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Fact or Fiction: X-factors for offense, defense

FACT-OR-FICTION

The Giants.com crew is presented with four statements and must decide whether they are Fact or Fiction.

Containing Commanders QB Jayden Daniels on the ground is the Giants' top priority in Week 2.

John Schmeelk: Fact – The Commanders' offense in Week 1 was very simple. They wanted to run the ball on early downs (62% rush rate on first down, second-highest in the NFL). They wanted Daniels to get the ball out of his hands quickly on short passes. When Daniels threw the ball, he had the league's lowest average time to throw (2.26 seconds) and he had the league's second-lowest average depth of target (5.6 yards). He completed only one pass that traveled 10 yards in the air, and none that traveled more than 15. When his first read wasn't there, he quickly turned himself into a runner where he had a lot of success, finishing with 88 yards. His 16 carries were split almost evenly between scrambles and the designed quarterback run game. All four of the Commanders runs of 10+ yards came from Daniels. He led the team in yards from scrimmage and is probably the team's fastest player.

Dan Salomone: Fiction – Football is simple but never easy. The Giants need to find a way to put the ball in the end zone any way they can. Something will have to give this week. The Buccaneers scored 37 points on Washington (the second-highest total in the NFL) in Week 1 while the Giants scored a league-low six points last Sunday.

Matt Citak: Fact – Daniels led the Commanders in rush attempts (16), rushing yards (88), yards per carry (5.5.) and touchdowns (two) in the season opener. Perhaps more importantly, most of that production came on scrambles and not designed runs. Daniels scrambled on 23.5 percent of his drop-backs, the sixth-highest rate by any quarterback in a game since 2022. Seventy-nine of his yards and six first downs came on scrambles, while the rookie did not attempt a single pass while scrambling. When he moves out of the pocket, the rookie is going to keep it himself and run with the football. Limiting these scramble runs has to be the defense's top priority in Week 2.

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux will have at least one sack in his fifth consecutive game against Washington.

John Schmeelk: Fact – Whether it is Thibodeaux or Brian Burns, the Giants should have some opportunities to get after the quarterback. Jayden Daniels is the other factor here. The speed at which he was getting the ball out last week combined with his mobility might make it very hard for any of the Giants pass rushers to get home this week.

Dan Salomone: Fact – Sometimes teams just have an opponent's number. The same can be true for players. But it is going to be a challenge to contain and then take down Jayden Daniels, whom Thibodeaux and the Giants will see for the first time.

Matt Citak: Fact – Thibodeaux's numbers against the Commanders are impressive. The third-year edge rusher's most productive outings have come against the division rival, with 5.5 of his 15.5 career sacks occurring vs. Washington. However, I wouldn't be surprised to see both of the Giants' pass rushers – Thibodeaux and Brian Burns – get into the sack column this Sunday.

View photos of the Giants on the practice field preparing for their Week 2 matchup against the Commanders.

WR Jalin Hyatt is the Giants' offensive X-factor on Sunday.

John Schmeelk: Fiction – With both Darius Slayton and Malik Nabers appearing on the injury report this week, using Hyatt here makes a lot of sense, but I'm still going with the rookie. The Commanders' propensity to play Cover-1 and Cover-3 (a combined 55% of their snaps in Week 1 according to PFF) should give Nabers room to operate and space to get open down the field or make a big gain after short catches. Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. did sprinkle in more Cover-2 than usual (22%) but they will not use two-high safety defenses nearly as often as the Vikings did. I expect the Giants to be much more focused on getting the ball down the field like they were in August.

Dan Salomone: Fact – The Giants are 3-0 when Hyatt has a reception of more than 18 yards. One of those wins was against Washington.

Matt Citak: Fiction – I expect Daniel Jones to take more shots downfield against the Commanders than he did against the Vikings, which bodes well for both Hyatt and Darius Slayton. But I think the key to this game could be the success of Wan'Dale Robinson. The third-year receiver led the team with six receptions and 12 targets in Week 1, and is faced with an even better matchup this week.

CB Dru Phillips is the Giants' defensive X-factor on Sunday.

John Schmeelk: Fiction – I am going to go with Bobby Okereke. This related back to the first statement in this exercise. Jayden Daniels ability to run, both in designed and scramble situations could determine who wins this game. Okereke will be monitoring the middle of the field to prevent Daniels form turning his scrambles into big gains and will also have to be disciplined in the read-option game. Daniels can turn an inch of space into a touchdown on any play so mistakes must be at a minimum. Also note he did not slide well feet first last week, often times just tumbling forward to get down after a run. Okereke will be key containing him.

Dan Salomone: Fact – One game. One forced turnover. One tackle for loss. "Can't go much better than that," defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said about the rookie third-round pick. "He'll continue to get a lot of work for us and hopefully he continues to improve and gets in there and finds comfort and creates a role for himself and continue to add value for us."

Matt Citak: Fiction – Given everything I wrote about in the first prompt about Jayden Daniels' running with the football, I have to go with the Giants' linebackers as the real X-factors in this weekend's game, and more specifically Bobby Okereke. The veteran is likely going to have to keep an eye on the rookie quarterback as he escapes the pocket looking to run with the football. Almost all of Daniels' production last week came on non-designed runs, so if the Giants can limit these sort of plays this Sunday, that would eliminate a big part of the Commanders' offensive game plan. Isaiah Simmons could also play a key role in serving as a spy on Daniels on passing plays.

View photos from the all-time series between the New York Giants and the Washington Commanders.

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