They can’t all be winners, right? This matchup might not be at the top of your viewing list for Week 7, but both teams are at least coming off a positive showing in their last contest.

The Commanders were able to hold on for a road victory as underdogs against the Falcons. Things got a bit dicey late – they had to stop the Falcons three times while they were driving for a potential game-tying score – but they were able to get the stops when they needed to.

As for the Giants – at least they didn’t get blown out! That’s not much, but it’s at least a step in the right direction. They managed to lose by five points as 15-point underdogs, giving them their first cover of the season. They’re now 1-5 ATS, and while that’s obviously not great, they’re no longer the worst team in the league in that department.

The Giants were a playoff team last year, but they were always headed for some regression. Unfortunately, their injury situation has only made things worse. They did get Saquon Barkley back in the lineup last week, but their offensive line was absolutely decimated. Things got so bad, they had to move Justin Pugh to left tackle after spending the previous five weeks on the couch.

New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs the ball against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 17, 2023.

It’s tough to know how to approach the Giants until we get more injury information. Left tackle Andrew Thomas has been out of the lineup since Week 1, while John Michael Schmitz Jr. and Matt Peart are also questionable. It’s possible that all three players can return to the lineup vs. the Commanders, but it’s also possible that all three players are out once again.

Additionally, Daniel Jones’ status is in jeopardy. Jones previously stated that he felt better after resting in Week 6, but the recent reports aren’t quite as optimistic. The Giants don’t have much of a reason to rush him back if he’s not 100%, so I tentatively expect him to sit out again.

While Tyrod Taylor didn’t exactly hurt the Giants’ offense last week, he didn’t help them much either. He averaged 5.56 adjusted yards per attempt with zero touchdowns and zero turnovers. The team managed to score three field goals with zero touchdowns, and that’s simply not going to cut it most weeks.

One certainty is that the Giants’ defense is not very good. They held their own last week vs. the Bills, but that was a weird spot where Buffalo was returning home from London. They’re 28th in EPA/play against, and they’ve surrendered at least 24 points in each of their first five games.

Washington’s offense isn’t great, but they’re at least competent. They’re 19th in EPA/play, and they’ve displayed a solid rushing attack. They’re 13th in rushing Success Rate, and Sam Howell is 13th among quarterbacks in EPA + CPOE composite.

I’d expect the Commanders to be able to move the ball against the Giants. The big question is if New York’s offense can keep up.

Without knowing how the injury situation is going to play out, that’s an impossible question to answer.

There has been a touch of sharp activity on the Commanders to start the week. However, the Giants have gotten the majority of the public attention. They’ve received most of the spread bets and dollars (via the Action Network), which is a bit surprising given how poor they’ve looked for most of the season.

Anytime there’s a disagreement between the sharps and the public, I know which side I want to be on. I lean towards Washington, though some positive injury news for the Giants could change that.