao (knee), C Kory Lichtensteiger (groin, rib), LB Brian Orakpo (finger), CB Tracy Porter (hamstring), S Trenton Robinson (abdomen)

Tuesday
DE Kedric Golston (groin), DE Jason Hatcher (hamstring), WR DeSean Jackson (shoulder), LB Akeem Jordan (knee), DE Frank Kearse (ankle), C Kory Lichtensteiger (groin, rib), LB Brian Orakpo (finger), CB Tracy Porter (hamstring), S Trenton Robinson (abdomen)

 
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Monday
K Kai Forbath (right groin), RB Alfred Morris (knee), T Tyler Polumbus (knee), LB Keenan Robinson (shoulder)

Tuesday
DE Chris Baker (ankle, hip), K Kai Forbath (right groin), RB Alfred Morris (knee), T Tyler Polumbus (knee), LB Keenan Robinson (shoulder)


By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services