Pregame Primer: Redskins’ resiliency will be tested against New York Giants

LANDOVER — Despite the Redskins’ latest road loss to the Carolina Panthers, a victory on Sunday against the New York Giants would give Washington a share of first place in the muddied NFC East.

However, coach Jay Gruden’s message to the team is simply to focus on playing its best football, rather than focusing specifically on what’s at stake. Though the Redskins play significantly better at FedEx Field than they do on the road, the Giants will be the toughest test to date. For the Redskins, that means focusing on cleaning up the mistakes that cost them against New York in Week 3 — and all of their road games this season for that matter.

“It’s a division game and it’s the New York Giants,” Gruden said on Friday. “Obviously they’ve beaten us the last three times and we need to step up. We’re not worried about the race right now, so to speak, as we are about playing our best football. We’re talking about playing the right fundamentals with the right attitude, the right intensity and taking care of what we need to take care of, what we can control and go from there.”

The fundamentals have certainly escaped Washington at times this season, resulting in an up-and-down effort that’s left Gruden and the Redskins scratching for consistency. Some weeks it’s too many turnovers, while others it’s too many penalties or missed tackles. There are times when all of that compounds together and results in a dreadful performance such as the one the Redskins submitted in a 44-16 loss to Carolina last weekend.

Though Gruden may want to keep the message simple, it’s hard to ignore the obvious. There will be a heightened sense of urgency on Sunday, just as there is in any division game.

“The guaranteed ticket into the playoffs is to win your division,” cornerback Will Blackmon said. “This is the next game, a division game, a chance to tie for first place. It’s all-in because, not that we don’t need any other game, but you need these division games to get in. Even if guys don’t prepare well, just when you line up on Sunday, go there and knock somebody out. At the end of the day, in this division, it’s not about Xs and Os. I played for New York for two years. Yeah, the first 15 plays you scheme them out, but after that you throw out the playbook and just fight. That’s what it’s about. That’s the one thing I look forward to, us to line up this weekend, take the gloves off and go at it.”

With that, here’s a look at the logistics and three things to watch against the Giants.

Logistics

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

Records: Redskins 4-6, Giants 5-5

Television: FOX (Kenny Albert, play-by-play; Daryl Johnston, color; Laura Okmin, sidelines)

Radio: ESPN 980 (Larry Michael, Sonny Jurgensen, Chris Cooley, Doc Walker)

Weather: 50 and rain showers

Lines: Giants -3, over/under 47.5 per Bovada

Projected Starters:

Redskins offense: QB Kirk Cousins, RB Alfred Morris, WR Pierre Garcon, WR DeSean Jackson, WR Jamison Crowder, TE Jordan Reed, LT Trent Williams, LG Spencer Long, C Josh LeRibeus, RG Brandon Scherff, RT Morgan Moses.

Redskins defense: DE Chris Baker, NT Terrance Knighton, DE Jason Hatcher, OLB Trent Murphy, ILB Will Compton, ILB Perry Riley, OLB Ryan Kerrigan, CB Will Blackmon, CB Bashaud Breeland, SS Jeron Johnson, FS Dashon Goldson.

Giants offense: QB Eli Manning, RB Rashad Jennings, WR Odell Beckham Jr., WR Rueben Randall, TE Jerome Cunningham TE Will Tye, LT Ereck Flowers, LG Geoff Schwartz, C Dallas Reynolds, RG John Jerry, RT Marshall Newhouse.

Giants defense: DE Robert Ayers Jr., DT Cullen Jenkins, DT Markus Kuhn, DE Jason Pierre-Paul, SLB Devon Kennard, MLB Uani Unga, WLB Jonathan Casillas, CB Prince Amukamara, CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, SS Brandon Meriweather, FS Landon Collins.

Injury report:

Redskins: Out: SS Trenton Robinson (hamstring); Questionable — ILB Keenan Robinson (shoulder), CB Bashaud Breeland (illness), CB Deshazor Everett (hamstring); Probable — LT Trent Williams (knee), RG Brandon Scherff (thigh), WR Andre Roberts (ankle), RB Alfred Morris (rib), CB DeAngelo Hall (toe), DE Jason Hatcher (knee), OLB Ryan Kerrigan (hand), C Josh LeRibeus (elbow/shoulder), FS Dashon Goldson (wrist/hamstring/ankle), NT Terrance Knighton (headache), SS Jeron Johnson (illness).

Giants: Out — TE Larry Donnell (neck), LB Mark Herzlich (quad), LG Justin Pugh (concussion); Doubtful — C Weston Richburg (ankle); Questionable — LB J.T. Thomas; Probable — CB Prince Amukamara (pectoral), CB Leon McFadden (groin), DE Damontre Moore (hamstring), RG Geoff Schwartz (ankle), LB Uani Unga (neck).

Stats:

All-time record: The Redskins are 65-98-4 against the Giants.

Last regular-season meeting: Sept. 24, 2015: 32-21 loss in New York.

Three things to watch:

** Even before cornerback Chris Culliver sustained a season-ending knee injury, it was going to be difficult to stop the duo of wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Rueben Randle. The two combined for 195 yards and two touchdowns in the Giant’s 32-21 Week 3 win and the Redskins’ secondary will certainly be tested again. Yet what is even more important is that the Redskins stop the run on Sunday. They held the Giants to 84 yards in the last matchup, but that seems like ages ago, when the Redskins’ defense didn’t have such glaring tackling issues. In the seven games since, the Washington defense has allowed an average of 162.1 yards per game. If they can limit the Giants on Sunday and make them one dimensional, that’s the first step toward slowing down Beckham and Randle.

** The next step, and perhaps just as important, will be to get to quarterback Eli Manning. The last time these two teams met, Manning was hardly touched. The Redskins have four sacks in the last two games and have a favorable matchup on Sunday against a battered Giants’ offensive line. Left guard Justin Pugh is out and center Weston Richburg is doubtful. Dallas Reynolds, who is expected to fill in at center if Richburg doesn’t play, has not started a game since 2012 when he started 14 with Philadelphia. With possibly two interior linemen out, the Redskins’ pass rush should have a leg up on the Giants.

** Ball security is of paramount importance for the Redskins’ offense. They committed five turnovers against Carolina — four of which were fumbles. Quarterback Kirk Cousins had two interceptions the last time he played the Giants, but his decision-making has greatly improved since then. The fumbles are what are concerning, particularly after running back Matt Jones fumbled for the fourth time this season. It’s no secret the Redskins’ offense thrives when they run the ball well, but will the coaching staff trust Jones? Gruden said this week that the team has not lost faith in Jones, but admitted the coaching staff has become apprehensive when calling plays for him. Jones has proved he can spark the offense, but his ball security needs to be improved or else Gruden said his role will diminish.