The schedule says the Giants must combat and defeat the Redskins on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. In truth, the greatest battle for the Giants, and star receiver Odell Beckham Jr., will be against human nature.
Here they are, riding high, 2-0 for the first time in seven years, all cozy at home for the second straight week. That is called a comfort zone. Here are the Redskins, arriving at 0-2 — even worse, with two home losses — and desperate is an apt description of their plight. When human nature and the NFL conspire, it is often the more desperate side that comes out on top.
Here is Beckham, meeting Josh Norman for the first time since that dark day last December when the two turned a Giants-Panthers game into WrestleMania — or, ReceiverMania, if you will — leading to personal foul penalties (three for Beckham, one for Norman) and a one-game suspension for Beckham, who became the first Giants player ever forced to sit out by the league for his on-field conduct.
The seriousness of his banishment, he recalled this week, was hammered home last season as he drove over to the team facility to pick up a few things and was told he was not allowed on the premises.
“It sucked,’’ he said. “It felt like if any of you all have ever been suspended in elementary school or whatever, it really felt like that.’’
Nine months later, Beckham and the Giants firmly believe he has matured and moved on and there will be no second act with Norman, who signed a five-year, $75 million deal with the Redskins. The officials will be watching, and, no doubt, throwing flags at the slightest hint of mischief.
If cooler heads prevail, the competition nevertheless will get heated, with two of the best players at their positions going at each other more often than not.
“On film I see he’s very sound, he has very long arms, he likes to be physical, he likes to be up on the line of scrimmage and get in the receivers’ faces a little bit,’’ said Victor Cruz, whose presence on the field should be helpful to his younger teammate Beckham. “It’s a challenge.’’
Just three teams since 1990, when the playoffs expanded to 12 teams, started the season 0-3 and went on to make the playoffs — none since the 1998 Bills. That is the ominous history the Redskins want no part of joining.
“They’re hungry animals,’’ Ben McAdoo said.
In that same span, teams that win their first three games go on to qualify for the playoffs 76 percent of the time. That is there for the taking for the Giants.
“If we go 3-0 with two division wins, then you will definitely put them behind the eight ball,’’ cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie said.
Can the Giants bury the Redskins after just three weeks?
“I wouldn’t say that,’’ linebacker Jonathan Casillas said. “It’s a division opponent, these wins are huge. We got to defend home and what people aren’t really saying, they are the defending champs. They are the NFC East champs. We have to dethrone them. We have to go through them because they have that title.’’
Marquee matchup
Redskins LT Trent Williams vs. Giants DE Olivier Vernon
The Odell Beckham Jr.-Josh Norman rematch has been covered ad nauseam throughout the week. Let’s go here instead. It has not been a quiet start for Vernon, as the $85 million man is an every-down, high-effort guy who plays the run and the pass. Vernon, though, has one tackle for loss and no sacks in the first two games. Doing damage against the hulking Williams is no easy assignment. The 6-foot-5, 320-pound Williams has the size and strength to engulf Vernon, meaning Vernon must use his quickness and leverage when pure power does not work.
Four Downs
Strength in numbers: The Giants believe one of their unique assets is how many experienced, capable players they can mix in on defense. It is as if they have a package for everyone. Keenan Robinson “has been great,’’ said defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Kelvin Sheppard is “on top of everything.’’ Leon Hall, the corner/nickel/safety combination, is Mr. Fixit. “His greatest value is that you can trust him,’’ Spags said.
The plan is to wear down and confuse the opponent.
“Offenses have to deal with a lot of different jersey numbers,” Spagnuolo said. “I think that works to our advantage, which is one of the reasons why we do it.”
With Cousins, it’s all relative: Is he or is he not a franchise quarterback? The answer was “yes’’ in 2015 — Kirk Cousins finished No. 5 in the NFL in passer rating. The answer is “no’’ after two games this season — Cousins is 27th, with one touchdown pass and three interceptions. Cousins was poor last season when the Giants beat the Redskins in New Jersey, terrific when the Skins beat the Giants in Landover, Md.
“This year, probably just a slow start for him, settling in, but he’s a good quarterback and they have a lot of talent out there, especially on the outside,’’ linebacker Jonathan Casillas said.
Who gets grounded? It remains to be seen if anyone here can run the ball. The Redskins through two games are the most unbalanced team in the league — they have run it an NFL-low 29 times — as they’ve fallen behind and ditched the ground game. When they have run it, they’ve averaged 4.7 yards per attempt.
The Giants go in with a damaged Rashad Jennings, dealing with a left thumb injury and what Ben McAdoo calls “a banged-up wrist’’ that could hurt his ball-security. This could be the first real look for Orleans Darkwa this season, in tandem with Shane Vereen.
Cover me: Do the Giants have any answers when it comes to dealing with tight ends? Jason Witten did damage in the opener, Coby Fleener not so much last week. Here comes Jordan Reed (12 receptions already), one of the NFL’s truly gifted pass-catching tight ends — a 6-foot-2, 246-pound matchup nightmare who often is utilized more as a wide receiver, with good reason. Plenty of defenders will get a crack at him, including Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, an outside cornerback with a more wide-ranging role this year.
“[Reed] is their number-one target,’’ DRC said. “Anytime that you get a guy that is producing and you get a chance to go up against them, then you are always going to welcome that.’’
Paul’s pick
The Giants are 2-0 despite outscoring their opponents by a meager 36-32 margin. At some point, their offense will erupt. The 0-2 Redskins have been outscored 65-39. At some point, they will win a game. These teams are trending in different directions, but trends can come and go. Kirk Cousins is due.
Redskins 24, Giants 20