Finally a Meaningful Commanders-Giants Game This Late in the Season

(December 3, 2022) - This series typically doesn't matter this late in the season.  It does here for both teams.  Washington has been on fire of late.  And the Giants are trying to hold their place in what's become the hottest division in the NFL after years of inferiority.

What's the Line and is it Accurate?

We get a number of Washington 3.61 for the slightest of underlays (1 to 1.5). We really do like Washington based on number trends here.

The actual line is Washington -2 or -2.5 depending on the book. 

Favorites are 27-12 when the line is on 3 or under without going over that number and hits the 2.5.   That's a 69% win rate so far this season.

What's at Stake December 4?

The road team is 5-0 Against The Spread in their last 5 meetings.  Washington has won the last two games in this series.

What's at stake here is the ability to excel in a division that over the years has been among the least competitive and suddenly this year is THE MOST COMPETITIVE.

How competitive is it?

Washington sits at the bottom of the pack with two wins above the .500 mark and is currently considered one of the hottest teams in the NFL.  They've won six of their last seven games.  The Commanders are down three games from the Eagles but one down and within striking distance of Dallas for the most part.

They are catching a Giants team that has started to cool off just a tad. They gone 1-3 in their last four.

The Commanders continue to rely on a productive running game with rookie Brian Robinson Jr. rushing for 105 yards on 18 carries against Atlanta last week.  That was the most by a Washington back in a game this year.

Antonio Gibson had 103 yards from scrimmage (72 rushing, 31 receiving) the week prior versus Houston.

"Those two guys are the kind of tandem that I talked about when I first got here, wanting to be able to emulate what I've done in the past," Washington coach Ron Rivera said. "I really do think being able to run the ball well helps your entire team."

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Washington Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke (4) celebrates after a NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Washington Commanders on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022 at FedExField in Landover, Md. (Shaban Athuman/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The Washington Commanders and the New York Giants have been mirroring each other for years.

Neither of the NFC East bottom-feeders has had a winning season since 2016, although the Commanders — known at the time as the Washington Football Team — won the division in the 2020 pandemic season with a 7-9 record. The Giants (6-10) were second.

Over the years, both teams have had high draft picks and left their fans frustrated more often than not.

The unexpected has happened this season. The Commanders (7-5) and Giants (7-4) are in the playoff hunt as the season heads into the home stretch. They will play twice in the next three weeks, starting Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

“I always say that the games in December matter most,” said left tackle Andrew Thomas, the Giants’ first-round pick in 2020. “Two division opponents with a winning record, you can’t ask for any better. We’re excited for it. Washington’s going to be prepared, so I’m looking forward to it.”

The Commanders are on a roll since Taylor Heinicke replaced an injured Carson Wentz on Oct. 23.

“When you get to this time of the year and you’re in the playoff hunt, every game’s really exciting,” said Heinicke, who is 5-1 as the starter. “It means something. I’ve been on the other end. I wasn’t playing at the time, but I’ve been in locker rooms where you get to this part of the season, you’re already out of the playoffs and it’s not fun.”

Comparables

Baltimore -2.5/-3 New England (road favorite Baltimore covers with 11 point win) Baltimore 2.77 On the Money

New Orleans +1.5 to +2.5 Arizona (home favorite Arizona covers and wins by 8) Arizona 3.12 Underlay 1.5 to On the Money

Indianapolis +2.5 Tennessee (home favorite Tenn covers and wins by 9 points) Tenn 2.01 On the Money

Las Vegas +2.5 / +3 Denver (road dog Las Vegas covers and wins) Denver 2.97 On the Money

New England +2.5 Minnesota (home favorite Minn covers) Minn 1.88 On the Money

- Mary Montgomery,  Gambling911.com