Two NFC East rivals carrying lengthy losing streaks meet on Sunday when the Washington Commanders visit the New York Giants in East Rutherford, NJ.
Washington (3-10) has dropped eight straight — the longest current streak in the NFL — while New York (2-11) has lost its last seven. Barring a tie, one of these teams will go home happy for the first time since early October.
Sunday’s game could have featured the first matchup between young quarterbacks Jaxson Dart and Jayden Daniels. However, Washington coach Dan Quinn said Daniels, who fell hard on his previously dislocated left elbow and departed Sunday’s 31-0 loss at Minnesota, will not play against New York.
“No structural setbacks. However, through the medical evaluations over the last couple days, including this morning, the doctors advised us we hold him this Sunday,” Quinn said Wednesday. “We’re really bummed for Jayden. He is working incredibly hard to get back on the field with his guys.”
Daniels has already missed six games overall and left three others due to injury. Marcus Mariota will make his seventh start of the season.
The Giants are coming off their bye week and play three of their final four games at home against the Commanders, Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys with a road game at the Las Vegas Raiders in the penultimate week of the season.
“I think it’s extremely important and it’s really required for us to make sure that these last four games we really put our best foot down,” said Dart, who returned from a concussion and threw for 139 yards and a touchdown in a 33-15 loss to the Patriots in Week 13.
Interim head coach Mike Kafka spent the bye week reflecting on his first three weeks at the helm and areas he wants to improve on over the final stretch, including play calling.
“Just taking notes, looking at the notes from the post-game stuff and thoughts that we had after the game, things that we really liked that we wanted to get to,” Kafka said. “Just being really critical of myself on things that our players do really well and how can we get to those things more?”
Despite similar records, New York and Washington have generally managed to lose in different ways.
The Giants have lost five games in which they led in the fourth quarter while Commanders defeats have tended to be more definitive. Though two recent losses came in overtime, they have lost by more than 20 points five times, including Sunday when Daniels and wide receivers Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel and Noah Brown played together for the first time.
Washington’s defense, which had shown improvement after Quinn took over the play calling, gave up 25 first downs and 313 yards to a Vikings team that had been shut out the previous week.
The Commanders’ defense is ranked 30th in the league, allowing 382.5 yards per game and the Giants are 31st (385.8 yards per game). Both teams are in the bottom five in points allowed.
Washington tight end Zach Ertz (50 catches, 504 yards, four touchdowns) suffered a season-ending knee injury against Minnesota. Running back Chris Rodriguez (groin), linebacker Bobby Wagner (knee) and cornerback Jonathan Jones (rib) did not practice Wednesday.
Among the Giants not practicing Wednesday were offensive guard Greg Van Roten (shoulder), defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches (ankle), linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (shoulder), cornerback Nic Jones (shoulder), and punter Jamie Gillan (knee). Tight end Thoe Johnson (toe) was limited.
Washington defeated New York 21-6 in Week 1. Daniels passed for a season-high 233 yards and then-starter Russell Wilson was unable to lead the Giants into the end zone.
