The New York Giants aren’t a cakewalk for the Commanders for Sunday’s season opener.
Despite the Giants’ 3-14 finish last season, the upstart Commanders struggled against their division rival — and the stout defensive front — during last year’s run to the postseason.
New York boasted a pass rush that featured Pro Bowlers Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns last season. The group gave the Commanders and then-rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels fits in their two matchups.
Giants general manager Joe Schoen doubled down on that strength with the addition of Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter, the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft.
“The speed, I really am impressed by that. I like the action, I like their investment into that group. They’ve got Dexter, who’s got great size and power, and they’ve got speed out on the edges,” Commanders coach Dan Quinn said. “When you have three jets that you can use in different spots, you can try to create matchups to do that.”
One of Daniels’ worst games came against the Giants last season.
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In a Week 2 matchup at home, Washington needed seven field goals to secure a sloppy 21-18 victory. New York sacked Daniels five times, holding him without a touchdown and preventing any explosive plays.
“It’s as good as we’ll see,” offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said of the Giants’ front. “Lawrence is one of the premier defensive players in the league. He’s a game wrecker.”
The rematch — a November tilt in New Jersey — saw the Commanders survive a fourth-quarter rally to cling to a 27-22 victory.
In the two games, Daniels completed 38 of 51 passes for 435 yards. He added 18 carries for 79 yards.
“Defense that flies around and week one, everybody’s going to be juiced up, everybody’s healthy,” the second-year quarterback said. “It’s going to be a battle.”
The Commanders’ wins last season were almost by default, as the Giants failed to find consistent quarterback play, cycling between Daniel Jones, Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito.
None of those signal-callers remain in New York.
This year — at least for Week 1 — the Giants will rely on 36-year-old Russell Wilson to command the offense. Rookie first-rounder Jaxson Dart is waiting in the wings.
Wilson beat the Commanders last season as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starter. Washington defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. won’t underestimate him this year.
“Russ has experience being one of the deep ball throwers in the league since he’s been in the league,” Whitt said. “Weapons that he has outside, that makes it a challenge.”
Last year, Wilson torched Whitt’s defense for a 32-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of Pittsburgh’s 28-27 win. The coach hasn’t forgotten.
“Won the damn game. Bad call by me, because I understand. I’ve been against him enough to know that’s what he does best,” Whitt said. “He can do it. He throws the ball really good outside the numbers, deep. He gives his guys a chance to make a play; he places it very well. He’s one of the best that’s done it.”
This season, Wilson will look to build a connection with second-year receiver Malik Nabers. The LSU product was targeted a season-high 18 times in his first game against the Commanders. He finished the season series with 19 catches for 186 yards.
Daniels’ former teammate has already drawn game plan attention from Whitt.
“Once he gets the ball in his hands, he is very dangerous. He can lead people. He has the power to run through arm tackles so that makes him dynamic,” the defensive coordinator said. “Are we better equipped to cover him this year? We’ll see on Sunday.”
The players aren’t concerned with those matchups, at least not outwardly.
“Our main thoughts is about ourselves. How great can we be on Sunday?” Defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. said. “We’re not worried about anybody else.”
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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