Monday Night Football - New York Giants (7-4) @ Washington Redskins (5-6)

This week's Monday Night Football sees an NFC East clash between the Giants and the Redskins.  This game will have huge implications on the division and the playoff race in general.  A New York win would almost guarantee the divisional title for the Giants but a Redskins win would blow open the race to be NFC East Champions.  The Giants would lead at 7-5 but the Cowboys and Redskins would be right on their tail at 6-6. 

The Giants come into the game with a lot of confidence after a big win against the Green Bay Packers last week.  The Giants had lost their last two and hadn't really played well since their road win in San Francisco on October 14th.  The bye week seems to have sorted their issues and they look to be ready for another shot at the playoffs.  In recent seasons the Giants have done well when they have reached the playoffs.  Only the Philadelphia Eagles have beat them in the playoffs since 2005.  The Eagles beat them in 2006 and 2008 but on the other two occasions that the Giants were in the playoffs, 2007 and 2011, they went all the way and won the Superbowl. 

The Redskins are having a decent season and are in with a chance of returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2007.  The team has been lifted by their rookie quarterback, Robert Griffin III.  RG3 has had a great rookie season and has shown that he is much more than just a quarterback who can run the ball.  He is also a very good passer and his pass completion percentage of 67.4% is fourth in the NFL.  Griffin is only 22 years old and will improve with experience.  It is still very early to say but at the moment it looks as though the Redskins made the right call to trade up in the draft and pick Griffin.  If he progresses over the next few years they will have the complete quarterback and they should be a serious contender for the Superbowl every year. 

These two met in week 7 and it was the Giants who just edged it.  The game included seven lead changes and there was even two lead changes inside the two minute warning.  RG3 found Santana Moss with a 30 yard pass to put the Redskins ahead with 1:32 remaining.  The Giants weren't to be denied though and Eli Manning connected with Victor Cruz for a 77 yard touchdown that won the game for the Giants.  In that game the Redskins had a lot of success on the ground.  RG3 and rookie running back, Alfred Morris, combined for over 200 yards and the team ended up with 248 yards on the ground.  Washington should follow the same pattern and attack the Giants with running plays.  The Giants will put the ball in the hands of Eli Manning and favour the pass.  Manning was off form before the bye week but played well last week and had 3 touchdown passes. 

Prediction - The game was tight the last time and I think it will be the same tonight.  The only difference is I think the Redskins will be the narrow victors.