Containing Washington’s Cousins is Giants goal on Thursday Night Football

New York Giants at Washington Redskins (-3.5, 45 o/u)

The NFC East got a whole lot more interesting last weekend when the New York Giants (1-2) entered the win column, while the Washington Redskins (1-2) fell to division foes the Philadelphia Eagles in a shootout.

As for the Giants, the team had looked lethargic to the point a disappointed head coach Tom Coughlin appeared ready to call it quits in an attempt to maintain his sanity. However, the team rallied for a 30-17 win over the Houston Texans. Now, Coughlin has to get his squad ready for a short week.

Coughlin said, “We do have a set routine in our way in which we prepare for a Thursday night game. Really the fieldwork is very minimal. We want them to see everything but we don’t want a lot of exertion. I want them to move around enough to help the soreness, work the soreness out.”

Then there’s Washington, which despite losing last weekend has to feel pretty good about RGIII’s backup Kirk Cousins, who was 30 of 48 for 427 yards and three TDs. The problem for the team’s new head coach Jay Gruden is injuries, with cornerback DeAngelo Hall and Duke Ihenacho gone for the season, while Brian Orakpo, Jason Hatcher and Shawn Lauvao are injured.

Gruden said, “Obviously this is a week that I would rather not have a Thursday night game.”

That said, there’s going to be plenty of action on Washington with Cousin’s impressive performance. That’s why this is a perfect week to take the Giants, which have a favorable number at +3.5.