Giants vs. Commanders 2025 NFL Week 1 Preview and Prediction
Photo Credit: Al Bello/GettyImages
Week 1 is here! It’s a time for hope; everyone is 0-0, and everyone’s season goals are still on the table. For the Giants, it’s put up or shut up time for head coach Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen. Have they made the right moves to get New York back in the right direction? It certainly seemed so in an impressive 3-0 preseason, but we’ll find out for sure Sunday, when they head to Landover, Maryland, to take on the reigning rookie of the year in Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders.
Can the Giants start 2025 on a positive note, or will slow September starts continue to plague them?
Keys to the Game
Can the Giants get to Daniels with a revamped defense?
If this matchup is decided anywhere, it is up front. Washington added Pro Bowl tackle Laremy Tunsil, ranked No. 8 at his position by PFF, who allowed only two sacks in 2024 to a line that gave up the sixth-most sacks in the league. That gives New York’s rebuilt front a chance to make an impact. With All-Pro Dexter Lawrence in the middle and a pass-rushing group of Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and rookie Abdul Carter, the Giants will try to expose the weaker spots and test whether Washington has truly solved its protection issues.
Can Russell Wilson and the offense keep up a strong pre-season pace?
Making conclusions based on preseason games is a dangerous game, but it’s hard not to feel optimistic based on the performance put up by the Giants during August. They scored 30 points in all three games, which, for a unit that scored 30 points only once in the entire 2024 season, is an encouraging step. Not to mention this was without budding superstar receiver Malik Nabers, who didn’t play at all in pre-season. Russell Wilson may be past his prime, but he can still throw moon balls, and if the Giants can run the ball well, the offense should be much better than last year’s 31st ranking in PPG. If Wilson isn’t up to the task, the Giants can also turn to rookie Jaxson Dart, who looked promising in each of the three pre-season games.
Prediction
I want to go full optimist, and say that the pre-season momentum is real, the Giants are having fun, and they look ready to make a push for the second spot in the NFC East. With that being said, there’s a reason that the Commanders are favored by almost a touchdown in this game. The offense was ridiculous last year, and Jayden Daniels is the real deal, so I’ll take the …. GIANTS 31-27, I’m rolling with my boys! This is based purely on vibes, and come Sunday night, I could look like a complete fool for falling for this trap yet again, but hey, isn’t that what week one is for?
Giants 31, Commanders 27