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10 Things To Watch For

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10 things to watch in Giants vs. Commanders

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Here are 10 things to watch in the Week 5 matchup between the New York Giants and Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium (1 p.m. ET).

Opportunity lies ahead

The Giants have started the season 3-1 for just the second time since the 2011 campaign. Coach John Harbaugh has become just the sixth head coach to begin his Giants tenure with three consecutive wins at home, and it marks the first time the Giants have done so since 2008 and the eighth time since 1970. On the seven previous occasions in which they won their first three games at home, the Giants went on to make the playoffs.

Harbaugh's squad sits in first place in the NFC East heading into the Week 5 matchup against the Commanders, with a chance to improve their divisional record to 2-0. Meanwhile, the Commanders will look to pick up their first NFC East victory after dropping their first two games of the season against the Eagles and Cowboys, respectively. With the Cowboys dropping to 2-3 after their loss on Thursday Night Football, the Giants have a great opportunity to build on their division lead this weekend.

"We have a game this week, a very pivotal game, a very big game in terms of the opportunity that it presents our football team now, where we're at," coach John Harbaugh told the media Monday. "We have an opportunity to make headway on the season, and we've got to do it one play at a time in one game that we have to play this week. So, we're excited about it.

"I know about the rivalry. I know how big this rivalry is, how big this game is. Been around the Commanders enough, close enough to them the last many years to kind of understand where they've been and what they do and how they think a little bit. So, just looking forward to it."

History vs. Commanders

In regular-season play, the teams have met 186 times. The Giants lead the all-time series, 107-74-5. In their most recent regular season meeting, the Commanders defeated the Giants, 29-21, at MetLife Stadium in Week 15 of the 2025 season. The Giants last defeated the Commanders, 31-19, in Week 11 of the 2023 season.

The Giants are looking for their first victory in Washington since Week 11 of the 2023 season.

View photos of the Giants on the practice field as they prepare for their Week 5 matchup against the Commanders.

Injury Report

Giants

Final injury report will be released Friday afternoon.

Commanders

Final injury report will be released Friday afternoon.

Banks named NFC Defensive Player of the Week

Banks was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week following his standout performance against the Cardinals. Of course, he made the biggest play of the day with his game-sealing interception that he returned 98 yards for a touchdown. But Banks' strong outing went well beyond the one big splash play.

Banks finished the game with four passes defensed, which set a new career-high for the fourth-year cornerback. He was targeted nine times in coverage, according to PFF, and allowed just three receptions for 19 yards. This earned him a passer rating against of just 42.4. Two of Banks' pass breakups came when the defense needed it most, as he broke up a pass intended for Cardinals tight end Trey McBride on the play before his game-winning interception. Despite only playing in two games this season, Banks is tied for the fourth-most passes defensed in the league this year, and sits only one behind the league-lead.

Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs was ruled out on Friday by coach Dan Quinn due to a hamstring injury, while Terry McLaurin, who missed last week's game with his own hamstring injury, is questionable. Through four games, Diggs leads the team with 18 receptions for 170 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Antonio Williams is poised for a bigger role with Diggs, and possible McLaurin, out. In the one full game he played with quarterback Jayden Daniels back in the season opener, the rookie receiver caught four passes for 64 yards and a touchdown.

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Reese voted NFL Rookie of the Week

Banks wasn't the only Giants defender recognized for their performance against the Cardinals. Linebacker Arvell Reese was voted as the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week after putting together his second consecutive dominant outing. Following his performance against the Titans in which he totaled 13 tackles (10 solo), Reese stood out even more in Week 4.

The 21-year-old finished with nine solo tackles and three passes defensed, including an interception. He also pressured Brissett on the play that resulted in Greg Newsome II's interception at the start of the second quarter. Reese performed well in coverage, as well, earning a passer rating against of just 52.1, according to Pro Football Focus, who named him their Rookie and Defensive Player of the Week.

The No. 5 overall pick became the franchise's first rookie since tackles were officially tracked in 1994 to register nine tackles, three passes defensed and an interception in a game. He became only the third rookie in the NFL to do so since 2010, and the first linebacker ever.

"Game four of his rookie year, you see the maturation already," defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson told the media Thursday. "You see the impact that he's had on his defense. He's a guy that just loves football. He's tenacious about it. He doesn't want to be wrong. He's had some plays that he wished he had back, but he doesn't make those mistakes again. And when you see him, he is a force of nature when he's on the football field, and we expect him to keep getting better and better."

Improvements in the passing game

It wasn't a perfect performance, but Winston looked more like his usual self in the Week 4 win over the Cardinals. The veteran quarterback completed 18 of 29 passes (62.1 percent) for 250 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions, which earned him a passer rating of 95.5. Perhaps the most encouraging part of Winston's performance was his downfield throwing. On his six pass attempts of 20+ air yards, Winston completed five of them for 166 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions for a perfect passer rating of 158.3.

"My desire is still to get better and better," Winston said on Wednesday. "It felt good to get a win, but I desire to be so much better for this team and to play faster, to play more precise, to really be my very best, and I just want to keep getting one percent better every day."

The 32-year-old now faces a great opportunity to build off of last week's success with a matchup against the Commanders defense. Washington enters this game ranking 25th in passing yards and 30th in passing touchdowns allowed. Colts quarterback Daniel Jones was held out of the end zone last week, but in Week 3, Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold threw for 379 yards and four touchdowns against the Commanders.

Commanders to keep an eye on

QB Jayden Daniels – Daniels is set to return after missing the last two games with an elbow injury. In the season opener, the third-year quarterback threw for 164 yards and two touchdowns with no turnovers while adding 31 yards on the ground. In the first half of Week 2 prior to his injury, Daniels completed 64.7 percent of his passes for 96 yards and a touchdown and ran for 69 yards on seven carries. Daniels comes into this game with a 3-0 record against the Giants with a 70.4 completion percentage, 668 passing yards and three passing touchdowns.

WR Antonio Williams – Wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs have both missed time in practice this week due to respective hamstring injuries. Diggs was ruled out by Commanders coach Dan Quinn on Friday, while McLaurin is questionable for Sunday's game. This means Williams will be leaned on. The rookie wideout caught four passes for 64 yards and a touchdown in his only full game with Daniels under center.

LB Sonny Styles – Arvell Reese's college teammate has gotten his NFL career off to a strong start, as well. Styles has totaled 20 tackles (11 solo), including two tackles for loss, to go with two quarterback hits, one forced fumble and an interception. During last week's loss to the Colts, the 21-year-old linebacker picked up eight total tackles, the most of his young NFL career.

OLB Odafe Oweh – The Commanders have a solid group of edge rushers, starting with Oweh. The veteran leads the Commanders with two sacks, while his five quarterback hits and one forced fumble are tied for the most on the team. In his two previous seasons with the Chargers and Ravens, Oweh totaled 17.5 sacks and 41 quarterback hits.

Stats & milestones to know

TE Isaiah Likely is tied for the third-most receptions among tight ends with 22, while his 35 targets are the second-most at the position behind only Cardinals tight end Trey McBride. The Commanders have allowed 243 receiving yards to tight ends this season, the ninth-most, along with five touchdowns, tied for the second-most.

WR Malik Nabers needs just five receptions on Sunday to become the fourth player in NFL history to record 150 catches receptions in fewer than 25 career games, joining Odell Beckham Jr., Michael Thomas and Brock Bowers.

LB Arvell Reese became the youngest Giants player and ninth-youngest NFL player in the Super Bowl era to record an interception last week. Reese currently leads the NFL with 27 solo tackles and is the only rookie this season to have an interception and three passes defensed in a game this season.

CB Deonte Banks is tied for the fifth-most passes defensed in the NFL this season and is one shy of the league-lead, despite missing two games due to a calf injury. His four pass breakups against the Cardinals last week set a new career-high.

K Dominic Zvada has connected on all nine of his field goal attempts this season, including three from 50+ yards. Only four games into the season, Zvada needs only one more field goal from 50+ yards to tie the NFL record for most in a season by a rookie kicker.

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

Ways to watch

TV

Channel: FOX

Announcers: Chris Myers (play-by-play), Jonathan Vilma (color analyst), Megan Olivi (sideline reporter)

Postgame: Giants Postgame Live presented by Hackensack Meridian Health hosted by Michelle Gingras immediately following the game on MSG Networks, The DAZN App, YouTube, Giants.com, Giants App, Giants TV

STREAM

This week's game can be streamed on NFL+.

RADIO

Channel: WFAN 101.9FM / 66AM

Announcers:  Bob Papa (Play-By-Play), Carl Banks (Analyst), Howard Cross (Sideline)

Pre- and Postgame: John Schmeelk, Tiki Barber,  Paul Dottino

Pregame: Giants Gameday begins at 11:00 am, presented by Hackensack Meridian Health.

Postgame: Giants Extra Point presented by Earth Treasures Fine Jewelers

What's next?

The Giants will return to MetLife Stadium to take on the New Orleans Saints in Week 6. Heading into this weekend, the Saints sit at 1-3 with losses to the Lions, Raiders and Falcons. Their one win came on the road against the Ravens in Week 2. While their offense ranks inside the top 10 in points and yards, the New Orleans defense ranks 32nd in the NFL after allowing an average of 32.0 points per game over the first four weeks.

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