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Giants vs. Redskins: 5 Players To Watch On Thursday Night Football

By Kenneth Teape

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Eli Manning

Sep 20, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) throws a pass during the second half of their game against the Atlanta Falcons at MetLife Stadium. The Falcons defeated the Giants 24-20. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

The Giants are sitting at 0-2 heading into tonight’s game against the Redskins. If they are to get their first win of the season, Eli Manning stepping up would be a great start. Manning has had an up-and-down start to 2015, so if the Giants are to get on track, Manning do so would be a good step in the right direction.

Manning dominated the Redskins in 2014, throwing for 550 yards, seven touchdowns and only one interception (which should have been an eighth touchdown, as the ball was knocked out of Rueben Randle’s hands after he crossed the goalline but the call was not overturned). You can’t get much better than that, so if Manning is to get his season going, there isn’t a better matchup to do it against than the Redskins.

While Manning cannot be solely blamed for the Giants 0-2 start, he has played a part in it. He wasn’t able to get anything going Week 1 against the Cowboys, missing receivers throughout the night. His blunder telling Rashad Jennings not to score also became the punch line of jokes and backpage newspapers throughout the week.

Manning got back on track Week 2 against the Falcons, at least for two and a half quarters. He was humming along, as he found Odell Beckham Jr. and Shane Vereen constantly. But, when he fumbled inside the Falcons’ 10-yard line with the Giants going in for the dagger, he fumbled. That set off a series of events that led to the Giants blowing yet another 10-point fourth quarter lead.

Manning then didn’t help in the final drives, as the Giants offense managed only 75 yards on their final three drives of the game. He missed badly a couple of times on the final drive of the game as well, and for some reason went away from Beckham Jr. and Vereen, targeting instead stone handed Preston Parker and inconsistent Rueben Randle.

Manning will look to put those early season struggles behind him against the Redskins tonight. If he can put together another strong, turnover free game to get the Giants a win, people will start to forget about the early season blunders. Also, getting a win will be much better to handle as the Giants will have 10 days until their next game in Week 4 against the Buffalo Bills.

Next: Where Are The Giants In Our NFL Power Rankings?

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